What is each program good at?

[jchen707]

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So I read somewhere that every DPT program will prepare their students as a general practitioner, but that each program is also really good in one area (i.e. ortho, or neuro). I also heard the same thing from the PT i'm shadowing right now. I was wondering where I could find this information? For example, I've been looking at Columbia's website, but I can't find anything that mentions "we're really good at ortho PT" or something like that. Any information would be greatly appreciated!

 

[jbizzle]

I asked this at one of my interviews, after hearing from a director, at another interview, state that their program is known for sports PT, ortho, and peds. So I thought it would be a good way to narrow down my choices. The answer I got....

They pretty much told me each school is accreditted through CAPTE and pretty much have to teach the same thing and that not one school is really known for a certain specialty. As far as a website, I do not know about any website that has this info on it.

 

[jchen707]

so basically I would need to complete a residency in a specific area afterwards to get more exposure/expertise in that field?

 

[okramango]

I have also read comments on this forum from time to time that refer to some schools as "more focused on research" or others as "great for manual therapy". I have never known how to find out this information on my own, but it would be really helpful for choosing which schools to apply to.

It would be great if we could get some kind of Sticky posted that lists various schools and what types of specialties they are known for.

 

[markelmarcel]

A practicing PT also mentioned something similiar to me when I was trying to choose where to attend and she was saying, "Well you'd get just as great an ortho experience at either place" ... How they know this, I don't know... I suppose from years of experience/being CIs and seeing students from different schools.

 

[DancerFutureDPT]

there are several indirect ways of figuring this out....look at the program faculty, and look to see what their research areas are (e.g. my PT school is predominantly neuro). Even if it doesn't list specific research interest, it will probably list the publications the faculty has been in, and so you should be able to tell by the article title what area it falls into. You could also ask current students if you go to an open house or for a visit...most schools will admit they are known for one area of PT over another, but depending on the program that shouldn't mean you won't get a good education in other fields. Even though our school mostly has neuro as a research interest, the faculty we have for peds and ortho are outstanding and the top of their field...there are just fewer of them.

But, as others have said, as long as the program is accredited they have to teach you a bit of everything so you're prepared for entry practice in any setting, and so you can pass the board exams which will cover all possible topics of PT.