To Lead is to Serve: Developing the Servant Leader
Purpose: This report shares the results of service and leadership development within a new DPT program and reports on the students’ value of these experiences.Methods/Description: As a Christian university, service, leadership and faith-informed discernment are core elements of our mission at University of Mary Hardin-Baylor. We seek these characteristics throughout our holistic admissions process and solicit applicant leadership and service examples during the onsite interview. Students learn about leadership qualities and personality profiles through structured classroom activities and identify their own personality and leadership styles in this process. Students are required to reflect on their personal and professional leadership development at key time points across the curriculum and discuss this with both faculty and advisor. In addition to self-focused exploration, students have service and leadership opportunities and experiences integrated into the curriculum. Leadership opportunities are available every semester in the DPT program, some required experiences and others not. We will share how we implemented these experiences, the value and appreciation students have for these opportunities, and how it has shaped these students as new professionals. We will also describe how we use this information to shape future program development regarding our holistic admissions, curricular requirements across the program and mission emphasis activities offered.Results/Outcomes: Students have completed 6000+ hours of service in the short time the DPT program has existed. When asked, 72% of students reported that service was important to their learning. Statements include, "I appreciated this [service and volunteerism] being implemented in the program" and "we were encouraged to think about others and how we can serve". Forty-six percent of students led at least once during the program while 17% had formal, ongoing leadership roles throughout the duration of the program. These events included student organization development and activities, community service projects and fundraisers to support local non-profit organizations. Many of these opportunities were done in small groups; however, we highlight two events that brought together students and faculty across the entire discipline. First, we celebrated World Physical Therapy Day in an event that brought our core missions together. Students shared bible verses to inspire healthy behaviors with community members attending the event while promoting “movement for health”. Proceeds from the event benefited the local Special Olympics chapter. As we are located in Texas, our hearts led us to want to help the coast recover. So a majority of students and faculty spent a day doing clean up in flood ravaged areas of Houston. One student wrote, “I feel like my education has been enhanced through a focus of serving others”.Conclusions/Relevance to the conference theme: Our Leadership Landscape: Perspectives from the Ground Level to 30,000 Feet: Developing the next generation of servant leadership is exciting. Give students meaningful opportunities and watch what they will do.References: Dean C, Duncan P. Preparing the Next Generation of Physical Therapists for Transformative Practice and Population Management: Example From Macquarie University. Physical Therapy [serial online]. March 2016;96(3):272-274. McGowan E, Martin G, Stokes E. Perceptions of Leadership: Comparing Canadian and Irish Physiotherapists' Views. Physiotherapy Canada [serial online]. April 2016;68(2):106-113. Chan Z, Bruxer A, Desveaux L, et al. What Makes a Leader: Identifying the Strengths of Canadian Physical Therapists. Physiotherapy Canada [serial online]. October 2015;67(4):341-348. Desveaux L, Chan Z, Brooks D. Leadership in Physical Therapy: Characteristics of Academics and Managers: A Brief Report. Physiotherapy Canada [serial online]. January 2016;68(1):54-58. Jones S, Bellah C, Godges J. A comparison of professional development and leadership activities between graduates and non-graduates of physical therapist clinical residency programs. Journal Of Physical Therapy Education (American Physical Therapy Association, Education Section) [serial online]. Winter2008 2008;22(3):85-88.