Expanding movement and rehabilitation sciences research in DPT programs in the US
Purpose: Provide guidance to chairs for the development and expansion of physical therapy relevant research programs in their respective institutions.Methods and/or Description of Project: It has become more important than ever to facilitate the growth of successful research in movement and rehabilitation sciences in additional academic institutions delivering DPT educational programs in the US. From the 242 accredited programs only about 40 programs have research programs that support PhD training and have opportunities for faculty and DPT students to be involved in research. Substantiating research in physical therapy is more important than ever as physical therapists are becoming more independent and working alongside other medical professionals. The Consortium of Research Intensive Programs in Physical Therapy will sponsor 3 outstanding, experienced investigators to speak on the process of facilitating research, with particular emphasis on the development of the research in aspiring programs and expanding research in existing research programs. Dr. Stacy Fritz, Associate Professor in the department Exercise Science program of Physical Therapy, Arnold School of Public Health, University of South Carolina, will provide the perspective of a program that is aspiring to grow its research program and will discuss obstacles that stand in the way to accomplish this goal. Dr. Jules Dewald, PT, PhD, Chair of the Department of Physical Therapy and Human Movement Sciences at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine will discuss how to grow and develop movement and rehabilitation sciences research programs based on his experience in running a successful K12 Interdisciplinary Rehabilitation Engineering Career Development Program (IREK12) in Movement and Rehabilitation Sciences. The importance of career development opportunities in translational rehabilitation research, spanning from basic human and animal research to quantitative clinical assessments, device development, and clinical trials will be discussed and how RIPPT can be of assistance to realize this objective. Finally, Dr. Richard Segal, PT, PhD, Chair of the Department of Health Professions at the Medical University of South Carolina, will discuss the importance of the Training in Grantsmanship for Rehabilitation Research (TIGRR) based a highly successful TIGRR workshop that he has been leading. The workshop has become a major venue for advancing research in physical therapy in relation to rehabilitation. In conclusion, this educational session will provide a framework for the development and expansion of PT relevant research programs.Results/Outcomes: This session will provide resources and ideas to help chairs to develop and expand movement and rehabilitation sciences research in their physical therapy programs.Conclusions/Relevance to the conference theme: Our Leadership Landscape: Perspectives from the Ground Level to 30,000 Feet: The Pursuit of Excellence in Physical Therapy Research: According to the CAPTE Evaluative Criteria for PT Programs, “Each core faculty member has a well-defined, ongoing scholarly agenda that reflects contributions…” This education session is designed to facilitate the pursuit of excellence in Physical Therapy Education and Scholarship in DPT programs in the country.References: Ommaya, A. K., Adams, K. M., Allman, R. M., Collins, E. G., Cooper, R. A., Dixon, C. E., … Wittenberg, G. F. (2013). Opportunities in rehabilitation research. Journal of Rehabilitation Research and Development, 50(6), vii–xxxii. http://doi.org/10.1682/JRRD.2012.09.0167 Craik R, Chae J. Blue ribbon panel on rehabilitation research at the NIH [Internet] National Institutes of Health; Bethesda (MD): 2013. [updated 2012 Jun 7; cited 2012 Jul 2]. Available from:http://www.nichd.nih.gov/about/advisory/nachhd/Documents/Blue_Ribbon_Panel_201205.pdf. National Center for Medical Rehabilitation Research (NCMRR), Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD), trans-NIH research plan on rehabilitation (NCMRR Research Plan 2016): https://www1.nichd.nih.gov/publications/Pages/pubs_details.aspx?pubs_id=5899Course Objectives: 1. Outline obstacles to building research programs affilitated with our DPT progams. 2. Identify practical ways in which Physical Therapy programs can develop and expand their research efforts. 3. Lay out the ways to promote career development in rehabilitation research 4. Provide insights into training in Grantsmanship for Rehabilitation ResearchInstructional Methods: Lecture and DiscussionTentative Outline/Schedule: 30 minutes: Obstacles to the building of rehabilitaton research programs 30 minutes: Research career development opportunities in translational rehabilitation research 30 minutes: The need for training in Grantsmanship for Rehabilitation Research