Professional Leadership & Practice III

This 14-week course, during the second year of the DPT curriculum, is the third in a series of four courses designed to educate students about the multiple dimensions of professional practice in contemporary physical therapy. These courses will explore the required interpersonal, ethical, and leadership skills required for as a physical therapist. Additionally, the course will address trans-curricular themes including leadership, service, health promotion, advocacy, teaching & learning, interprofessional teamwork, and self-reflection, culminating in the creation of a digital portfolio. The course series will include broad exposure to various professional and personal development experiences and expect more in-depth engagement in the student’s chosen area of focus.

PLP III will cover many intersecting areas focused on the development of clinical leadership skills including ethics and jurisprudent practice, communication, conflict management, cultural humility, mental health awareness and management, self-reflection, and self-care. Throughout these content areas, a strong focus will be on self-reflection, self-awareness, and self-care as a healthcare worker. These areas are organized into four focus areas for the course: 1) Leadership in Practice, 2) Cultural Humility, 3) Mental Health in Physical Therapy, and 4) Your Clinical Practice. Participants will add to their professional digital portfolio that allows for reflection on the three-year educational journey and participate in a leadership and service role. The assignments are distributed among the three content areas.