WesternU CHS-Northwest students foster community connection through service

Western University of Health Sciences Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) students in the College of Health Sciences-Northwest (CHS-Northwest) foster community connection through lending a helping hand in Lebanon, Oregon and surrounding communities.  

The CHS-Northwest DPT program was designed to educate and develop service-oriented leaders who will provide humanistic care in rural, underserved, and/or vulnerable communities of Oregon and the Pacific Northwest. Since its inception, more than 25 community service outreach opportunities, including the Lebanon Soup Kitchen, Team Dirt, and Grace Center for Adult Services, have been organized by CHS faculty members Tiffany King, PT, DPT, Zipporah Brown, OTD, MS, OTR/L, CNS, DipACLM, and Elaine Wilder, PhD, PT, MACT, C/NDT.   

Community Service-Learning Objectives: 

• Demonstrate service leadership and team collaboration, identify opportunities for physical therapy involvement, and advocate for health and wellness needs of society.
• Participate with organizations that support the role of the physical therapist in furthering the health and wellness of the public.
• Engage in service and outreach events that are meaningful and, in some cases, student initiated.

Future community service opportunities include collaboration with COMP-Northwest students at a community mental health and wellness fair as well as partnering with the Special Olympics for upcoming events. 

Student Reflections on Community Service Outreach: 

“I am looking forward to the possibility of more events in the future and serving rural communities just like this.” -Stephanie Deering 

“I just wanted to say that I really appreciate and love this type of volunteer (work). I had a great experience with being a part of Lebanon community and had great small talks with the locals and other volunteers. The BLT organization greatly appreciated our presence, especially to those of us who stayed until the end to pack things up and load up haystacks to the trucks.” – Nyra Mabanta

“I look forward to supporting our community’s endeavors to bring awareness once again.” -Kellie Zepeda 

Faculty Reflections on Community Service Outreach: 

“Community service is a key component of this program’s mission statement and demonstrates that a commitment to selfless service is as equally important as clinical excellence in the field of physical therapy.” -Dr. King 

“Serving the community provides an invaluable opportunity to cultivate trust and enhance quality of life through purposeful human connection.” -Dr. Brown 

“Our involvement with both community leaders and members strongly ties us as faculty members and students to our mission and vision of serving rural, at risk, and underserved persons.” -Dr. Wilder