Wabash Valley College continues to make progress towards the full implementation of its fledgling physical therapist assistant education program.
In the spring of 2018, Wabash Valley College proposed the implementation of a physical therapist assistant education program. The PTA program is a full-time, five-semester program that consists of general education courses, technical PTA-specific courses and clinical education experiences.
In 2018, WVC completed a PTA Needs Assessment and formed a hiring committee charged with finding the right professional to lead the program. Dr. Lisa Hoipkemier was hired to serve as Program Director of PTA by the IECC Board of Trustees for the 2020 – 2021 academic year.
Dr. Hoipkemier brought with her a wealth of experience in a wide variety of settings. She holds a Doctorate of Physical Therapy from Indiana University and is a clinical specialist in neurological physical therapy.
Dr. Hoipkemier is teaching Structural Kinesiology, Prevention/Treatment of Athletic Injury and in the Health Careers program this semester.
“I am enjoying the challenge of classroom teaching and definitely seeing so many areas I can grow and develop in,” said Dr. Hoipkemier. “All of the faculty have been so helpful in this process for me.”
The Illinois Community College Board and the Illinois Board of Higher Education approved the development of a Physical Therapy Assistant Associate of Applied Science degree at WVC in
early 2019. The Higher Learning Commission then approved PTA at WVC in September of 2019.
In December of 2019, WVC submitted a Notification of Intent to Seek Accreditation for a physical therapist assistant education program to The Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education. WVC requested, and was granted, placement into the March 2022 pilot cycle.
Presently, Dean of Instruction Robert Conn and Dr. Hoipkemier are working together and making progress towards the implementation of WVC’s PTA program.
“Dr. Hoipkemier and I are currently enrolled in the American Physical Therapy Association’s Developing Program Workshops,” said Conn. “Subject matter experts from around the country present CAPTE’s accreditation processes with guidelines for submitting the Application for Candidacy.”
According to Dean Conn, the next steps for WVC’s PTA program are developing the program curricular map and student-related policies, procedures and practices in line with CAPTE’s Standards and Required Elements.
A second full-time faculty member is expected to be hired and serve as the Clinical Education Coordinator in the Spring of 2021. WVC is scheduled to submit the Application for Candidacy in March of 2022 followed by a candidacy site visit in April of 2022. The technical education phase of the first PTA cohort will start in August of 2022.
Student inquiries about the PTA program have been robust and an even greater response is anticipated when the program begins actively recruiting students.
In the meantime, WVC is asking prospective PTA students about their goals and educational needs and steering those students towards several existing programs that currently offer training for entry-level employment in health and business careers.
Once fully implemented, the PTA program will employ a competitive enrollment process and will admit recent high-school graduates as well as adult learners. High-school students should study advanced math, biology, chemistry and health careers to prepare for the PTA program. Adult learners may want to refresh their skills with prerequisite and general education coursework at WVC.