Description:

The lack of diversity in Physical Therapy education can create an environment where individuals from marginalized backgrounds experience discrimination, microaggressions, and other forms of negativity. This can lead to feelings of isolation and alienation, and in some cases, even foster a potentially hostile environment.  Such an atmosphere can hinder their sense of belonging, which is crucial for both learning and professional growth. Whether a seasoned professor or a new student, navigating these challenges is stressful and can have long-lasting effects, especially when power dynamics are at play.

This session will delve into the experiences of faculty and students with historically marginalized and minoritized identities and discuss how their identities impact their sense of belonging and ability to thrive in academic and clinical settings. Through real-world examples from research, we'll shed light on these challenges and discuss potential solutions.

Course Objectives:
After this presentation, learners will be able to:

1) Attendees will be able to define the terms minoritized, marginalized, and belonging.
2) Attendees will be able to describe different types of microaggressions and environmental factors that reduce feelings of belonging.
3) Attendees will be able to recognize instances of discrimination or microaggressions and implement basic strategies to create a more inclusive environment that fosters a sense of belonging for faculty and students alike. 

Speaker Information:

Shannon Richardson, PT, DPT, EdD is an Assistant Professor for the College of Saint Mary's Blended Doctor of Physical Therapy Program in Omaha, Nebraska. He received two Bachelor of Science degrees from the University of Nevada Las Vegas and a Doctor of Physical Therapy from Midwestern University in Glendale, Arizona. He completed an orthopedic residency at Kaiser Permanente in Los Angeles, California, and became a board-certified clinical specialist in orthopedic physical therapy. Before joining the faculty at the College of Saint Mary, Dr. Richardson worked in various settings, but the majority of his time was primarily in an orthopedic outpatient setting as part of a hospital. He also served as a faculty member for that hospital's physical therapy orthopedic residency. His teaching experience began as an adjunct faculty member teaching orthopedic courses to DPT students and he eventually secured a full-time teaching position at the College of Saint Mary. nal Leadership. His areas of scholarship are focused on discrimination within physical therapy education and social determinants of health.

Anne Mejia-Downs, PT, MPH, PhD, is an Associate Professor for the DPT Program at the College of Saint Mary. She has been a faculty member in various capacities for more than 30 years, teaching courses in cardiovascular and pulmonary physical therapy, health promotion/wellness, psychosocial aspects of health care, and service learning. Dr. Mejia-Downs received a BS in PT from the University of Colorado, a master's degree in Public Health from the University of North Carolina, and a PhD in Health Promotion and Wellness from Rocky Mountain University of Health Professions. She has published multiple peer-reviewed manuscripts and delivered numerous national presentations. Her areas of scholarship include health promotion, psychological resilience, service learning, and cardiovascular and pulmonary conditions. She practices in a pro bono community clinic where she supervises physical therapy students.

0.1 CEUs will be available for this webinar. 

Course Instructions

1. Click on the Contents tab to watch the course recording.
2. Click the Take Quiz button to complete the assessment. Learners will have 3 attempts to pass and must answer at least 70% of questions correctly.
3. Click Fill Out Survey under the Evaluation listing to provide valuable course feedback. Scroll down on all questions as there may be answer options that expand past the size of the window.
4. Click the View/Print Your Certificate button under the Certificate listing. You can view/print your certificate at any time by visiting the APTA Learning Center and clicking the CEU Certificate/Transcript link on the left-hand side of the page. 

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