Mission, Vision & Philosophy

There are many aspects that constitute our Department. Among them are our Mission, Vision, and Philosophy. These statements provide a look at how we think, teach, and practice.

Mission

The mission of the Department of Physical Therapy at Clarkson University is:

• To graduate physical therapists who emulate the core values of the profession
• For faculty, graduates, and students to contribute to the profession, community, and society through education, research, and practice.

Vision

The vision of the Department of Physical Therapy at Clarkson University is that:

• Physical therapists are autonomous practitioners in a doctoring profession
• Our graduates will achieve positions of leadership in the profession, community, and society
• Faculty seek, generate, and apply knowledge that fosters innovative education, research, and practice individually and through collaboration within the Department and external communities.

Philosophy

We believe that the:

• Core values of the physical therapy profession are accountability, altruism, compassion/caring, excellence, integrity, professional duty, and social responsibility.
• Pillars of autonomous practice are professionalism, practice based upon a Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) degree, direct access for patients to physical therapy services, access for patients to providers of their choice, and practice based on evidence.
• Existence of the Department of Physical Therapy at Clarkson University facilitates awareness of, and appreciation for, health professions and health education within the University and local community.
  
  

We believe that our innovative educational model, with a foundation in Problem-Based Learning, and experiential opportunities:

• Provides a quality, technologically rich, academic and clinical learning environment
• Emphasizes development of processional values and behavior with an emphasis on cultural competence
• Emphasizes active learning experiences that facilitate critical thinking abilities
• Develops collaborative skills for the interdisciplinary nature of health care
• Develops communication skills
• Develops leadership skills
• Stimulates autonomous, self-directed, life-long learning and problem solving skills
• Emphasizes a linkage between didactic and clinical learning experiences
• Facilities relationships among the Department, University, and Community
• Integrates foundational sciences, clinical sciences, and professional practice throughout the curriculum
• Instills an awareness of critical social, ethical, and environmental issues inherent in our pluralistic world
• Promotes scholarly activity as an integral component of the physical therapy profession
• Provides mentoring relationships for faculty, students, and clinicians
• Prepares graduates to become licensed physical therapists
  
  

We believe that the physical therapy faculty as educators/scholars/clinicians:

• Develop and implement an innovative curriculum that continually evolves to reflect knowledge and needs of the physical therapy profession
• Mature in the ability to participate in scholarly activity, clinical practice, and service to the academic, professional, and public communities
• Promote and participate actively in professional or community
• Model and promote the core values and pillars of autonomous physical therapy practice
  
  

We believe that students who enter Clarkson University's physical therapy professional curriculum have:

• A baccalaureate degree in a self-selected major
• Explored health professions as potential career choices, and demonstrate knowledge of, and commitment to, physical therapy as a profession
• Values, such as caring, diligence, diversity, integrity, growth, service, teamwork, and vision, which provide a foundation for the core values of the profession
  
  

We believe that graduates of Clarkson University's Department of Physical Therapy will be competent physical therapists capable of practicing autonomously who:

• Are leaders in the profession, community, and society through clinical practice, education, and service
• Collaborate and communicate in a variety of professional, community, and societal environments
• Apply critical thinking and problem solving skills
• Are reflective practitioners, who examine their practice to ensure the highest quality of service
• Are aware of cultures, values, beliefs, and capabilities, of themselves and others, as a basis for optimal health care delivery
• Have the knowledge, skills, and integrity necessary to meet health and wellness needs of a diverse community in a changing society
• Are autonomous, self-directed, life-long learners
• Are competent to fulfill their professional roles
• Emulate the core values