Gannon University Students Celebrate Physical Therapy Month Through Service
Posted: November 19, 2013Veterans Day is traditionally celebrated in November, but for
students and faculty in Gannon University's Doctor of Physical
Therapy (DPT) program, Physical Therapy Month in October was a
perfect opportunity to celebrate by helping the veterans in Erie's
Soldiers' and Sailors' Home.
Led by Kristine Legters, D. Sc., associate professor and
chairperson of physical therapy, the graduate students conducted
fund-raising events to benefit residents of the facility for needy
and disabled former-military personnel requiring medical, clinical
and nursing assistance.
With the rigorous coursework and practicums mandated by the
program, DPT students are time- challenged. Nonetheless, they came
through with a series of fundraising projects, one per week
sandwiched around Gannon's fall break, each of which had a specific
purpose.
These included donations to buy items of basic need for the
Home's residents: wheelchair cupholders, bars of soap, decks of
cards and men's white socks. These donations were raised during
"jeans days," days on which the normal dress code required of DPT
students was relaxed for students making a donation.
PT Month was bracketed by two events, a Pizza Night for Gannon
students at the beginning, and at the end of the month, the PT
Olympics. In that event, teams of four PT students competed for one
hour in a variety of events with a physical therapy
orientation.
"I'm not sure that there has ever been as much cheering
occurring in the Morosky building, ever," Legters said of the
Olympics.
The month's activities raised $70 for wheelchair cup
holders--one quarter at a time--36 decks of cards and 44 pairs of
socks were donated, along with 59 bars of soap.
"Overall, the students really enjoyed making a meaningful
contribution in an easy way. We were very pleased with how well
this event went, and the Soldiers and Sailors Home was very, very
appreciative of the effort," Legters said.