Degree Overview
Regis University's Post Professional Fellowship in Optimal Aging is the first of its kind! Why is this new program important to you as a practicing clinician? As older adults comprise an increasing segment of the U.S. population, if you are not currently working with this patient population, you will be! It is very important for adults to age as optimally as possible and to recover from any declines rapidly in order to offset the serious physical, psychological and financial consequences of suboptimal aging.
Consider this:
- Being the first with such recognition illustrates your commitment to leadership in the field
- Being the first of a group of distinguished fellows in Optimal Aging sets you up in a position to guide the profession in this critical area of practice
- Gaining recognition as a fellow in Optimal Aging can help to grow your clinical practice
If you're interested in learning the exciting new research that demonstrates that PT can dramatically improve the quality of life as we age, this is the program for you. Did you know that accurately prescribed PT improves patient's ability to get up and down from chairs, climb stairs, walk faster, walk further, and perform hobbies and recreational activities? It has also been shown to increase social contacts, improve quality of life scores, decrease pain, decrease hospital and ER use, and increase time spent living in an independent setting.
The combination of didactic and clinical learning in this option will prepare the fellow to sit for the GCS and pass it without excessive preparation. In addition it will provide application to the didactic training that a person just studying and preparing for the GCS may not have. All fellowship students need to have achieved clinical specialist status prior to graduation. This can be in any area of specialization except Pediatrics. It is not required before acceptance into the fellowship program, but applicants who do not have specialist status should be able to show evidence that they will be able to attain this by completion of the program.
You don't have to relocate to do this! The online nature of the course work allows clinicians from all over the United States, who want to continue working and the opportunity to expand and gain knowledge with little work/life interruption. In addition to online course work, students will attend several weekend sessions on campus to practice hands-on skills and collaborate with faculty in person. Emphasis will be placed on advanced clinical decision-making, outcomes evaluation, and autonomous patient management. Courses focus on best practice integrating manual therapy, motor control and exercise. Examples of topics includes emphasis on screening tools, pharmacological, psychosocial, and nutritional considerations, and reimbursement models specific to this population. Risk identification, exercise prescription, fitness enhancement, and general health strategies are also studied, giving consideration to motivation and cultural issues that impact healthy lifestyle choices. The program is typically completed in one to one-and-a-half years.
U.S. licensed Physical Therapists holding a BSPT, MSPT or DPT are eligible to apply to the Fellowship in Optimal Aging program. Applicants that are not currently DPT prepared complete one additional course, DPT 770T Professional Development as part of the program.