Overview

Clinical Education at Elon University

The clinical education program at Elon University is comprised of 4 clinical practicums, which take place after the corresponding didactic content has been completed to reinforce the students’ knowledge. This schedule has served Elon well in graduating well-rounded, well-prepared entry-level physical therapists, who have patient experiences with individuals from a diverse array of backgrounds, cultures and age groups.

In locations ranging from within Elon, NC to international, students complete 4 full-time clinical experiences, three of which are 8 weeks in length and the final practicum which is 16 weeks in length. The first of these begin in January of the second year of the DPT program and is in the outpatient orthopedic setting. The second clinical practicum takes place in October of their second year and is in an inpatient or neuro-based setting. Upon the completion of all didactic content in June of the third year, students begin back-to-back clinical placements: Clinical Practicum III is in an inpatient or neuro-based setting, and, the final experience, Clinical Practicum IV, beginning in early August, can be completed in a setting of the student’s choice, dependent on the previous completion of the Clinical Education setting requirements.

Clinical Education Program Goals

In accordance with the DPTE Program Mission, the clinical education program aims to:

  1. Work with clinical partners in creating and growing an interactive, interdependent, co-operative learning community.
  2. Provide students clinical experiences toward becoming autonomous practitioners who can fulfill all roles of a generalist physical therapist across the continuum of care. The continuum of care includes the provision of primary, secondary, and tertiary care in patient management, administration, education, consultation, and prevention along with the promotion of health, wellness, and fitness.
  3. Facilitate the transition from didactic work to clinical-based physical therapy education.
  4. Foster and facilitate mentoring relationships between clinicians and students to allow for appropriate progression in clinical skills.
  5. Encourage students to incorporate the highest professional, ethical, legal, and moral standards in physical therapy practice.
  6. Have students integrate evidence-based decisions in their clinical practice and encourage them to be life-long learners and critical consumers of research and literature.

Clinical Education Staff and Faculty at Elon University

For more information or questions about Elon University’s Doctor of Physical Therapy clinical education experience, please contact Christopher Scott or Katy Bales.