Interprofessional Education in the Doctor of Physical Therapy Program

Interprofessional education at UAMS involves learning from, with, and about other disciplines. All UAMS students must complete an interprofessional education curriculum before graduation, coordinated by the UAMS Office of Interprofessional Education. The curriculum is delivered in three phases — exposure, immersion and competence — and includes seven core activities facilitated by trained faculty members from various colleges across UAMS.

For students on the UAMS Northwest Regional Campus, interprofessional education activities are coordinated by Tina Maddox, Ph.D., associate director of interprofessional education for the UAMS Northwest Regional Campus.

For more information, visit the Interprofessional Education Curriculum Framework website.

The UAMS Health North Street Clinic is a student-run interprofessional clinic providing free medical care to underserved populations with Type 2 diabetes and hypertension. Students and providers from the UAMS College of Medicine and College of Pharmacy, as well as students in the Doctor of Physical Therapy, Doctor of Occupational Therapy, and graduate-level nursing programs, work collaboratively to evaluate, develop and implement care plans addressing patients’ needs.

The clinic is overseen by the Student Board of Directors, comprised of elected students from the involved disciplines. Board members meet monthly and alternate serving as the director on duty, responsible for weekly clinical operations oversight.

Each week, students from physical therapy, medicine, pharmacy, occupational therapy and nursing are assigned to interdisciplinary teams. These teams collaborate to provide comprehensive assessments and evaluations of patients. Students and faculty preceptors work together to develop and execute care plans, which may include ordering laboratory tests, prescribing medications, referring to external providers or resources, prescribing exercises and therapies, and providing education on medication management, diet and exercise.

The North Street Clinic offers students the opportunity to learn with and from other health care team members while managing patients with multiple comorbidities. Faculty preceptors provide a safety net, enabling interdisciplinary teams to refine and advance their clinical skills. The current physical therapy preceptor is Chris Walter, PT, DPT, Ph.D., who also serves as the clinic’s co-director.

For more information, visit the North Street Clinic website.

For questions, please contact Christopher Walter, PT, DPT, Ph.D., assistant professor and co-director of the UAMS Health North Street Clinic in Fayetteville, Arkansas, at CWalter@uams.edu.