​DPT ​Students Present at Nation’s Largest Physical Therapy Association Conference

By Hazel Scott

Alabama State University’s Department of Physical Therapy (PT) in the College of Health Sciences,  a leading graduate institution that emphasizes health science education through innovative classroom education, will have four students presenting key research posters at the national American Physical Therapy Association Conference in San Diego, California, February 23-25, 2023.

The Combined Sections Meeting (CMS) is one of the largest annual Physical Therapy Conferences in the nation.

​DPT ​students Morgan Clausell, Paris Fountain, Nikia Moore, and Zoie Wilson  will present their research on “Cultural Competence in Physical Therapists.” Their faculty advisers are Dr. Charlene Portee, dean, College of the College of Health Sciences,  and Dr. Cleve Carter III, assistant professor.

​”This type of experience is a great early professional socialization for students. It allows the students to network with PT professionals. It also provides students with the opportunity to promote their research agenda. Their research topic, ‘Cultural Competence in Physical Therapists,’ is of critical importance in reducing health disparities in our community,”​ said Dr. Charlene Portee, dean of the College of Health Sciences.​

The CSM conference is expected to bring more than 15,000 of the brightest and most innovative physical therapy professionals in the nation together for three days of educational programming, networking opportunities,  research updates, and new technological innovations to showcase top researchers and educators in the field.

Physical therapists improve and restore mobility in patients’ lives, reducing and managing pain, often without the need for expensive surgery or long-term use of prescription medications.

The conference also features an exhibit hall with hundreds of exhibitors, demonstrating the latest equipment, products and technologies used by physical therapy professionals to help people regain and maintain mobility and lead active and healthy lives.