Newswise — WASHINGTON (July 9, 2014) — The George Washington University (GW) School of Medicine and Health Sciences’ Physical Therapy Program is pleased to host, in conjunction with Woods Duncan Consulting, “Preparing the Next Generation of Physical Therapists for Innovative Practice,” to be held July 25-26 at GW’s Marvin Center in Washington, D.C. Physical therapist educators across the country, as well as physical therapists involved in innovative models of health care, are invited to make recommendations and identify resources to narrow the gaps between educational curriculum and new models of health care.

The event is a grassroots effort to develop a network of health system leaders and educators to ensure that physical therapist educational and staff development programs are prepared for the next generation of innovative practice. This conference is the first step in bringing together physical therapy faculty and physical therapists who are health system leaders to help frame efforts going forward.

Main collaborators and speakers for the conference include:

- Pamela W. Duncan Ph.D., FAPTA, FAHA , director of innovations and transitional outcomes, professor of neurology, Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center- Ellen Costello, PT, Ph.D., associate director of the physical therapy program, George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences- Ed Dobrzykowski, PT, DPT, ATC, MHS, director of system rehabilitation services and sports medicine, St. Elizabeth Healthcare - Michael Friedman, PT, MBA , director of rehabilitation therapy services, Johns Hopkins Hospital; faculty member, Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine - Janice Kuperstein, PT, Ph.D., MSEd, associate professor and chair of the Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, University of Kentucky College of Health Sciences- Robin Marcus, PT, Ph.D., OCS, interim dean, associate professor of physical therapy, University of Utah College of Health - Laura Lee (Dolly) Swisher, PT, MDiv, Ph.D., coordinator of professional education, professor and assistant dean, University of San Francisco Morsani College of Medicine

This conference is organized by Woods Duncan Consulting, a consulting firm devoted to building grass root networks to lead, implement, and transform health care. Through creating curriculums, staff development, and leadership programs for interdisciplinary providers, faculty, researchers, and health system administrators, Woods Duncan Consulting is focused on building capacity to respond to health system and payer reform.

For conference information and registration, visit http://www.leadersnetworkinghc.com/.

For more information about the GW Physical Therapy Program, visit http://smhs.gwu.edu/pths/programs/physical-therapy.

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About the GW School of Medicine and Health Sciences:Founded in 1824, the GW School of Medicine and Health Sciences (SMHS) was the first medical school in the nation’s capital and is the 11th oldest in the country. Working together in our nation’s capital, with integrity and resolve, the GW SMHS is committed to improving the health and well-being of our local, national and global communities. smhs.gwu.edu