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Are you a physical
therapist looking for a volunteer experience abroad?
Consider serving as a
clinical instructor for the students from Creighton
University's PT program!
Creighton University has
been sending students to the Dominican Republic for a 4
week clinical education experience since 1996.
This established program provides physical therapy
services to Haitian and Dominican patients in several
different clinical settings ranging from pediatrics to
geriatrics.
Click here for a description of all the clinical
sites.
In order to meet accreditation
requirements, students must be supervised by U.S.
licensed physical therapists. That's where you come in!
Physical therapists serve for either 2 or 4 weeks
supervising 2 students in one clinical site. The program
runs the last week in March through the 3rd week in
April (March 24th- April 23rd, 2007 and March 29th -
April 26th, 2008, for example).
Click here for a general calendar for 2007 and
HERE for 2008.
Professionals are responsible for the cost of their own
airfare; room, board and ground transportation are
provided once you arrive.
Physical therapy services are
provided in Spanish, so knowledge of the Spanish
language is helpful, but not essential. We
recommend that everyone take at least on introductory
course in Spanish (whether it's at a university or
on CD) to make the experience more meaningful. Spanish
classes are provided throughout the experience while in
Santiago.
In addition to physical therapy
practice, students and professionals provide service to
the community. This ranges from caring for children in
the orphanages to providing parasite medication to
children in the Haitian batay to providing a free PT
clinic to individuals living in the campo (rural DR).
Students and professionals also have the opportunity to
interact with practicing Dominican PTs in the clinic and
through Puccamyma University's PT program. And yes, we
manage to find time to experience the culture too!
This program is part of Creighton
University's Institute for Latin American Concern
(ILAC).
Click here for more information on the ILAC program.
The preferred application deadline
for spring 2008 is January 10th, 2008; however, we may
consider late inquiries if we have space available.
Click here for an application. If you have
further questions, please contact the director of the
physical therapy program, Julie Ekstrum at Creighton
University.
jekstrum@creighton.edu.
Gracias! | 
