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Faculty Practice
UMDNJ–SHRP
Department of Developmental and Rehabilitative Services
Physical Therapy Program Faculty Practice
Introduction
The Program in Physical Therapy oversees a faculty practice (the
Newark Therapy Services) that focuses on the delivery of physical
and occupational therapy in school settings. Currently‚ the
Newark Therapy Services employs over 30 clinicians who provide services
to the Newark‚ NJ public school children. During the 2001–2002
school year‚ over 500 children received services and over 150
preschoolers and transfer students received physical or occupational
therapy evaluations.
Philosophy
The goals of our service model are to enhance and develop competencies
in the skills and behaviors necessary for the achievement of a student’s
educational needs and to focus on the attainment of independent
function. Services complement the stages of development with an
eye on the ultimate outcome of community integration. Our faculty
members provide individual and group treatment‚ initial evaluations‚
as well as community and employment task analyses.
Clinical Expertise
We have over thirty clinical faculty who are experienced in providing
functionally and educationally based therapy services. The three
primary administrators (Dr. Merians‚ Dr. Kaplan and Christine
Cronin PT‚ PCS) each have over 20 years of experience in pediatrics
and school–based services.
One hundred percent of our clinicians are fully licensed by the
State of N.J. All clinicians have been trained in the use of the
School Functional Assessment‚ a valid and reliable disability
measured designed specifically for school environments. All supervisors
have advanced degrees.
Integration with the Academic Program
The faculty practice provides a variety of opportunities for the
students in the professional DPT. Several of the clinical faculty
are lecturers‚ course faculty or lab assistants in the academic
program. Several of the Program faculty provide clinical services
through the faculty practice as well as provide educational presentations
to the clinical staff. Professional students are provided opportunities
to observe children in the schools as part of their Pediatric Physical
Therapy Course and a minimum of 4 PT and 2 OT students are accepted
for full time clinical experiences each year.
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