he facility is awesome,” said Jessica Fowler, who chose lc’s dpt program over three other schools. “The space is bigger than in any school I’ve ever seen.”


“Our anatomical lab is better


than manymedical schools’ labs,” said Dr. George Schuppin, who teaches anatomy. With closed-circuit cameras over the instructor’s table, students can watch on tvmonitors throughout the lab as the instructor dissects a cadaver. A microphone ensures that everyone can hear. “Dissection with this kind of technol-


ogy is just unheard of in physical ther- apy education, and having a cadaver lab provides such an outstanding learning experience,” said Dr. Kevin Brueilly, director of the dpt program. While it takes some getting used to, students soon realize the benefit of being able to see inside an actual human body. Brandon Conner, a native of Forest,


Virginia, and a graduate of Virginia Tech with a b.s. in human nutrition, food, and exercise, said he was a bit stunned to see a real cadaver. At Tech, they only had virtual dissections in his classes. “It’s a really good learning expe- rience,” he said. “Hands-on is com- pletely different.” He is also amazed by the flat screens and high-definition instruction, and the facilities in general.


“I was blown away,” he said. “Everything is brand-spanking new.” As wonderful as the facilities are,


however, they’re not the best part. “The faculty is patient-centered and all about teaching us the best patient care possible,” said Jessica, a native of Hillsville, Virginia, who earned her undergraduate degree in sports medicine from Radford University. Dr. Brueilly agrees. Hiring faculty


was also the part that worried him the most as he contemplated starting a dpt program from scratch. As he was flying to Lynchburg for his interview in 2009, his biggest concern was finding some- one in anatomy. Then Dr. Schuppin met him at the airport. Dr. Schuppin had been teaching


anatomy at lc for nine years and was ready for a new challenge. He has it. “It requires a lot more stamina,” he said


of teaching at the graduate level. “I get a lot of questions, a lot of traffic. It’s a faster pace and the students are more demanding. I can’t tell you how excit- ing it has been.” The dpt program, which takes three


years to complete, is the first doctorate program offered at Lynchburg College. Physical therapists are in increasing de- mand. The number of physical therapy jobs is expected to climb 27 percent from 2006 to 2016, creating 68,000 new jobs nationwide. This need coin- cides with a rise in obesity and diabetes and a decline in fitness, as noted by the American Physical Therapy Association. dpt and health sciences are one of


the College’s five Leadership Initiatives identified by the Board of Trustees and President Kenneth Garren as a primary emphasis for years to come. “This is my forty-fourth year in higher education and this is the most exciting program I’ve been involved with,” Dr. Garren said. “It will help Lynchburg College, once again, meet community needs.” Dr. Lee Ann Eagler, who teaches


clinical education, knows the need firsthand. A native of Bedford, Virginia, Dr. Eagler had been working as a phys- ical therapist in Lynchburg since 2003.


“There’s extreme need for physical ther- apists in this area,” she said. Transferring to the teaching world


has been an eye-opener for Dr. Eagler, who said she has gained a new appreci- ation for class preparation and grading papers. “It’s more work than I ever thought,” she said. But she also remem- bers how much work was involved as a pt student and is impressed by the commitment she finds here. “The stu- dents are really wonderful to work with.” Adam Van Nortwick of Saranac


Lake, New York, worked as an athletic trainer at Longwood University after graduating from Appalachian State (North Carolina). He found he wanted a more in-depth understanding of the body, and he’s getting it. “The faculty


has been great,” he said. “They’re there for you.” The feeling is mutual. “The students are fantastic,” said Dr. Diane Wrisley.


“They are very hard workers, and they re- ally make my job easy.” Dr. Brueilly said Dr. Wrisley is the most published and best known of the faculty he recruited.


“Everybody in neuro-pt knows Diane Wrisley,” he said. For her part, Dr. Wrisley said the collaborative, student-centered approach at lc is what attracted her here. “We have a very integrated approach,”


Dr. Brueilly said. “We have to really work together as a team every semester.” The team also includes the students.


“The students are hungry and crave com- plete understanding,” he said, noting that they are also the school’s best ambas- sadors. They are spreading the word about the great program at lc, and Dr. Brueilly expects to have 300 to 400 ap- plications for the next cohort. Dr. Sara Knox said she has also been


impressed with the students’ commit- ment to professionalism both in and beyond the classroom. Ben Wood of Roanoke, Virginia, was chosen as the first “Student Standout” to be featured on the dpt’s web pages. Knox had this to say about him: “From day one of the program, Ben has


unequivocally displayed a commitment to excellence. He consistently and volun- tarily participates in activities to promote the program, attends professional associ- ation events, and engages his fellow class- mates. Ben’s positive attitude and actions exemplify the values and goals of the dpt program.” Ben, who is fromRoanoke, Virginia,


and a graduate of Coastal Carolina Uni- versity, said being part of the first class is the most exciting part of the program.


“We get the opportunity to set the stan- dards and make a reputation for the pro- gram,” he said. “Also we get to be the big kids the entire time here.”


Spring 2011 LC MAGAZINE 23


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