PHYSICAL THERAPY

Graduated in 1967 (BS) and 1972 (MS)
Former Dean, Eugene Applebaum College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences

Q: Why did you choose Wayne State University?

A: It was close to home and affordable.

Q: What inspired you to pursue Physical Therapy?

A: I met a physical therapist at a camp where I worked as a counselor early in college. I had tried several other programs (clinical laboratory science and nursing) and they did not appeal to me. She invited me to spend a day with her at the Rehab Institute of Michigan and I decided that physical therapy was the career for me.

Q: Who was your most memorable Professor?

A: George Andrews, the founder of the PT program at WSU.

Q: What was your most challenging class?

A: No single course comes to mind. I enjoyed all of them!

Q: Did you have a favorite hangout on campus?

A: McKenzie Hall

Q: Share some reflections about your time at Wayne State:

A: I was glad I attended Wayne State University. I met wonderful people who became lifelong friends. I participated in campus activities that built my leadership skills and was fortunate to have outstanding faculty who were supportive in multiple ways. My years at WSU were overwhelmingly positive and introduced me to cultural, political and social issues that I may not have encountered elsewhere. Detroit is an extraordinary place in which to learn.

Q: In your opinion, what is one of the biggest changes that has occurred in your profession since graduating?

A: We have become an independent, evidence-based practice.

Q: Share a career highlight or summary:

A: I considered myself a developmental PT. I practiced in pediatrics, with adults and in geriatrics. I learned about adolescence through my daughter. I was fortunate to serve in many leadership positions over the years. It was an extraordinary privilege to serve as Dean of the Eugene Applebaum College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences.

You can learn more about Schmoll here.  You will hear about her career, the impact she continues to have on Wayne State's physical therapy students and what she is doing in retirement.

---

Physical therapists are dynamic health professionals who develop, coordinate and utilize select knowledge, skills and techniques in planning, organizing and directing programs for the care of individuals whose ability to function is impaired or threatened by disease or injury. The goal of PT is to enhance a person’s quality of life and their ability to participate in activities. The Doctor of Physical Therapy program application process opens July 1 and the deadline is Oct. 15. WSU Applebaum information meetings for prospective students take place at 6 p.m. on the first Tuesday of each month.

An anchor in urban health care

The Eugene Applebaum College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences is built on more than 100 years of tradition and innovation in the heart of Detroit. We have grown deep roots in our city, harnessing its powerhouse hospital systems and community service organizations as vibrant, real-world training grounds for students, with an ongoing focus on social justice in health care. And our research at all levels – from undergraduates to veteran faculty members – translates into creative solutions for healthier communities.

Wayne State University is a premier urban research institution offering approximately 350 academic programs through 13 schools and colleges to nearly 24,000 students.