PHYSICAL THERAPY

Bachelor's in 1974, DPT in 2015
Owner, Oakland Physical Therapy 

Q: Why did you choose Wayne State?

A: Because of its academic excellence in a variety of health care and medical specialties and its diverse student body. Having loved going downtown as a youngster, I was drawn to the wonderful urban campus located in a safe learning environment with safe commuting to and from the academic and medical campuses.

Q: What inspired you to pursue PT?

A: As an undergrad psychology major, I was seeking a vocation where I could work closely with people and use my energy and my hands to improve a person's well-being. I was able to meet a few physical therapists and was impressed by their experience and positive description of the profession. As an undergrad, I had an opportunity to work as an aide and caregiver to a quadriplegic attorney. I was impressed that what little I could do at the time meant so much to his well-being.

Q: Who was your most memorable instructor?

A: Dr. Edward Tracy. I was very impressed by his calm demeanor and very well-organized presentation of the complex structure of the human body. This carried over to the lab environment, where we were able to virtually discover the complex anatomy of the human body.

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

A: During the interview process for the Physical Therapy program, I was impressed by Program Director Roberta Cottman. I was a bit concerned about the fewer number of men in the profession at the time. Roberta was very welcoming, and our class population was one-third men, which was the largest up to then. After graduating, Roberta was also very encouraging to me to pursue a greater role in physical therapy education.

The PT program most importantly gave me the opportunity to meet my wife, Kristie. We struggled together through all the challenges of physical therapy school. We later married, had a wonderful family of three children, and became business partners in a physical therapy private practice, which we have continued into retirement.

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

A: The independence in the practice of physical therapy. At the outset of my career, each component of physical therapy treatment was prescribed by the referring physician. Now with more independence, physical therapists have the responsibility of determining and creating a treatment plan as well as treating patients without the need for a physician referral.

Q: Tell us more about your career.

A: After graduating with a BS in Physical Therapy from Wayne State in 1974, I took a position as Assistant Director of PT in a local hospital and initiated my pursuit of a specialty in orthopedics with many continuing education courses in Manual Therapy. I then went on to the University of Kentucky and received a MSEd in 1978 in Allied Health Education with a specialty in Orthopedic Physical Therapy. I returned to Detroit and assumed a Director of Physical Therapy position in a hospital and clinic.

In 1981, Kristie and I established Oakland Physical Therapy in Novi, specializing in orthopedic physical therapy. My teaching activities include specialty courses at Wayne State and Oakland University while pursuing Manual Physical Therapy education directly with Freddy Kaltenborn and Olaf Evjenth. In 1992, I was one of the first to be certified from the International Seminar Orthopedic Manipulative Therapy at OU. Our private practice continued to thrive over the next few decades, and we incorporated patient educational opportunities and workshops along with direct patient care. I returned to Wayne State in 2008 and received a Doctor of Physical Therapy in 2015 from the Eugene Applebaum College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences.

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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.