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APTA Clinical Instructor Education and Credentialing Program
The Physical Therapy Department of Governors State University (GSU) will host a Clinical Instructor (CI) Education and 
Credentialing Program on June 15-16, 2012, in Room D34000 at GSU.
The program is recognized by the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) and takes 15 hours to complete. The Illinois Chapter Continuing Education Committee has approved this course, according to the Criteria for Approval of Continuing Education offerings established by the Illinois Physical Therapy Association.
The program and Assessment Center will be useful for both new and experienced physical therapists and physical therapist assistants involved with clinical education.
Note: All participants must attend each session in its entirety and complete the Assessment Center to be eligible for credentialing.
Course instructors will be Ann Vendrely, PT, DPT, Ed.D., a professor of Physical Therapy at Governors State University, and Kenya McGuire Johnson, PT, MA, a licensed physical therapist with a Master's degree in Counseling from Trinity University in Washington, D.C.
For additional information, see APTA Clinical Instructor Education and Credentialing Program Brochure (PDF).
Participants will be asked to fill out a Participant Dossier Form and a Fee Information Sheet.
For questions, call 708.534.7290.
Recent Events
Gloomy skies failed to prevent more than 80 runners and walkers to compete in the Second Annual Run 4 Rehab, a 5k (3.1-mile) run and 2-mile walk sponsored May 5, 2012, by GSU’s Physical Therapy Student Association (PTSA).
Serving as co-directors of the 2012 Run 4 Rehab were Amy Flaherty and Andy Jellema, first and second-year Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) students, respectively.
This year the PTSA members raised $1,400 — more than triple the amount that was raised last year.
The Run 4 Rehab serves as a benefit to raise funds for the Miami-Marquette Challenge, a national competition between physical therapy schools to collect and distribute money for physical therapy research grants around the country.
The purpose of the PTSA is to strive to familiarize and enhance the students with knowledge of and participation in professional organizations such as the American Physical Therapy Association, Illinois Physical Therapy Association, and other physical therapy related special interest groups; develop and augment leadership skills in students; promote service learning through community outreach programs; enhance students’ and the public’s knowledge of the physical therapy profession and Governors State University’s physical therapy program.
For complete Run 4 Rehab Results, click here.
(Pictured, left to right, are Joyce Sligar, PT, MBA, MA, University Lecturer in the Physical Therapy Department, Co-Director of Clinical Education and Faculty Advisor to the PTSA; Rebecca Wojcik, PT, Ed.D., GCS, Chair of the Department of Physical Therapy at GSU; Amy Flaherty and Andy Jellema, co-directors of the 2012 Run 4 Rehab, and both students in GSU’s Doctor of Physical Therapy [DPT] Program.)
Headlines
Events
Omicron Beta Chapter of Phi Alpha National Honor Society Holds 2011 Induction Ceremony
The GSU chapter of Phi Alpha — the National Honor Society for Social Work students — is Omicron Beta. The purpose of Phi Alpha Honor society is to provide a closer bond among students of social work and to promote humanitarian goals and ideals. Phi Alpha fosters high standards of education for social workers and invites into membership those who have attained excellence in scholarship and achievement in social work.
The motto of Phi Alpha is "Through Knowledge — the Challenge to Serve." 
The 2011 Induction Ceremony for the Omicron Beta Chapter of Phi Alpha was held Friday, March 25, 2011.
Officers of the Omicron Beta Chapter of Phi Alpha currently include: Cynthia King-Myers, President; Tonyia Kelley, Vice President; Yvette Smith-Walker, Secretary; and Tamara Lewis, Treasurer. New officer elections are forthcoming. Maristela Zell, Ph.D., LCSW, Associate Professor in the Social Work Department at Governors State University, serves as faculty representative for the GSU chapter of Phi Alpha.
Newly-inducted members of the Phi Alpha National Honor Society include: Kaitlin Aldworth; Aurora Basha; Gail D. Bonds-Carpenter; Monica Clanton; Sarah Cullina; Sarah Duncan; Emma Eaton; Rue Farcas; Sherri Funk; Stephanie Gibson; Marla Golden Kolovitz; Donna R. Gordon; Dora Harris; Amber Keipe; Nina R. Lee; Russhà Maclin-Harris; Catrice Moore; Stephanie Perry; Ashley Pitchford; Stephanie Pulice; Colleen Quinn; Jeanna Robinson; Jonika Pamela Ross; Juanita Sanders; Tonnickie Singleton, and Ellen M. Surprenant.
Addressing the new inductees, Gerri Outlaw, Ed.D., chair of GSU's Social Work Department, said, "I hope you are aware of how important you're seen. You are the top academic students, the cream of the crop," she said. "The emphasis in Phi Alpha, of course, is on academic excellence. But more important than that is the continuous civic engagement and service you provide. I hope that you will continue to be the fine and exemplary social workers that you are right now."
Serving as featured speaker for the Induction Ceremony was Fernando Rayas, a BSW alumnus from GSU who went on to receive his MSW from 
Jane Adams College of Social Work at the University of Illinois at Chicago. Rayas currently serves as a community organizer for Gamaliel of Metro Chicago (GMC), an affiliate of the Gamaliel Foundation, a nationally recognized network of grassroots community organizations working in the areas of youth issues, immigration reform, health care, access to transportation, workforce development and education. Rayas has been working with Jerry Kellman, who served as President Barack Obama's mentor in Gamaliel during the 1980s.
"It's an honor to be back here at my alma mater," Rayas noted. "I appreciate the background in policy that I learned through my social work studies. As a social worker, you have to understand policy and systemic change, as well as people and personal interaction. The macro and micro come together," he said.
"As a community organizer, I work with individuals in their leadership development and empowerment — part of this is helping them realize that they can make a difference in solving the challenges of their communities. The correct answer to why you do what you do as a social worker is because you want to change the world. As a social worker, you are not here to be famous, or popular, or to become wealthy. You're here to change the world," Rayas said.
National Qualifications for Individual Membership (Undergraduate)
An undergraduate student is eligible for membership after achieving the following national requirements and meeting local chapter requirements:
- Declared social work as a major
- Achieved sophomore status
- Completed eight semester hours or 12 quarter hours of required social work courses
- Achieved an overall grade point average of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale
- Achieved a 3.25 grade point average in required social work courses
National Qualifications for Individual Membership (Graduate)
A graduate student is eligible for membership after the following national requirements and meeting local chapter requirements:
- Completed one term of course work with the minimum number of social work credits as determined by the local chapter
- Achieved a minimum grade point average of 3.5 based on a 4.0 scale
Eligibility Criteria for Omicron Beta Chapter at GSU (for both Graduate and Undergraduate students)
Demonstrated service to, or leadership in, the community or university in the last two years.
More Information
For more information about Phi Alpha, please visit their website www.phialpha.org, contact Dr. Maristela Zell at 708.235.2235, or fill out a Phi Alpha Omicron Beta Chapter Request for Initiation form, and return it to Governors State University, c/o Dr. Maristela Zell, Social Work Department, 1 University Parkway, University Park, 60484.
Historic Hooding Ceremony Held for First Doctoral Candidates from College of Health and Human Services
It was quite an historic evening. Twenty doctoral graduates from GSU's College of Health and Human Services — the first in GSU's 41-year history — were honored June 10 in a Hooding Ceremony celebrating their academic achievements. At the University's Commencement Ceremony on June 12, the doctoral candidates wore their hoods as they marched across the stage at Tinley Park Convention Center to receive their degrees.
Recipients of the Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) degree include Shirley Comer of Griffith, IN, and Patricia Martin of Frankfort.
Recipients of the Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) degree include: Tanya Anders of Crete, Patrica Barker of Orland Hills, Megan Bryce of Willowbrook, Scott Bullard of Tinley Park, Michelle Gibbons of Chicago, Emily Harn of Sauk Village, Kristina Jones of Country Club Hills, Shannon Kleinfelder of Manteno, James Lagoni of Evergreen Park, Andrew Lange of Orland Hills, Cheryl Luif of Lynwood, Cari O'Donnell of Shorewood, Bradley Phillips of Bourbonnais, Megan Schneider of Champaign, Joshua Velarde of New Lenox, Justin Velarde of New Lenox, Jena Zientek of Oak Lawn, and Gregory Zukowski of Riverdale.
The Doctorate in Physical Therapy and Doctorate in Nursing Practice programs elevate graduates to new levels of expertise and qualifications in their respective fields. The professional doctorate focuses primarily on the knowledge graduates need for advanced or entry-level practice.
"The practice doctorate gives professions the versatility to meet several challenges," noted Dr. Linda Samson, Dean of the College of Health and Human Services. "For example, it will soon be the entry-level degree for physical therapy practice. In nursing, the degree will help put nurse educators in the classroom and assure the skill set of advanced practitioners.
"The degree candidates for DPT and DNP reflect GSU's commitment to educational access and our belief that we as an institution must provide our constituents the opportunities to achieve in the professional practice world," Dr. Samson said.
Addressing the graduates at the Hooding Ceremony, Dr. Samson said, "You have journeyed long and hard to sit here this evening . . . my message to you — make someone's life better by challenging yourselves and each other."
Pictured (top photo) are the very first recipients of practice doctoral degrees from the College of Health and Human Services — 18 Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) graduates and two Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) graduates. Above left, GSU President Dr. Elaine P. Maimon addresses the graduates at the Doctoral Hooding Ceremony; at right, Dr. Linda Samson, former Dean of the College of Health and Human Services, serves as Master of Ceremonies for the event, with Interim Provost Dr. David Curtis looking on.
News Archives
Publications
Make Someone's Life Better Magazine (formerly Annual Report)
Student E-Pulse: Current Edition
Student E-Pulse: Archived Editions
Community E-Pulse: Current Edition
Community E-Pulse: Archived Editions
Video
“Advancing Professional Practice: An Expert Discussion on the Professional Practice Doctorate”
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