Ithaca College has a wealth of resources when it comes to current and future health care professionals. Departments like Physical Therapy and Occupational Therapy, as well as the Department of Exercise Science and Athletic Training, are full of students who are capable and ready to learn through hands-on experiences. It is essential that the college provides these students with real-world, clinical experiences in a way that also benefits the college community as a whole.
The college has several clinics put in place that are open to the college community and are run by faculty and students. The Occupational Therapy/Physical Therapy Clinic (OT/PT Clinic) offers services Monday through Friday and has designated hours for performing artists. This clinic is primarily run by faculty, but there are opportunities for students to work under these faculty members in the clinic. The Athletic Training department also has 3 primary clinics on campus where athletic training students participate in clinicals in their fourth and fifth years of school.
These clinics are a chance for both students and faculty to remain active in their field and continuously build their knowledge base. This clinic also benefits the college community, as it provides accessible, affordable physical therapy, occupational therapy and athletic training to students and staff. The well-being of the college community is of the utmost importance, and maintaining this well-being through mutually beneficial clinics is the key to a healthy community.
In addition to previously established clinics, there is now pro bono pediatric physical therapy available to the college community on behalf of physical therapy students and faculty members. This type of clinic signifies genuine care, not just for students or faculty but for their families as well. This also provides a unique learning opportunity for students who are interested in pediatrics, but may not be able to get that specific placement in other clinical settings.
Providing hands-on field work is necessary to create excellent future health care professionals. Clinics provide a way for health care students to gain new levels of experience while also providing an abundance of resources to the campus community. It is imperative that the college continues to fund these clinics and find even more unique ways to provide accessible, mutually-beneficial health services on campus.
