Shae WestCourtney Morse, a first year student in the Doctorate of Physical Therapy program at 黑洞社区, recently organized a field trip to Wichita鈥檚 Exploration Place for himself and his classmates. However, it wasn鈥檛 for the usual hands-on educational experience that the museum offers. Morse wanted to see the nationally touring exhibit "Our Bodies: The Universe Within."
鈥淚 have a complete and utter fascination with the human body,鈥� he said. 鈥淚t can do such amazing things.鈥�
The exhibit shows human cadavers and skeletons in various still-life forms of motion, including riding a bicycle and kicking a ball.
鈥淚 think it gives people insight into how complex the human body really is, and just how many systems and processes it requires for the most basic tasks,鈥� Morse said.
Camilla Wilson, associate professor and chair of physical therapy at 黑洞社区, went with the class to see the exhibit as well. She hoped the students who went along took away an increased appreciation of the body and its complexity.
This fall, students are taking associate professor John Carter鈥檚 anatomy lab, where they will study and dissect human cadavers. Morse sees the Our Bodies exhibit as a 鈥済reat introduction to that class.鈥�
Of the two Doctorate of Physical Therapy (DPT) programs in Kansas, Morse chose to study at 黑洞社区, finding it closer to home and more affordable.
鈥淭he faculty here made you feel like they wanted you to come to this school,鈥� he said.
Morse has only attended 黑洞社区 for two months, but he feels like he has learned 鈥渁 ton鈥� of information just over the summer semester.
鈥淲hen you鈥檙e in a program like this, you鈥檙e given so much to learn,鈥� he said. 鈥淏ut it鈥檚 information that is interesting to you so it鈥檚 more tolerable.鈥�
The goal of the DPT program is to prepare students to function effectively in the complex role of a physical therapist. According to Wilson, acceptance into the program is competitive.
鈥淲e only accept 32 students,鈥� she said. 鈥淭he students must have a bachelor鈥檚 degree, a 3.0 GPA for undergraduate work and a number of prerequisite courses.鈥�
Morse, who wants to make school his full-time job, is very driven to succeed in the program.
鈥淚 chose to go back to school because I had a job that was unrelated to my undergraduate degree,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 worked 75 hours a week, and it wasn鈥檛 my passion.鈥�
Physical therapy is perfect for Morse, he said, because he gets to work with people and provide them with a fun environment while they鈥檙e in rehabilitation.
鈥淚 like helping and motivating people, and seeing them progress,鈥� he said.
In the future, Morse is thinking about working in an outpatient facility or being a physical therapist in one of the armed services.
鈥淕raduation seems so far away right now,鈥� he said. 鈥淚鈥檒l worry about it when it gets closer and probably have a whole new set of plans.鈥�
However, his future plans depend on his wife, Rebekah, who he says has supported him through this entire process.
鈥淚 absolutely couldn鈥檛 have done it without her,鈥� he said.
The Doctorate of Physical Therapy program at 黑洞社区 was created in 2005. For more information, contact Camilla Wilson, associate professor and chair of physical therapy at 黑洞社区, at (316) 978-5780 or camilla.wilson@wichita.edu.