Access to prompt physical therapy can significantly affect recovery and performance for young people with injuries, especially student-athletes. While some schools have an athletic trainer for on-field treatment of sports injuries, many students lack access to continued outpatient rehabilitative care and guidance for injury prevention. A new initiative between UVM’s Physical Therapy program and Winooski’s school-based health center offers physical therapy (PT) services to students in need. This free program, led by Reuben Escorpizo, PT, M.Sc., D.P.T., and Heather Link, M.D., ensures students receive necessary care without financial or other access barriers.

“It has been very difficult to refer patients into physical therapy due to multiple factors,” said Dr. Link, a pediatrician at the school-based health center. “Among these are insurance coverage, language barriers, parental work schedules, health literacy, and transportation. With this pathway, we can take steps towards providing equity in PT access.”

Students experiencing pain from injuries that could benefit from physical therapy are referred by Dr. Link for a 30-minute consultation with Dr. Escorpizo and his team of UVM physical therapy students. In addition to treating the specific injury, Dr. Escorpizo and his students screen for head, back, neck, and extremity injuries that may have developed over time or resulted from an accident. The partnership not only enhances student health and wellness but also provides valuable experience for physical therapy students.

“On-site, the students don't just shadow me; they co-lead the encounter,” said Dr. Escorpizo. “They get briefed on the case for the day, take comprehensive history, discuss their assessment of the case, and complete the documentation. They can, in real time, directly apply their knowledge and skills learned in the classroom in a safe and positive learning environment. Plus, they get to experience the therapist talking to the parent/guardian of the student, school nurses, and pediatrician after being seen, enhancing the loop of communication.”

The clinical opportunity has garnered significant interest from students in the Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) program. Since its inception in January, six students have already participated in this clinical experience, and an additional eight students are expected to join by the end of the semester. Carlos Pinga, a student in the DPT Class of ’27, volunteers at the clinic to gain experience in pediatrics. So far, he’s worked with two students with sprained ankles, facilitating appointments that involved citing progress and providing patient and family education. “I was able to reach my goals of gaining experience in the school setting and practice many skills I learned in class such as creating home exercise programs, performing range of motion and manual muscle testing, and taking SOAP notes (for documenting and organizing clinical information),” said Pinga.

Documentation is crucial for the initiative's sustainability. Each student receiving services will have a documented treatment plan attached to their medical record. Involving parents is another goal. The school-based PT clinic exposes students and families to the benefits of physical therapy, which they may not have previously encountered. Students learn to practice recommended exercises and experience positive effects. “Hopefully, once the parents see the positive effect of PT on their kids’ activities – in basketball, soccer, or simply walking and running – they will see the value of physical therapy,” said Dr. Escorpizo.

Katie Richards, also a member of the DPT Class of ’27, takes part in the clinic to gain hands-on experience, which has included evaluation and note-taking. She appreciates the opportunity to apply concepts she’s learned in class - as well as the fact that the physical therapy services provided are free to the students.

In addition to injury rehabilitation, the pro bono clinic provides preventive care, including guidance on stretches, exercises, assistive devices, activity modification and simulation, and patient/parent education to help athletes stay injury-free throughout their seasons. Looking ahead, Dr. Escorpizo envisions the clinic offering additional services that require a physician’s referral, such as occupational therapy. By offering these services within the school environment, the initiative strengthens the relationship between education and wellness, empowering students to take charge of their health and contributing to better overall well-being and academic success.

“It is a huge relief to be able to smoothly and quickly refer patients for a PT eval and for recommendations,” said Dr. Link. “To be able to refer to Dr. Escorpizo, who is a leader in PT, known worldwide, and with a high level of integrity in practice is a tremendous asset to have for the students in Winooski.” 

To help promote DPT students' involvement in community engagement experiences please consider contributing to the DPT Clinical Experiences Fund.