Senior Partners In Clinical Education (SPICE) Mentorship Program

Physical therapy is a “hands-on” profession that teaches students to perform many manual skills such as assessing for muscle soreness, taking heart rate and blood pressure, testing reflexes and sensation, measuring joint range of motion and muscle strength, applying thermal modalities, traction and massage.  The senior partner volunteers serve as simulated patients for students so that they can practice their newly learned clinical skills on an older adult in addition to fellow students.  The SPICE partners provide the students with constructive feedback regarding the clarity of the students’ instructions and explanations, as well as their comfort level when the student is examining them.  Some of our SPICE partners also serve as simulated patients for students’ practical exams. 

The Doctor of Physical Therapy program has a rigorous curriculum.  Students often attend class from 8:00 a.m. – 5 p.m. and must devote additional hours studying, preparing assignments, and practicing newly learned skills.  The volunteers who participate in this program are adult Christians with a strong faith and a sense of optimism who can encourage and pray for students as they face the challenges and stresses of physical therapy school.

The ultimate goal of this program is to celebrate the success of our students. We want our senior partners to be active participants in these joyous occasions as well. Special occasions include the formal presentation of students’ scholarly projects, the bestowing of our blessing as they leave campus for their full-time clinical affiliations, and of course, graduation.