Patrick Pabian, D.P.T., program director for the UCF Doctor of Physical Therapy Program represented UCF and the physical therapy program as the opening guest speaker for the IX International Congress of Physiotherapy this past week. The conference was hosted by the Centro Universaria Dinamica Das Cataratas (UDC) in the city of Foz do iguacu, Brazil.
Pabian, whose research interests include sports medicine and interdisciplinary patient care, presented “Interprofessional Education in Healthcare Disciplines” on opening night. The focus was on the enhancement of patient care through interprofessional education. He highlighted ways in which educational programs are achieving this and discussed how research is supporting the development of activities to encourage team-based care.
UCF puts a large emphasis on interprofessional and interdisciplinary learning, and the physical therapy program has been involved with several successful interprofessional collaborations including the UCF College of Medicine, College of Nursing, School of Social Work, and Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders.
Pabian also was asked to do a three-hour presentation titled, “Interdisciplinary Management of Common Sports Medicine Conditions.” This mini-course covered a range of contemporary issues including concussion management, shoulder injuries in overhead athletes and non-contact ACL injuries. The overall focus of the trip, according to Pabian, “was not to impart a lot of knowledge, but to frame their approach to managing patient conditions in sports physical therapy.” He believes his message was well received.
While in Brazil, Pabian had the opportunity tour three UDC campuses and physical therapy labs as well as participate in impromptu guest laboratory activities reviewing orthopedic assessments of the knee and shoulder. He also toured several high schools and gave two presentations to students about the profession of physical therapy.
Thanks to a UDC faculty member who acted as tour guide and translator, Pabian was able to do a bit of sightseeing. One stop was Cataratas do Iguacu, among the world’s largest waterfalls on the border of Brazil and Argentina. He was able to witness the power of the world’s largest hydroelectric dam in Itaipu, and he visited a few national parks in neighboring Argentina and Paraguay.
“It was a very interesting experience,” said Pabian. “The trip provided the opportunity to see the variance in education between our two countries. It was enlightening to see that much of what the students learn is very similar.”
While in Brazil, Pabian had the opportunity tour three UDC campuses and physical therapy labs as well as participate in impromptu guest laboratory activities reviewing orthopedic assessments of the knee and shoulder. He also toured several high schools and gave two presentations to students about the profession of physical therapy.
Thanks to a UDC faculty member who acted as tour guide and translator, Pabian was able to do a bit of sightseeing.
One stop was Cataratas do Iguacu, among the world’s largest waterfalls on the border of Brazil and Argentina. He was able to witness the power of the world’s largest hydroelectric dam in Itaipu, and he visited a few national parks in neighboring Argentina and Paraguay.
“It was a very interesting experience,” said Pabian. “The trip provided the opportunity to see the variance in education between our two countries. It was enlightening to see that much of what the students learn is very similar.”
