School of Physical Therapy Mission and Vision

Mission

Educating future physical therapists as movement system experts who will infuse innovative, evidence-informed practice in rural and medically underserved communities throughout the Northwest. 

Vision

Transforming movement and function to revolutionize the health of rural and medically underserved communities. 

Our Commitment

The DPT program at PNWU embraces the University’s mission. We are committed to educating and training physical therapists in a culture of interprofessional teaching, learning, and scholarship that emphasizes returning to serve rural and medically underserved communities throughout the Northwest.

Our Philosophy

We believe:  

Physical therapists can impact health and health care delivery across the lifespan in rural and medically underserved communities through their unique role as movement experts.  

The future of physical therapy practice rests in our graduates continually demonstrating the value of movement and function for health and longevity, translating evidence for practice into action and advocating for access to physical therapy in rural and medically underserved communities. 

A student-focused, patient-centered, dynamic, and collaborative learning environment nourished within a culture of empowerment, compassion, innovation, interprofessional collaboration, social justice, and social responsibility will develop future leaders who will launch new visions of physical therapy for future generations. 

SOPT Goals

The SOPT has goals related to students/graduates, faculty, and the program that are based on the program mission and vision, reflective of contemporary physical therapy education, research and practice, and lead to expected program outcomes.

Goal #1 The SOPT will prepare competent entry-level physical therapists who are:

• movement system experts 
• prepared to work in rural or medically underserved areas or with medically underserved populations 
• innovative and committed to life-long learning 
• valued members of the interprofessional team 
• advocates for access to physical therapy in rural and medically underserved communities 

Goal #2 Students in, and graduates from, the SOPT will exhibit:

• compassion and respect 
• inclusivity and cultural sensitivity 
• evidence-informed practice 
• a commitment to service and leadership in the community and the profession 
• an understanding of the interprofessional team 

Goal #3 The SOPT will recruit and retain core faculty who:

• embrace the missions of the university and SOPT  
• welcome interprofessional teaching, learning, and scholarship 
• strive for excellence in research and scholarship 
• maintain contemporary expertise in their content area of teaching 
• participate in ongoing and continuous assessment to ensure mission fulfillment

Goal #4 The SOPT program will exemplify PNWU’s mission commitment to rural, Northwest, and medically underserved communities through a model of:

• Recruit 
• Educate, and   
• Return