Physical Therapy students volunteer for the Special Olympics

On July 8, six physical therapy students volunteered for the Special Olympics - Summer State Games in Corvallis, Oregon.  The event hosted more than 2,000 athletes, 600 coaches and 1,400 volunteers.  Physical therapy students from Pacific University and George Fox University examined and treated athletes under the supervision of Dr. Brad Simpson, PT, DPT, CSCS, COMT, FAAOMPT, who is an alumni of our program (‘2005) and a physical therapist in Beaverton, OR for ATI Physical Therapy.  Throughout the day, physical therapy students: 1) assessed strength, flexibility, balance, and aerobic capacity, 2) provided athletes with education to improve performance and prevent injury, and 3) provided encouragement.  For the past several years, Dr. Simpson has helped to organize the FunFitness physical therapy screening service for the Special Olympics of Oregon, which is a division of its Healthy Athletes program. Pictured from left to right are Tabitha Galindo ’19, Carly Negrila ’19, Shannon Wurgler ’19, Paige Rhodes ’19, Alicia Polston ’19, and Rachel Karpelowitz ’18.