This week marks a historic first for Tennessee State University as it becomes the first historically Black college or university to open a student-run physical and occupational therapy clinic.
The clinic, which is part of the College of Health Sciences, opens Aug. 30 and is located in the basement of Clement Hall on the main campus.
It will mainly handle cases such as knee injuries, shoulder pain and lower back pain. The more serious cases will be referred out to local clinics.
“The ultimate goal is to serve the community, inclusive of TSU as well as the surrounding communities,” said Dr. Andrea Tyler, director of Graduate Student Services and Graduate STEM Research. “It provides the students a more hands-on type of instruction as it relates to the clinicals.”
TSU students, faculty and staff will be the initial patients. The clinic will serve as a referral source for physical and occupational therapy clinics in the area.
Dr. Rick Clark, assistant professor of physical therapy at TSU, will oversee the program, which joins 37 other student-run physical therapy clinics nationwide. Clark said the fact that the clinic is student-run is what he likes most about it.
“It’s a teaching opportunity for them,” said Clark, who was in the military for 25 years and ran multiple clinics. “I want them to not only be great therapists, but if they want to go out and start their own clinic, they now have a better understanding of what is involved in doing that.”
