UW DPT Service Learning

Opportunities

Some opportunities are opening up gradually although this can change at any due to COVID19 and the delta variant. Please continue to check this page for updates on the status of these opportunities!

And stay tuned for the UPCOMING Global PT Day of Service, October 2024!

ptdayofservice.com/ for more information!

Current Opportunities: Year Round

Spinal Cord Injury (SCI) Transitions @ Harborview Medical Center

The SCI (Spinal Cord Injury) Transitions Program takes place at Harborview Medical Center (HMC) on Monday and Wednesday afternoons from 3:50 – 5 (clients participate 4-5 PM). UW DPT students, under the supervision of a licensed PT and/or therapeutic recreation specialist (TR) will assist individuals with SCI to participate in an exercise program. The objective of the program is to assist individuals who have sustained a SCI within the past 2 years to transition to a community-based exercise program. The objective of student participation in the program is to develop patient interaction skills, knowledge of exercise equipment and protocols, and documentation of patient participation.

Student Participation

  • This is experience is available to first year DPT students, Autumn, Winter, and Spring quarters and the first 6 weeks of summer quarter. Second years during the last 4 weeks of Summer Quarter.
  • Students who volunteer to participate in this program will attend one day per week, either Monday (2 students) or Wednesday (2 students), for one quarter. This opportunity fulfills service/service learning hours required in the curriculum.

Dates of Service

Students will participate in this program according to the academic calendar. Orientation will take place during the first full week of the quarter, and students will participate through the last day of instruction.

Course Registration

Students must register for Rehab 567C, 1 credit during their quarter of participation. Liability coverage is contingent on your registration, so you must be registered before your first day of participation.

Where exactly are the programs held?

Harborview — The SCI Transitions program is held in the Comprehensive Rehabilitation Outpatient Program (CORP) PT gym and is coordinated by Kristy Grant (TR) and Jordan Cabrera. CORP is located on the 4th floor in the Maleng building on the SE corner of 9th and Jefferson.

Contact Information: Kristy Grant, kbc4@uw.edu CORP Reception Desk, 206-744-2140

University District Street Medicine (UDSM)

Please follow this link to learn more about opportunities with UDSM and to volunteer! udstreetmed.weebly.com/

Mobile Health Outreach (MHO) to Tiny House Villages

Part of the Mobile Health Van Project sponsored by Harborview Medical Center. DPT students have the opportunity four times a month to serve on an interprofessional team at 2 tiny house villages in the greater Seattle area. One location is in the Maple Leaf neighborhood in North Seattle. A schedule is being established as this is a new tiny home village. Currently students are going out on Thursday afternoons. The second location is in South Seattle and is home to families. Students go out on Sundays from 1-3 pm. Please check back for updates!

Hillman City Clinic in South Seattle

Nearing its first anniversary in Feb. 2024, Hillman City Clinic is a unique opportunity that happens on the first Saturday of every month in collaboration with Hillman City Medical. Second year DPT students (DPT2) are eligible to participate following completion of Rehab 511 (Autumn quarter of the second year). Two second year students sign up for clinic which runs from 830-12 pm on the first Saturday of each month (unless there it is a holiday weekend, then clinic is moved to the second Saturday). A clinical instructor (CI) from either faculty or a community CI vetted through the UW DPT Clinical Education program supervises the students. Interpreters are provided through Hillman City staff or volunteers from the Vietnam Health Clinic.

NEW OPPORTUNITY in 2024: Baby Cuddling in UWMC NICU

Currently on hold. Stay tuned for more information!

Dance for Parkinson’s Disease (DFPD)

Click here for information. Each DPT class has a volunteer coordinator for this community program. Please check with your class Dance for PD representatives for information on how to sign up!

Special Olympics: FUNfitness

Working with the Special Olympics athletes is an amazing experience. Washington State Special Olympics has several health initiatives. Please click on this link and scroll down to “Healthy Athletes” where you will find FUNfitness. Laura Johnstone (lmj@uw.edu) is our faculty coordinator for these experiences. We will be sending out notifications when sign ups occur.

Opportunities: Other times during the year

Seattle King County Clinic (SKKC)

SKKC is an annual 4-day clinic bringing together healthcare organizations and providers from around this area. It is a volunteer-driven free clinic providing services such as medical, dental and vision care. DPT students have the opportunity to volunteer under the supervision of community clinical instructors (CIs) to provide physical therapy care. The clinic, will be held at Seattle Center, April 24 – 27, 2025.

Summer Quarter: Pro Bono Neurologic Clinic

This clinic opportunity has physical therapy (PT) treatment sessions are led by a pair (and/or trio) of DPT students at no cost to the patients/clients. The pairing of the DPT students is usually between a first and second year DPT student (sometimes there are exceptions given student availability). All PT sessions are supervised by icensed physical therapists/faculty members. The goal of this clinic is to provide services to the patients/clients with neurological conditions that have exhausted their insurance benefits and/or are needing further rehabilitation to regain their functional independence. DPT students have the opportunity to practice the skills they have learned in the classroom setting, develop patient/client interaction skills, and gain exposure to the non-clinical aspect of running a physical therapy clinic. This Pro Bono clinic occurs on Fridays from 9:30 – 3:30 in the Summer quarter – Term A, and is offered to both first year and second year students.

Course Registration: Students must register for the respective elective course, 1 credit during their quarter of participation. Liability coverage is contingent on your registration, so you must be registered before your first day of participation.

Clinic Location: Bellevue, WA 98004. For more information contact, Jenny Chang, jchang9@uw.edu

Vietnam Health Fair: August

The Vietnam Health Fair is an event co-hosted by Vietnam Health Clinic at UW and International Community Health Services (J. This annual health fair provides the local Vietnamese-speaking community, especially immigrants and refugees, access to resources across several areas of healthcare. All are welcome, Vietnamese-speaking individuals are especially needed! Volunteers working within the physical therapy component will:

  • Educate people about the role of physical therapy
  • Perform physical therapy screens
  • Work with interpreters from the Vietnamese community
  • Teach functional home exercises for health and wellness
  • Share strategies for ergonomics and lifting mechanics

Seattle Dance & Performing Artists Medicine (SeaPAM)

SeaPAM is an organization which assists performing artists in the community and also brings together healthcare providers who work with them. They often hold free clinics as many performing artists have variable insurance coverage and they need to keep performing. Our students have the opportunity to work alongside the CIs to screen and provide services to these individuals.
Alana Rogers, Board Member, is a UW DPT graduate.