PTA Program Celebrates 10th Anniversary
The Fairmont State Physical Therapy Assistant program will observe the 10th anniversary
of its first graduating class Saturday, Oct. 6, at the Gaston Caperton Center in Clarksburg
with a PTA Alumni Recognition Day.
The occasion will be marked by continuing education classes, a panel discussion,
a reception and an alumni dinner. Suellen Hill, physical therapist and Academic Coordinator
of Clinical Education, said 161 students have graduated from the program since its
inception. Of those, 149 or 93 percent, remain in West Virginia. Hill said, in preparing
for the celebration, she has found 158 of the 161 graduates. She estimates that close
to 100 of the graduates will attend the dinner.
One of the PTA graduates is Kristi Hill, a native of Hundred who graduated from the
program in 2005 as a non-traditional student.
"Working as a physical therapist assistant has been a very gratifying experience,"
Hill said. "Every day I have an opportunity to make people feel better and help them
to get back to doing the things they want to be doing. The Fairmont State PTA program
is an excellent place to learn the skills needed to become a successful physical therapist
assistant. The instructors are knowledgeable and caring, and the course work is designed
to provide both theoretical content and hands-on experience."
A physical therapist assistant (PTA) is a licensed health care provider who works
under the direction of a physical therapist. Career opportunities can be found in
hospitals, clinics, rehabilitation centers, nursing care facilities, schools, offices
of physical therapists in private practice and in home health agencies. The Pierpont
Community & Technical College of Fairmont State University PTA program, coordinated
by Assistant Professor Dr. Beverly Born, PT, is an accredited associate degree program
centered at the Gaston Caperton Center in Clarksburg. For more information about the
program, visit www.fairmontstate.edu.
