University of Utah Student-Run Pro Bono Physical Therapy Clinic

In 2012, several University of Utah Department of Physical Therapy students expressed interest in starting a student-run pro bono clinic. At the end of the Fall 2013 semester, this dream came to fruition when an opportunity arose to open a clinic in collaboration with other medical disciplines from the University of Utah. A student board consisting of 8 students from the Class of 2015 and 8 from the Class of 2016 were elected via an open voting process within each class. The student board formed with the mission, “to provide quality physical therapy services to underserved and underinsured individuals in the greater Salt Lake area, and to enhance the educational experience of University of Utah physical therapy students through service learning.” Over the course of the next 2 months, the student board held weekly planning meetings under the guidance of their faculty advisor, Misha Bradford. The student-run pro bono clinic opened under the name of Midvale CBC Community Clinic Physical Therapy on Saturday, February 15, 2014 in partnership with the Community Building Community (CBC) program of Midvale to provide physical therapy services, on top of the Midvale CBC Community Clinic’s preexisting medical and dental services

The clinic provides students the opportunity to learn through service by practicing diagnostic, critical thinking, and hands-on skills with real patients, mentoring student colleagues, and networking with local therapists. The underinsured and underserved population in Midvale receive physical therapy services that are not otherwise available to them.  Local physical therapists are able to teach and to learn from students while giving back to their community.

Since the opening of the clinic in February 2014 the Pro Bono Clinic has grown to better serve the community by offering more treatment time and making the clinic operations more efficient. During the 2016/2017 year the clinic operated for 57 treatment days and treated 228 patients. A total of 1,814 hours were donated to make the treatment days possible.  Physical Therapy students volunteered a total of 1,195 hours, Physical Therapists in the community volunteered 247 hours and Interpreters volunteered 372 hours. We are so grateful to have our community Physical Therapists and Interpreters volunteer their time to oversee Student Physical Therapists. All of the volunteered time has saved the community a total of $55,763.60 in Physical Therapy related medical costs.

 

With the help of our donors we will continue to provide services to the underinsured and underserved community members of the Salt Lake area as we, the students, are given the opportunity for mentorship, practice and community involvement. Please help us continue to grow and support our mission!