Feinberg
Northwestern Medicine | Northwestern University | Faculty Profiles

News Center

  • Categories
    • Campus News
    • Disease Discoveries
    • Clinical Breakthroughs
    • Education News
    • Scientific Advances
  • Press Releases
  • Media Coverage
  • Podcasts
  • Editor’s Picks
    • COVID-19
    • Cardiology
    • Cancer
    • Neurology and Neuroscience
    • Aging and Longevity
    • Artificial Intelligence in Medicine
  • News Archives
  • About Us
    • Media Contact
    • Share Your News
    • News Feeds
    • Social Media
    • Contact Us
Menu
  • Categories
    • Campus News
    • Disease Discoveries
    • Clinical Breakthroughs
    • Education News
    • Scientific Advances
  • Press Releases
  • Media Coverage
  • Podcasts
  • Editor’s Picks
    • COVID-19
    • Cardiology
    • Cancer
    • Neurology and Neuroscience
    • Aging and Longevity
    • Artificial Intelligence in Medicine
  • News Archives
  • About Us
    • Media Contact
    • Share Your News
    • News Feeds
    • Social Media
    • Contact Us
Home » DPT Students Complete First Clinical Rotation in Chile
Education News

DPT Students Complete First Clinical Rotation in Chile

By Sarah PlumridgeJan 12, 2015
Share
Facebook Twitter Email
Third-year doctor of physical therapy students (left to right) Kyle Denlinger, Alyssa Hartley, Sarah Wehrle and Benjamin Beutler stand with Fernando Quiroga Dubournais, dean of health sciences at Universidad San Sebastian during their six-week clinical rotation in Chile.

The first time Kyle Denlinger traveled outside of the United States, it was for a six-week clinical rotation focused on respiratory therapy at the University of San Sebastian in Chile with three of his third-year doctor of physical therapy (DPT) classmates. The program is part of a partnership between the two universities that was created in 2012, and Denlinger’s group was the first group of Feinberg students to participate. He said he decided to take the opportunity to learn about a different culture and develop new skills.

“This experience enhanced my cardiopulmonary physical therapy skill set, improved my flexibility, communication and problem solving skills, and provided me with my first experience out of the country working with [people who speak]Spanish,” Denlinger said. “Experiencing this culture and improving my Spanish skills will improve my ability to work with [future patients who speak]Spanish. My new pulmonary PT skills will allow me to see patients through a new lens, improve my care of patients with pulmonary issues, and make me a better therapist.”

In Chile unlike in the U.S., physical therapists, or kinesiologos, also take on the role of respiratory therapists. Physicians rely on physical therapists for tasks such as ventilator management, weaning from oxygen therapy and general respiratory care, Denlinger explained.

“The best part of the trip was sharing the experience with the other Feinberg DPT students,” Denlinger said. “We were all in a foreign country, undergoing the same experience, sharing the same obstacles and learning together. Working in a team, sometimes in groups of two or four, really enhanced my experience and helped me to learn to work in a team and bounce ideas off of one another.”

Kyle Denlinger, a third-year doctor of physical therapy student, traveled to Chile for a clinical rotation focused on respiratory therapy.

Students spent part of their days in a hospital intensive care unit (ICU) and the rest of each day in classes or labs at the university. While with patients in the ICU, students worked with ventilators, chest physical therapy and other activities, including range of motion/joint flexibility exercises.

While in Chile, DPT students had the opportunity to work with patients recovering from conditions such as respiratory dysfunction due to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, stroke, neuromuscular disease, or sepsis. The students also had opportunities outside of the hospital, including working at a home for children with chronic respiratory problems.

“By the end of the trip we felt comfortable working with people with [respiratory conditions]and seeing x-rays and CAT scans and being able to determine what was going on and knowing what techniques to use,” said third-year DPT student Alyssa Hartley.

Hartley said that despite having taken Spanish courses before the trip, struggling with the language barrier allowed her to improve her communication skills.

“It was extremely humbling to be in an environment where I’m not fluent in the language and not always able to understand the patients and my instructor. Once we got our confidence, our listening and speaking skills improved,” she said.

The DPT program will now explore the feasibility of sending another group of students for clinical education experiences next fall. The program will also investigate the possibility of hosting a group of physical therapy students and/or faculty members from Chile this year.

Education Global Health Medical Education Students
Share. Facebook Twitter Email

Related Posts

NUDOCS Program Inspires the Next Generation of Physicians

Mar 31, 2023

Women in Medicine Conference Celebrates Community

Mar 31, 2023

Sex-Specific Mechanisms for Major Depressive Disorder Identified in Response to Dysregulated Stress Hormones

Mar 23, 2023

Comments are closed.

Latest News

NUDOCS Program Inspires the Next Generation of Physicians

Mar 31, 2023

Women in Medicine Conference Celebrates Community

Mar 31, 2023

Self-Powered Wireless Implant Delivers Medication, Then Dissolves

Mar 30, 2023

Adolescent Sexual Health Program Receives Funding for Social Marketing Campaign

Mar 29, 2023

The Future of IgE-Mediated Allergy Research and Treatments

Mar 29, 2023
  • News Center Home
  • Categories
  • Press Release
  • Media Coverage
  • Editor’s Picks
  • News Archives
  • About Us
Flickr Photos
20230317_NM651
20230317_NM610
20230317_NM569
20230317_NM537
20230317_NM331
20230317_NM323
20230317_NM316
20230317_NM336
20230317_NM626
20230317_NM662
20230317_NM655
20230317_NM642

Northwestern University logo

Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine

RSS Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Flickr YouTube Instagram
Copyright © 2023 Northwestern University
  • Contact Northwestern University
  • Disclaimer
  • Campus Emergency Information
  • Policy Statements

Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.