Meeting the Health Needs of Society Through Curricular Innovation in Physical Therapist Education: Examples From 3 Entry-Level Programs.

Abstract

Entry-level physical therapist (PT) education programs play a critical role in inspiring future leaders to become moral change agents, capable of understanding and addressing evolving societal health needs. Social reconstructionism represents an educational philosophy focused on alleviating pervasive inequities and improving the health of society; however, its application in PT education is not well understood. The purpose of this article is to describe the approach 3 entry-level PT programs used to manifest social reconstructionism within their curricula to foster social consciousness and strengthen moral agency. The Framework for Educating Health Professionals to Address the Social Determinants of Health informed the development of a conceptual framework that illustrates the role of PT education programs in creating transformative learning environments and preparing learners to meet societal health needs. Concepts within this framework were operationalized according to 5 domains put forth by Jensen et al. and related competencies put forth by the Association of American Medical Colleges. Narratives from each program demonstrate how the design and implementation of curricula, grounded in social reconstructionism, can be accomplished through 1) ongoing modifications, 2) thoughtful reconstruction, and 3) initial design. Sample learning activities, objectives, and assessment strategies are provided. The proposed method was effective in guiding meaningful objectives, learning activities, and assessment strategies grounded in social reconstructionism. Such findings can inform the design of curricula that inspire the next generation of transformative leaders who work to alleviate pervasive inequities and improve the health of society.