Leading physical therapy education in China

Tongji University president Gang Pei envisions that the best in physical therapy and rehabilitation care in China can arise from an agreement between the university, its hospital affiliate Sunshine Rehabilitation Center in Shanghai, and UNMC.

The agreement

Dr. Siu explains the parameters of the agreement.

  • UNMC will provide Tongji University with assistance for curricular review to ensure the newly developed physical therapy program at Tongji University is compliant with the World Confederation of Physical Therapy standards and UNMC Doctor of Physical Therapy admission criteria.
  • UNMC will serve a consulting role to assist Tongji University to recruit a physical therapy education program chair.
  • Tongji University will provide adjunct faculty appointments to UNMC physical therapy faculty.
  • UNMC will establish a faculty exchange program with Sunshine Rehabilitation Center, an affiliated hospital of Tongji University.
  • UNMC will accept up to six qualified Tongji University physical therapy graduates annually to enroll in the UNMC Doctor of Physical Therapy program
  • UNMC will accept up to two qualified Tongji University physical therapy graduates annually to enroll in the UNMC Ph.D. program in rehabilitation science.
  • UNMC and Tongji University will establish a student exchange program.

“We share a vision with UNMC to be leaders in physical therapy education and care,” Pei said at a signing ceremony on Oct. 28 in Shanghai at the hospital. “With the help of the University of Nebraska Medical Center, I know we can do that.”

“We made the first step towards making a real impact on physical therapy education development in China,” said UNMC’s Joseph Ka-Chun Siu, Ph.D., director of the Shanghai Sino-U.S. Health Science Initiative physical therapy doctorate program.

“We are privileged to join Tongji University in their work to develop and expand the profession of physical therapy in China,” said Kyle Meyer, Ph.D., senior associate dean of the School of Allied Health Professions. “Our partnership reflects their unwavering commitment to this goal, and recognizes both the universal value of the profession of physical therapy, and the long and successful history of UNMC in preparing outstanding physical therapists.”

Dr. Siu said the agreement creates a joint effort to advance physical therapy education in both countries.

Dr. Siu said Tongji University sought to partner with UNMC because of the outstanding reputation of the UNMC Physical Therapy Education program.

“Due to the limited services provided in physical therapy health care and the increased need in rehabilitation in China, Tongji University looks at the partnership as a way to foster and advance physical therapy education and train more physical therapists,” Dr, Siu said.

He noted that an advisory committee will be established to monitor the development of both departments at UNMC and Tongji University.

In the meantime, UNMC is establishing a unique platform to allow physical therapy faculty and student exchanges between UNMC and China.

2 comments

  1. Harold M. Maurer, M.D. says:

    Way to go, Kyle!

    Hal

  2. khadija says:

    I need to get scholarship for china can someone guide me how to apply for scholarship in china for dpt

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