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| Sandra Cassady, PT, Ph.D., FAACVPR |
Alumni Interviews:
Sandra Cassady, PT, Ph.D., FAACVPR
What is your hometown?
I was born in Cincinnati, Ohio. We moved to Anamosa, Iowa, when I was 12.
How/when did you become interested in science and medicine?
At a young age, I remember deciding I wanted to do something in a health care field. The human body along with math and science classes fascinated me. I wanted to be in a position to help others.
What interested you to pursue a career in physical therapy?
I became interested in physical therapy when a high school friend developed a serious neurological disorder and made a tremendous recovery with intensive rehabilitation. It was also one of the careers recommended to me by teachers and counselors.
Is there a faculty member or mentor at Iowa who helped shape your career?
When I attended the physical therapy education program at the University of Iowa, I did a research project with Dr. David Nielsen. He encouraged me to consider returning to school and pursuing graduate work and a career in teaching. I returned to the University of Iowa and worked with him from 1997 to 1992 earning a master’s in cardiopulmonary physical therapy and PhD in exercise science. Dr. Nielsen gave me many opportunities to grow into the roles of teaching, research and service.
How or why did you choose the UI to attend physical therapy school?
The University of Iowa’s physical therapy program had an excellent reputation for preparing students to enter the profession of physical therapy.
Please describe your professional goals/interests.
My goals were initially to practice in acute care and gain experience in caring for patients with heart and lung disease. I enjoyed clinical practice and clinical teaching. This resulted in a strong desire to help educate future therapists. As a professor and director of the physical therapy department at St. Ambrose University, my current goals include; 1) contributing to the preparation of highly competent physical therapists, 2) adding to the profession’s body of knowledge through my scholarship activities and 3) provide administrative support to faculty, staff and students for our professional and post professional programs.
Please highlight your major career achievements, awards, discoveries, etc.?
Here is a listing of my awards and honors. APTA is the American Physical Therapy Association.
Mary McMillan Doctoral Scholarship, APTA 1992
Research Award, Cardiopulmonary Section APTA, 1994
Merit Award (Service), Cardiopulmonary Section, APTA, 1995.
Iowa State AAUW Distinguished Educator Award, Nominated 1996
Graduate Professor of Year, St. Ambrose University, 1997
Clinical Research Award, Iowa Physical Therapy Association, 1998
1999 Alumni Recognition Award, University of Northern Iowa, 1999
Fellow, American Association of Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Rehabilitation, 2002
What kinds of professional opportunities or advantages did attending the University of Iowa provide?With one of the largest post professional programs in the country for physical therapists, the University of Iowa attracts strong faculty and graduate students. I had the opportunity to work with many outstanding individuals during my time at the university and continue to work with and network with many of them. The program provided me with experience in many of the roles expected of a faculty member.
What are some of your outside interests?
My outside interests include reading and swimming and I keep very busy keeping up with our three children and their many activities.
Do you have an insight or philosophy that guides you in your professional work?
Do the best you can do, seek information before making difficult decisions, and treat others with the respect you hope in return.
If you could change one thing about the world (or the world of medicine), what would it be?
I would like to see high quality health care available and accessible for everyone regardless of race/ethnicity, location, or socioeconomic status.
What is the biggest change you've experienced in your field since you were a physical therapy student?
A positive change is the growing use in evidence based practice approaches – that is, using the best available scientifically based research to inform clinical decision making. New graduates today have many more tools (searchable databases, systemic reviews and meta-analyses) to help them with this effort. Another change is the overall reduction in length of hospital stay. For many good reasons, the length of stay for many patients has decreased significantly. This affords more opportunities rehabilitation in home health and outpatient settings. Patients remaining in the hospital are those who are medically complex and more challenging.
What one piece of advice you would give to today's physical therapy students?
Gain experience by job shadowing physical therapists in a variety of settings to ensure this is the profession for you. Once you are in school, keep your mind open to new areas of interest and practice opportunities.
University of Iowa President David Skorton has named academic year 2005-2006 as the "Year of Public Engagement." In what ways are you engaged with the greater public?
In my roles at St. Ambrose, I frequently meet with high school and college students, pre-professional clubs, and the public about physical therapy. We engage the public on a continuous basis through career fairs and open houses. |
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