APTA Colorado Approves A Special Interest Group For Clinical Educators

Posted: Feb. 9, 2017

APTA Colorado's board agreed to the creation of a seventh Special Interest Group, this one for Clinical Educators.

The purpose of the Clinical Education SIG, its organizers said, "shall be to provide a means by which Colorado clinical educators, academic clinical coordinators and students, who have a common interest in providing effective, evidence-based clinical education, may meet, confer and promote the interests of its membership."

While new to APTA Colorado, the group isn't new. In fact, the Clinical Educators Forum, or CEF, has a 30-year history in Colorado. Its mission was “to build relationships within the Physical Therapy education community by sharing experiences, knowledge and resources in order to provide students, Clinicians, and academic programs with excellence in all aspects of clinical education.”

Forum members felt that becoming a SIG of APTA Colorado would increase awareness of the group. APTA Colorado's board agreed, voting unanimously to embrace the new SIG, which joins CAReSIG (Colorado Acute/Rehab SIG)Pediatric SIGPrivate Practice SIGPTA SIGStudent SIG and Sport SIG.

The initial Clinical Education SIG chair is Shelene Thomas, PT, DPT, EdD, GCS. The initial treasurer is Laura Sage, PT, DPT, MEd, WCC. The Clinical Education SIG currently seeks candidates for the positions of Vice President and Secretary to conform to the chapter's SIG policy.

The Clinical Education SIG plans quarterly meetings of approximately two hours in length at various Denver locations.

You must be an APTA Colorado member to join the new SIG, but non-members are welcome to participate in meetings (although at higher rates than are charged to members). 

More information on the new SIG will be released shortly.