Mission, Vision, Values & Professional Conduct
Mission, Vision, Values & Professional Conduct
Mission: To prepare exceptional physical therapists who will optimize the health, well-being and movement ability of individuals and society.
Vision: The GVSU DPT program will develop autonomous, collaborative and reflective physical therapists who are specialists in assessing, diagnosing, and treating the human movement system using evidence-based practice. Our graduates will be recognized in their communities as the provider of choice to prevent and manage movement-related disorders across the lifespan, thereby optimizing health and function at both the individual and community levels. As life-long learners, they will be professional and community leaders who effect change in their organizations and communities to best meet the healthcare needs of a diverse, multi-cultural society.
Core Values
· Professional and ethical behavior
· Respect and appreciation for diversity
in all forms
· Life-long learning
· Excellence in teaching, scholarship,
and practice
· Collegiality and collaboration
· Social Responsibility
· Evidence based practice
· Reflective practice
· Advocacy
· Leadership
Professional Conduct:
In preparing students at GVSU to become physical therapists, our faculty will emphasize the development of respect, compassion, and empathy for all persons, as appropriate professional relationships are fostered with persons from diverse backgrounds. Development of these qualities begins in the classroom but also extends to every aspect of the Program. Therein, the DPT Program’s faculty and staff fully support the university’s non-discrimination policy in preparation of our students: “Every aspect of University life should be free from discrimination because of age, color, disability, familial status, height, marital status, national origin, political affiliation, race, religion, sex/gender, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, veteran status, or weight.”
In addition, our students and faculty are expected to utilize sensitive and non-threatening touch with student-models that is solely directed at learning evaluation and treatment procedures in the Program. Our expectation is that this level of sensitivity will subsequently transfer to care of all patients. In this regard, the DPT faculty and staff regard impeccable professional behavior as an essential attribute of its faculty and students.
