“A person walked in the door that had extreme pain, and the therapist was able to put her hands on the individual, do some manual techniques, and the patient literally left with less pain and improved function in just one session,” Health and Wellness Professor Chris Hausbeck said. “I thought...I want to learn how to put my hands on someone and figure out how to make them feel better.”
The program prepares students to work alongside physical therapists in a variety of different settings. Through classroom instruction, immersive labs and clinical experience, students develop the skills they need to help patients manage pain and regain independence.
Learn more about the program and hear directly from faculty and students in Delta’s PTA spotlight video.
Learning from experience
Faculty members Chris Hausbeck and Mike Spitz have both spent years working with patients before stepping into teaching. Their experience helps bridge the gap between the classroom and real-world care, giving students full insight into the challenges and rewards of the profession.
"My passion is driven by the need to continue to grow, the want to continue to help people. I came to teaching because I wanted to pass that on to students,” said Health and Wellness Professor Mike Spitz. “I can have an effect on one patient a day, or I can have an effect on 20 students a day.”
For many students, one of the program’s greatest strengths is the support they receive from faculty and classmates.
“With my professors having such a small class, you really get to know these professors, and they get to know you, and it really helps because they care about you,” said PTA student Patrick Lazarowicz. “Because at the end of the day, after we're done, we're out there helping people.”
The program model creates an environment where students learn alongside the same group throughout their time at Delta, building support that lasts beyond the classroom. Faculty members challenge students to work through things on their own, while remaining accessible when they need guidance. Helping build not only technical skills but confidence in their work.
Communication and empathy are also woven into the curriculum, helping students become compassionate healthcare professionals who can adapt to a constantly changing field.
"They've done so well at making sure we learn about empathy toward patients, things that we could never possibly understand,” PTA student Caroline Temple said. “We spent all day in a wheelchair, and we had to learn how to go through doors, get up and down elevators, get off of curbs, and understand that there are people out there who've never learned how to do it properly. But they've been in a wheelchair almost their entire life.”
“Being able to empathize with that,” she continued. “That's been huge in showing us how to work with real life patients.”
Learn more about the physical therapist assistant program, and all Delta’s programs, at delta.edu/programs.
By Mikaila Bluew, writer & editor
