Bryan Fitzpatrick, a 2016 graduate of the Jefferson College Physical Therapist Assistant (PTA) program, was recently awarded the 2021 Kathy Johnson Excellence in Clinical Teaching Award by the Central ACCE Consortium.
An employee at Mercy Hospital Jefferson, he was presented the award in front of his family, co-workers, students, hospital administrators and supervisors, and Jefferson College PTA program faculty/leadership.
After his daughter went to college to become a physical therapist, Bryan decided to return to school and join her in the profession as a PTA. He joined Jefferson College’s third cohort of students and once he graduated and had a year of experience, Bryan began to accept students and share his experience in the inpatient setting.
The prestigious Excellence in Clinical Teaching Award is presented to professionals who provide outstanding clinical experiences to students in one or more of the 38-member consortium Physical Therapy or Physical Therapist Assistant programs at institutions across seven Midwestern states. He was nominated by Jefferson College Director of Clinical Education/Assistant Professor Nancy Miller, PT, DPT.
Nominees must display excellence in clinical teaching reflected in the level of involvement in teaching, ability to provide appropriate learning experiences and work with a variety of students, as well as demonstrate professional development of teaching skills. He has worked at Mercy Hospital Jefferson since graduating from Jefferson College in 2016. Upon taking on the clinical teaching role four years ago, he has served as a Clinical Instructor to over a dozen students.
Bryan’s nomination letter stated that he feels it is his duty to give back to his profession in the role of clinical instructor as much as he can, offering a consistent inpatient clinical experience at Mercy Hospital Jefferson.
“Bryan has an unofficial role of assigning the PT treatments for the department daily. He is constantly assisting with multidisciplinary patient care. He is a great team player and steps up whenever asked!” said Cathy Rozier, PT, MPT, Bryan’s supervisor at Mercy Hospital Jefferson.
“He was knowledgeable and empowering and was always willing to give me the lead and let me gain experience,“ said Ben Robarge, Jefferson College PTA class of 2021. “He was open and easy to talk to and had a unique way of making patients laugh with his sense of humor. He was able to explain the team dynamics of working there. He was able to change my view of inpatient, and I really enjoyed my time there.”
