Tamara Gravano. I had never practiced physical therapy PT overseas. I had admired many of my colleagues who performed this kind of service, but I had not yet pursued it.
Richard Jackson of the Jackson Clinics , based in Virginia, contacted me in December to teach geriatric physical therapy for two weeks to physiotherapists in Nairobi, Kenya this spring. The opportunity to perform international service had all but fallen in my lap. Until now, they had only sent orthopedic PT specialists, and they wanted to broaden their curriculum to mirror the education received in other more developed countries.
I represented the first PT sent to teach a geriatric course and to establish the course content for the program moving forward. As a physical therapy faculty member, I had to cover my classes and receive the permission of the chair of my department. After that was taken care of, I began to make plans to fly out in February. The education system in Kenya is vastly different in terms of PT preparation. In Kenya, students take up to three years of courses in physiotherapy directly after high school, leaving very little room for exploration of specialty areas.
Continuing education becomes a much valued experience and an asset for any physiotherapist who chooses to pursue it. Teaching my Geriatric Physical Therapy course was not just a manner replicating my existing course, but I had to completely rethink it in terms of prerequisite preparation.
Reviewing relevant anatomy, neuroanatomy, physiology, and other topics that US students have learned prior to stepping foot in a DPT program had to all be included as I introduced each system. My 80 content hours filled up quickly. During this time, I had to get a visa in order to teach in Kenya.
