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Learning and helping to heal

Learning and helping to heal

Three students enhance physical therapy program

Physical therapy isn't a picnic for anyone, but Mary Ann Baselj said hers had become more bearable since three student trainers began volunteering at Mortland Physical Therapy in Peters.

"They tell me if I'm doing something wrong, because I want to do it right," said Mrs. Baselj, of Scott, who is recovering from a hip injury.

Rebecca Droke, Post-Gazette
Eric Vaughn, 18, reviews Edward Bak's physical therapy chart at Mortland Physical Therapy in McMurray. Eric is one of several Peters Township High School students taking part in a pilot program in which they help patients with their therapy.
Click photo for larger image.

The students are there under a pilot program involving Peters High School and Mortland Physical Therapy, where several students have been volunteering 10 hours a week this semester, learning about athletic training and physical therapy firsthand. This fall, the students will be assigned to Peters High School athletic teams, where they will work under the direction of district athletic trainers.

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The students, Jen Clawges, 16, and Melissa Carbonara, 17, both juniors, and Eric Vaughn, 18, a senior, said they had learned more than expected in the two weeks they have been volunteering.

"I really love the opportunity," Ms. Clawges said. "It's amazing how much we were allowed to do and how much we were taught. Just being here two weeks has expanded my knowledge of anatomy a lot."

The students are there to observe and assist, and all said they had an interest in sports medicine, athletic training or a similar field.

The program was the idea of Mark Mortland, who said he was happy to have them at his facility to teach. Mr. Mortland served as team physical therapist and athletic trainer for the Pittsburgh Penguins for 11 years and said he wanted to give high school students the chances he never had when he was growing up to learn a little about athletic training before entering the field.

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"I wanted to help these kids learn," he said. "It's really a passion."

Students even get homework from Mr. Mortland, who assigns them a different muscle of the body every night to research.

"I think it's been a dream of Mark Mortland's for quite a few years," said Betsy Gunther, the high school anatomy and physiology teacher who is advising the students.

"I think it's the natural progression for kids who were thinking about taking up anatomy or physiology."

If the pilot program is successful this year, Ms. Gunther said, it might be expanded and continued.

Mr. Mortland hopes to bring in younger high school students for lessons in stroke and spinal cord injuries.

"What they're seeing here is just a small portion of physical therapy," he said.

Either way, patients such as Mrs. Baselj said the students were an asset.

"They are fantastic," she said. "They're doing a great job."

First Published: March 4, 2007, 5:00 a.m.

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