One of the attributes that makes the Gannon DPT Program unique among physical therapy educational programs is our 5-credit Community Health Initiative course sequence. This course sequence seeks to improve students' skills in health promotion and develop their professional role as educators, advocates and consultants working with community organizations in the Erie area. Students learn about the context in which community service is provided, the connection between their service and their academic coursework and their roles as citizens and socially responsible healthcare professionals.
Students participate in scheduled and self-selected service learning activities throughout the course sequence. Scheduled service projects may include a Habitat for Humanity build, participation in "Wellsville" a local program teaching healthy activities for kids, after-school based homework support and activity programs for local children and health fairs. As students progress through the curriculum and develop their skills as an educator, advocate and consultant, they develop and implement capstone service learning projects. Past projects have included:
- Organizing and overseeing an annual fundraising activity for Linked by Pink, in association with Mercyhurst University students
- Partnering with Cornerstone of Hope at Camp Erin during their weekend camp for children who have experienced the grief of loss of a loved family member
- Partnering with Erie Homes for Children and Adults to organize and implement a physical activity and wellness program for residents
- Assessing the health and wellness status of elderly, "retired" nuns from two local religious communities and then developing wellness programs for each individual
- Assessing the risk of falling for older adults in two high-rise apartment complexes
- Mentoring students (K-8) at various local school and social service agencies