Physical Therapists at Putnam Hospital Center Earn Doctoral Degrees

From HealthQuest:

CARMEL, NY — By 2020, physical therapy will be provided by therapists who have doctoral degrees. “Vision 2020” was adopted by the American Physical Therapy Association, effectively changing the profession that once only required bachelor’s degrees to practice.

The Putnam Hospital Center Rehabilitation Department has worked hard to reach that vision with several of its therapists earning their doctor of physical therapy degree in recent years. While physical therapists coming out of school since 2015 are required to receive their doctoral degree, those who earned their bachelor’s or master’s degrees in the past are grandfathered in.

Still, the therapists at Putnam Hospital Center have been motivated on their own to reach that goal.

“While delivering physical therapy care is the same, we are now better qualified to recognize other medical issues and guide patients to the most appropriate healthcare provider when necessary," said physical therapist James Mangano.

Mangano received his doctor of physical therapy degree in August. He has worked at Putnam Hospital Center for 17 years, and primarily at the Pawling location for the past six years.

A doctoral degree takes about three years to complete. This curriculum requires students to take foundational sciences such as pharmacology, radiology, differential diagnosis and evidence-based practice.

“We are skilled in guiding our patients in making the most informed decisions about their own healthcare,” said physical therapist Vicki Seppell, who specializes in vestibular therapy.

Seppell has worked at Putnam Hospital Center for 15 years and received her doctor of physical therapy degree in June 2015. She is among the seven physical therapists at the hospital and its satellite offices with that degree. At the Putnam Hospital Center location are Donna DiFabio, Praveen Issac and Kirsi Vera. At the Katonah location are Jeanne Morgante and Hannah Clark Polhill.

To learn more about Rehabilitation Therapies, call 845-279-1785 (TTY 1-800-421-1220) or click here.

Image via HealthQuest: Some of Putnam Hospital Center's physical therapists with their Doctor of Physical Therapy, from left, Praveen Issac, Kirsi Vera, James Mangano, Hannah Clark Polhill and Vicki Seppell.