Canisius, D'Youville sign articulation agreement for students interested in health care professions

The Canisius College department of kinesiology in the School of Education and Human Services has entered into a formal articulation agreement with the School of Health Professions at D’Youville University for many of their allied health care majors. Students pursuing a Bachelor of Science in sports and exercise health care at Canisius, who meet specific program requirements, are guaranteed admission to the Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT), Doctor of Chiropractic (DC) and master’s in occupational therapy (OT MS) programs at D’Youville University. This agreement allows students the opportunity to pre-plan their undergraduate and graduate career paths to facilitate their transfer to graduate rehabilitative health science studies.

“Job growth in the allied health care professions is expected to grow faster than average in the next 10 years,” said Mike Dolan MS, ATC, CSCS, professor and co-director of the sports and exercise health care program at Canisius. “We are excited to partner with D’Youville University to provide our students a clear and accessible path to graduate work in physical therapy, chiropractic care and occupational therapy.”

The sports and exercise health care program prepares students to apply research and clinical practice to optimize the health of people from all walks of life. Students take coursework in human anatomy and physiology, with a focus on human motion, injury recognition, evaluation, care and rehabilitation techniques. Undergraduates in this field participate in more than 500 hours of clinical experience and make connections in a variety of sports medicine-related sectors.

“We are delighted to collaborate with Canisius College to offer meaningful, seamless and cost-efficient pathways for undergraduate students seeking advanced health care professions training in graduate programs at D'Youville University,” said Lisa Rafalson, Ph.D., dean of the School of Health Professions at D’Youville University.

The department of kinesiology at Canisius also administers an undergraduate program in health and wellness, an undergraduate minor in strength and conditioning, and graduate programs in health and human performance and applied nutrition.

•Researchers at the Institute for Autism Research (IAR) at Canisius College were awarded a three-year grant totaling approximately $925K from the U. S. Department of Defense Autism Research Program to test a unique school social intervention for autistic children.

Canisius stated, “Addressing the complex social challenges of autistic children (without intellectual disability [ID]) is difficult, and social skills interventions are sometimes used in an effort to improve their social performance and outcomes. Despite the clear need, few receive systematic and effective social intervention. Studies of social interventions delivered in clinical settings for this population have suggested some positive effects, but the benefits rarely translate to school settings. Efforts to develop and implement school social interventions have been hindered by barriers in the school environment such as lack of resources, staffing and training, and limited time during the school day. As such, there is a need for feasible and effective social interventions that can be delivered by nonprofessional (paraprofessional) school staff in school settings, including as part of afterschool programs.

“Researchers at the IAR have developed many effective social interventions for autistic children (without ID) that have been delivered in clinical and school settings. Utilizing staff training techniques and social intervention strategies from their prior work, the research team developed an innovative afterschool social intervention for delivery by paraprofessionals. Funding from the grant will be used to test both the feasibility and initial effects of the social intervention.”