Sue Bravard

Physical Therapist Assistant Program Chair of the School of Allied Health

Courses Taught Regularly

• All PTA Courses
• PSY 240 Gerontology and Aging

Year Started at Mercy College 2007

Education

• M.S., Iowa State University (1999) 
• P.T., Washington University (1988) 
• B.S., Iowa State University (1987)

Licensure

• Physical therapist, State of Iowa
• Physical therapist, State of Missouri

Certifications

• American College of Sports Medicine Health Fitness Specialist Certification

Advice to Students

"Go confidently in the direction of your dreams! Live the life you've imagined." - Thoreau

Clinical Experience   

• 5 years full-time clinical practice in acute care, skilled care, outpatient,cardiac rehab, neurorehabilitation,and home health
• 15 years in college teaching and grant management

Research Interests and Professional Projects

• Learning outcomes, health and wellness for older adults   

Recent Publications/Presentations

• Yogesh Shah, MD & Sue Bravard, PT, MS, gave a presentation, Fall Prevention Through Wellness, at the Iowa Association of Homes and Services for the Aging (IAHSA) Spring Conference: A Celebration of Active Aging in Ames, Iowa, on May 7, 2008. 
• Empower Yourself: Fall Prevention, at the 2008 Governor’s Conference on Aging: The Art of Dynamic Aging in Des Moines, Iowa, on May 20, 2008.  
• Eileen Hansen, MA, AHIP, presented a poster, From the Ground Up: Building Information Literacy into a Physical Therapist Assistant Curriculum, at the Medical Library Association annual conference in Detroit on November 22, 2008 that was developed by her and Sue Bravard, PT, MS.

Professional Memberships

• American Physical Therapy Association, Education Section and Section on Geriatrics  
• Iowa Physical Therapy Association 
• American College of Sports Medicine
• Gerontology Society of Iowa

Community Service Invovlement

• Governor's Conference on Aging Steering Committee
• Polk County Well Elder Health Committee

Personal History

Physical therapy is a dynamic profession that allows me to combine my love of helping others and physical activity.  Having the opportunity to teach physical therapy and watching students "get it" is a dream come true.