Courses Taught Regularly
- PTA 101 Fundamentals of Physical Therapy
- PTA 130 Kinesiology
- PTA 135 Essential Skills in Physical Therapy I
- PTA 160 Physical Therapy Modalities
- PTA 162 Therapeutic Exercise
- PTA 165 Essential Skill sin Physical Therapy II
- PTA 202 Physical Therapy Interventions for Neuromuscular and Cardiopulmonary Conditions
- PTA 204 Professional Issues
- PTA 230 Issues in Clinical Practice
- PTA 235 PTA Seminar
- PSY 240 Gerontology and Aging
Year Started at Mercy College 2007
Education
- M.S., Iowa State University
- BSPT., Washington University
- B.S., Iowa State University
Licensure
- Physical therapist, State of Iowa
Certifications
- American College of Sports Medicine Certified Exercise Physiologist
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
- 20 years in college teaching and grant management
Research Interests and Professional Projects
- Learning outcomes, health and wellness for older adults
- Analysis of "With Distinction" Ratings on the Physical Therapist Assistant Clinical Performance Instrument (October 2013), collaborative project with Tracy Porter, DPT
- Iowa Physical Therapy Association, Treasurer
Recent Publications/Presentations
- Porter, T. & Bravard, S., More than Just Reps: Optimizing Exercise Progression, Iowa Physical Therapy Association 2018 Spring Conference
- Porter, T. & Bravard, S., Effective PT/PTA Teams: Supervision and Delegation Best Practices, Iowa Physical Therapy Association 2018 Fall Conference
- Des Moines Area Community College Teaching and Learning Conference: "The Art and Science of Questioning to Enhance Student Learning" (April 2013), co-presentation with Dr. Suzanne Crandall
- Iowa Physical Therapy Association and Foundation Conference: "The Shoulder Complex" (Fall 2012), co-presentation with Tracy Porter, DPT
- Mercy College Professional Development Lunch and Learn: "Bloom's Taxonomy" (Summer 2012)
- 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
- Academy of Geriatric Physical Therapy
Community Service Invovlement
- Polk County Well Elder Health Committee
Personal History
Physical therapy is a dynamic profession that allows me to combine my passions of movement science and helping others. The opportunity to facilitate student learning is very rewarding.