Neighbor News
Health Sciences professor honored with national humanitarian award
Clarkston resident cited by American Physical Therapy Association
Jacqueline S. Drouin, PT, Ph.D., associate professor of Physical Therapy in the School of Health Sciences at Oakland University, was awarded the American Physical Therapy Association’s (APTA) Oncology Section Debbra Flomenhoft Humanitarian Award at the group’s annual meeting.
This award was established by the Oncology Section of the APTA to honor its members’ work which has helped advance the practice of compassionate oncology rehabilitation, heightened the understanding of cancer illness and psychosocial rehabilitation issues and demonstrated patient advocacy.
“Jackie is an exemplary researcher, educator and role model for our physical therapy students,” said Richard J. Rozek, Ph.D., interim dean for the School of Health Sciences. “It is very rewarding to see her given this high honor by her peers in the American Physical Therapy Association.”
Dr. Drouin was recognized with the Flomenhoft Humanitarian Award because of her work as liaison from the APTA Oncology Section to the World Confederation of Physical Therapists, where in 2012 she became the Founding President of the HIV/AIDS, Oncology and Hospice and Palliative Care Network (WCPT IPT-HOPE) and its developing subgroup.
As president of the group, Dr. Drouin established free quarterly online education sessions presented by international experts in these areas of practice. The presentations draw together rehabilitation professionals and students from around the globe and fill an educational need within the international community.
“It really supports our work and mission when people like the Health Minister of Nigeria recognize these sessions for their value in training his country’s rehabilitation professionals,” Dr. Drouin added.
Dr. Drouin, of Clarkston, has been active in the American Physical Therapy Association’s Oncology Section since 2003 and has served as a Board Member since 2007.
Oakland University’s School of Health Sciences has a long-standing tradition of success in physical therapy education. Dr. Drouin’s Doctor of Physical Therapy students have presented 15 original research studies nationally or internationally, of which seven studies have been published in peer-reviewed journals and three have received national awards.
About OU’s Physical Therapy program
The Physical Therapy Program in the School of Health Sciences offers pre-professional, professional and post-professional degrees, including the Bachelor of Health Science with a pre-physical therapy concentration, the entry-level Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT), the post-professional Master of Science in Physical Therapy (MSPT) and Doctor of Science in Physical Therapy (DScPT).
The physical therapy program also offers post-professional graduate certificates in neurological rehabilitation, orthopedic therapy, orthopedic manual physical therapy, pediatric rehabilitation, oncology rehabilitation, and teaching and learning for rehabilitation professionals, as well as a diverse selection of post-professional courses.
