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NU-CHAPTER Lab

The Northwestern University Collaborative Hubs Advancing Physical Therapy Education Research (NU-CHAPTER) Lab brings clinician-educators together to discover, integrate, apply and share new knowledge in physical therapy education. Through education research and scholarship, we aim to advance the state of physical therapy education at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine and across the country.

Faculty in the Department of Physical Therapy & Human Movement Sciences established the NU-CHAPTER Lab in 2022 to facilitate mutual support, combine resources and share accountability for a common, education-focused research agenda. Our team is committed to facilitating excellent outcomes for physical therapy learners while fostering an environment that promotes the well-being of all members of the physical therapy community.

Our investigators have a diverse set of professional backgrounds and experiences in physical therapy, pedagogy and research methods, though we all share a history of engaging in education scholarship to promote physical therapy education practice more widely

Education Research Areas

Our research program focuses on four areas:

Assessment Hub

Assessment is one focus area of the NU-CHAPTER Lab. Our hub aims to develop accurate and equitable assessments that ensure meaningful learning outcomes in physical therapist trainees and to better understand the impact of assessments on learners and the learning process. 

Publications & Presentations

Publications

Tappan RS, Roth HR, McGaghie WC. Using simulation-based mastery learning to achieve excellent learning outcomes in physical therapist education. Journal of Physical Therapy Education. 2024. Online ahead of print. Doi: 10.1097/JTE.0000000000000358 PMID: 38954765

Roth HR, Holland EE, Goh L, Wong E, McGaghie WC, Tappan RS. Systematic development and validity evidence for a checklist to assess bed mobility skills among physical therapy students. Journal of Allied Health. 2024;53(2):122-129. PMID: 38834388

Tappan RS, Hedman LD, López-Rosado R, Roth HR. Checklist-style rubric development for practical examination of clinical skills in entry-level physical therapist education. J Allied Health. 2020;49:202-207. PMID: 32877478

Presentations:

Roth HR, Tappan RS. Validity evidence for an assessment of transfer and wheelchair skills in first-year physical therapy students. Poster presented at: Education Leadership Conference: October 14, 2023; Philadelphia, PA. Click here for Checklist for Assessment of Transfer and Wheelchair Skills.

Tappan RS, Roth HR. Standard setting for a practical exam in a foundational physical therapy course. Poster presented at: Annual Physical Therapy Education Leadership Conference, October 14, 2023; Philadelphia, PA.

Tappan RS. Assessment validity in health professions education: Making a case for your assessment. Presented at: Webinar Series, Academy of Education, American Physical Therapy Association; September 7, 2023. Click here for access to this session in the APTA Learning Center

Goh L, Wong E, Holland E, Roth HR, Tappan RS. Interrater reliability testing to validate a bed mobility skills assessment in a DPT program. Platform presented at: APTA Combined Sections Meeting: February 24, 2023; San Diego, CA.

Roth HR, Tappan R. Using simulation-based mastery learning as a tool to achieve excellence among all learners. Presented at: Annual Physical Therapy Education Leadership Conference, October 30, 2022; Milwaukee, WI.

Van Der Laan KF, Hilliard MJ, Roth HR, Hensley CP, Moisio KC, Tappan RS. Are faculty and staff receptive to change toward competency-based education? Poster presented at: APTA Combined Sections Meeting: February 5, 2022; San Antonio, TX.

Tappan RS, Ryan JM, Healey WE. Teaching cardiovascular and pulmonary exam techniques using a novel assessment method and mastery learning principles. Platform presented at: Combined Sections Meeting of the American Physical Therapy Association; February 4, 2022; San Antonio, TX.

Tappan R, Roth HR, Lopez-Rosado R, Hedman LD. Rubric development for vestibular rehabilitation practical exams in entry-level DPT education. Platform presentation at the Combined Sections Meeting of the American Physical Therapy Association. 2019 Washington, DC.

Contact the Assessment Team

Want to get involved with or have questions about the Assessment Hub? Email our director: rachel-tappan@northwestern.edu. Meet all our team members below:

Clinical Education Hub

Clinical education is one focus area of the NU-CHAPTER Lab. Our hub aims to promote excellence in clinical education through scholarship in clinical education administration as well as learner and educator experience and development.

Publications & Presentations

Publications:

Bala A, Bissler P, Chase K, Kress S, Zook-Arquines C. Negotiating clinical education in today's healthcare systems: Making the most of your time. Illinois Physical Therapy Association webinar. August 26, 2020.

Presentations: 

Holland E, Becker K, Gould H, Martinez G, Ridgway I, Yeates TD, Arquines C. DPT Education for Interrupting Microaggressions Using the VITALS Framework. Poster presented at: Northwestern University Physical Therapy & Human Movement Sciences Poster Day; March 25, 2025; Chicago, IL.

Arquines C, Latva K. Exploring the Costs of Physical Therapist Clinical Education Using Nominal Group Technique: Director of Clinical Education Perspectives. Poster presented at: IPTA Virtual Poster Hall; April 1-30, 2024; Naperville, IL.

DeMott Yeates T*, Holland B*, Zook-Arquines C. Students' Experiences of Microaggressions during Physical Therapy Clinical Education. Poster presented at: American Physical Therapy Association Combined Sections Meeting; February 15-17, 2024; Boston, MA.

DeMott Yeates T*, Holland B*, Zook-Arquines C*. Students' Experiences of Microaggressions during Physical Therapy Clinical Education. Platform presented at: The American Physical Therapy Association Education Leadership Conference; October 13-15, 2023; Philadelphia, PA.

Yeates, T*, Holland B, Arquines C. Physical therapy students’ experiences of microaggressions in clinical education. Poster presented at: Feinberg School of Medicine Medical Education Day; September 30, 2022; Chicago, IL.

Arquines C*, Sanders B, Benavente K, Falsey C. Perceived benefits and costs of hosting a physical therapist student clinical education program. Poster presented at: the American Physical Therapy Association Combined Sections Meeting; January 24, 2019; Washington, DC.

Thurston L, Zastrow A, Van Der Laan KF, Kilmartin L, Richardson S. Physical therapist clinical education in pelvic health: Survey of current views. Journal of Women's Health Physical Therapy. 2019;43:10-21.

Arquines C, Henderson H, Van Der Laan K. A programmatic and collaborative approach to remediation of exceptional students. Presented at the American Physical Therapy Association Combined Sections Meeting; February 21-24, 2018; New Orleans, LA.

Arquines C. 4:1 Mentor/protégé clinical education model: An inter-university/clinic collaboration. Platform presented at the American Physical Therapy Association Combined Sections Meeting; February 21-24, 2018; New Orleans, LA.

Harter C, Peterson C, Reed E, Arquines C, Henderson H, Van Der Laan K, Pinto D. Using behavioral messaging to bridge the gap between the academic and clinical environments. Poster presentation at the American Physical Therapy Association Combined Sections Meeting, February 21-24, 2018; New Orleans, LA.

Healey WE, Kahn J, Salzman A, Van Der Laan K. Human Movement: The Basis for Development of Clinical Reasoning Skills. Presented at American Physical Therapy Association Combined Sections Meeting; February 16, 2017; San Antonio, TX.

Contact the Clinical Education Team

Want to get involved with or have questions about the Clinical Education Hub? Email our director: cori.arquines@northwestern.edu. Meet all our team members below.

Leadership Hub

Leadership is one focus area of the NU-Chapter Lab. Our hub aims to advance the scholarship surrounding the training and development of future leaders within the physical therapy profession. We focus on the discovery of best practices in leadership development to promote and support the development of leaders, individual and collective leadership, and the organizational cultures necessary to advance the dynamic and innovative future of healthcare.

Publications

Becker ES. Exploring the Peer Leadership Network of Rehabilitation Healthcare Professionals Following Leader Development Training. Journal of Healthcare Leadership. 2024; 39-52.

Taylor SM, Carpenter J, Cua B, Staszak R, Collins K, Brewington D, Becker ES. Therapists' Perception on Quality of Provider Communication While Wearing a Mask: Impact of a Pandemic. Journal of Allied Health. 2023;52(3):211-218.

Poole AK, Hibbard ST, Bell KA, Brown DS, Condran C, Covington K. An Exploration of Doctor of Physical Therapy Students' Belongingness in Clinical Education: A Validation Study. Journal of Physical Therapy Education. 2023 Sep 1;37(3):211-9.

Nyunt G, Brown D, Jensen A, Schaefer C. Motivations to pursue an Ed. D. in higher education: A qualitative case study. Journal of Student Affairs Research and Practice. 2023 Oct 20;60(5):688-701.

Becker ES, Grant M, Witte MM, Deveikis LT, Traisman RK. Exploring outcomes in formal physical therapy mentorship programs. Educ Health Prof. 2023;6(1):34-41.

Contact the Leadership Team

Want to get involved with or have questions about the Leadership Hub? Email our director: emily.becker@northwestern.edu. Meet all our team members below.

Learning Environment Hub

The learning environment is one focus area of the NU-Chapter Lab. Our hub aims to engage in and promote research that explores the learning environment to enhance student well-being and learner engagement.

Publications

Plack MM, Healey WE, Huhn K, Costello E, Maring J, Hilliard MJ. Navigating student challenges: from the lens of first-year Doctor of Physical Therapy students. Journal of Physical Therapy Education. 2022;36:76-86.

Costello E, Huh K, Healey WE, Hilliard MJ, Plack MM, Maring J. Exploration of grit, self-reflection and insight, and anxiety: a multisite study of Doctor of Physical Therapy students. Journal of Physical Therapy Education. 2022;36:196-204.

Plack MM, Hilliard MJ, Costello E, Huhn K, Maring J, Healey WE. Transformative learning emerging from challenges first-year students experienced. Journal of Physical Therapy Education. 2022; online ahead of print.

Griffith G, Healey WE, Ryan J, Huber G, Tappan RS. Hands-On Skills in a Virtual Training World: Teaching Exercise Testing and Training Online During COVID-19. Platform at Annual Physical Therapy Educational Leadership Conference 2021, Atlanta, GA.

Healey WE, Cygan H, Reed M, Huber G. Physical therapy student, nursing student and community partner perceptions of working together in a Chicago neighborhood afterschool program. Journal of Physical Therapy Education. 2018;32(2):191-198.

Contact the Learning Environment Team

Want to get involved with or have questions about the Learning Environment Hub? Email our co-directors: krista-vanderlaan@northwestern.edu and t-demott@northwestern.edu. Meet all our team members below:

Collaborate With Us

To increase the impact of this important work, we invite health professions education scholars to contact us for collaboration opportunities. Contact our assistant chair of Education Research below.

Email: rachel-tappan@northwestern.edu
Phone: 312-503-2184

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