It’s not often that you have the chance to benefit from the sweeping perspective of someone who has been in the same profession for 50 years, but that is the fortunate circumstance we find ourselves in on this episode of Raise the Line. Our guest, Dr. Jim Gordon, describes the remarkable evolution of physical therapists from being limited to hospital-based, post-op rehabilitation to becoming community-based providers of choice in a wide and growing list of specialties from orthopedics to oncology. “We have established ourselves as essential actors in the healthcare system. We have the education and research behind us, but most important, I think we have credibility among other healthcare professionals and with patients.” As the leader of one of the top ranked physical therapy programs in the US at the University of Southern California, Gordon is in a position to shape the future of the field as well. As he tells host Hillary Acer, he sees a greater role for physical therapists in prevention and primary care, and also expects changes in the application of new technologies in neurorehabilitation, his area of specialty. “What we’re trying to do is not look at technologies as a solution in and of themselves and instead develop a patient-centered approach which focuses on how people are able to use these technologies to make their lives better.” Don’t miss this great opportunity for a unique look at the current and future state of a vital part of the healthcare system from a leading figure in the field.

Mentioned in this episode: https://pt.usc.edu/