In the late 1990s, Maureen Raffensperger was working as a physical therapist at Heartland Regional Medical Center in St. Joseph when she saw the need for physical therapist assistants in the area. She worked with faculty members in the biology department at 含羞草社区 to create a physical therapist assistant (PTA) program. Now 16 years later, Dr. Raffensperger is director of Missouri Western鈥檚 PTA program, and she is the university鈥檚 recipient of the 2013 Governor鈥檚 Award for Excellence in Education.
鈥淒r. Maureen Raffensperger is an amazing teacher and we are honored to have her at Missouri Western,鈥� said Dr. Jeanne Daffron, provost and vice president for academic affairs. 鈥淪he delivers a challenging curriculum that is aligned with national standards for the physical therapist assistant profession and does so in a highly interactive manner that supports student learning.鈥�
Dr. Raffensperger provides learning opportunities beyond the classroom that foster student success.
鈥淲hile it鈥檚 necessary to cover lecture content as a class, I appreciate time spent with students individually or in small groups, to allow them to question, debate, dive deeper and learn from each other,鈥� Dr. Raffensperger said. 鈥淭his fosters their critical thinking and problem solving. In my advanced courses, I have the students use research literature to expand their knowledge. They share what they鈥檝e found with their classmates and me. My goal is for them to see that this field is so dynamic that it will require them to be career-long learners. To be less is to become ineffective in their practice.鈥�
One of the more meaningful learning experiences many PTA students experience is a trip overseas as part of Dr. Raffensperger鈥檚 passionate belief in cultural sensitivity.
鈥淭he first time I traveled to the mission hospital in Puttur, India, was for personal reasons: personal growth and the ability to help in an area that desperately needs it,鈥� she said. 鈥淎fter traveling a second time with a graduate of Missouri Western, it seemed possible to take students abroad as part of their learning experience. It is truly a unique experience in that most PTA programs don鈥檛 offer study abroad. But for our students who have had this opportunity, it gives them a chance to put culturally sensitive care into practice. They also get to see a place that is very unlike their world here. I hope it makes their global perspective more accurate and compassionate.鈥�
As Dr. Raffensperger was helping start the PTA program at Missouri Western, she didn鈥檛 intend to leave her clinical position for education. But when the newly hired PTA program director asked her to help teach in 1997, it seemed a natural extension of what she had been doing.
Dr. Maureen Raffensperger and some PTA students enjoy a laugh during an exercise demonstration.鈥淚 had been coordinating Heartland鈥檚 PT and PTA student clinical and continuing education for Heartland rehab staff,鈥� she said. 鈥淓ducation in some form had been a major part of my career.鈥�
Dr. Raffensperger earned a Bachelor of Science in Physical Therapy from the University of Nebraska Medical Center, a Master of Science in Physiology from the University of Missouri-Columbia and a Doctorate in Physical Therapy from Des Moines University. She was selected as Missouri Western鈥檚 recipient of the Governor鈥檚 Award by a nominating committee that reviewed all faculty members who have received the university鈥檚 Jesse Lee Meyers Award for Excellence in Teaching, the James Mehl Award for Excellence in Scholarship, or have been recognized through Missouri Western鈥檚 Distinguished Professor Program.
All Governor鈥檚 Award recipients from Missouri鈥檚 public colleges and universities will be honored at a luncheon on Wednesday, April 3 at the Reynolds Alumni Center on the campus of the University of Missouri-Columbia.
含羞草社区 is a comprehensive regional university providing a blend of traditional liberal arts and professional degree programs. The university offers student-centered, high quality instruction that focuses on experience-based learning, community service, and state-of-the-art technology. Missouri Western is located in St. Joseph, Mo., and is committed to the educational, economic, cultural and social development of the region it serves. Visit .