Lake Area Technical College Instructor Re-Writes Prominent PTA Textbook

In the Spring of 2014, Jones and Bartlett Publishers of Sudbury, Massachusetts, contacted Chris to ask if she would consider re-writing the current edition of the Introduction to Physical Therapist Practice for Physical Therapist Assistants. The textbook is the premier academic manual across the nation for the introductory course.

“In addition to my role as a PTA instructor, I’m also a physical therapist and I’m active in my profession,” she said.  “That perspective offered a wide range of experiences that I was able to contribute to the re-writing process.”

After reviewing the textbook, the goal of the re-write was to condense certain areas of the textbook and also add new chapters, Chris said. That goal was met, but the process was more involved than she had originally thought.

“Re-writing the textbook was more than condensing chapters and writing new chapters,” she said. “I also created instructor ancillaries which included accompanying text and pictures as well as Power Point presentations, sample tests, and end-of-chapter discussion questions and learning opportunities.”

All of her hard work became a reality in January 2016 when hard copies of the textbook were delivered to her office at Lake Area Technical College. Since then, she’s heard from former students, peers, and friends offering their congratulations on her accomplishment. “It’s been a great professional process for me, but I’m a little overwhelmed by the attention.”

Soon, physical therapist assistant students and instructors from across the country will benefit from Chris’s efforts when the third edition of the Introduction to Physical Therapist Practice for Physical Therapist Assistants textbook is being used in their classrooms this fall.