PHTY3250 Physiotherapy Specialities: Cardiothoracics

Associate Professor Allison Mandrusiak
School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences

Course overview

• Practical
• Level: undergraduate, third year 
• Size: medium class – approximately 150 students (in practical groups of 50)
• Notes: Pop in/out during this 2–hour window to see a range of practical activities.

PHTY3250 is about helping people who have heart and lung conditions, patients in hospital after surgery, and those who are critically unwell in intensive care.

Teaching tools and techniques

• Keywords: blended learning–simulations–practicals–experiential learning

Historically, cardiothoracics has been an unappealing field, a lesser-known cousin of the more famous sports or musculoskeletal physiotherapy. Students typically don’t envisage a career as a cardiothoracic physiotherapist, clearing phlegm from a patient’s lungs. This is Allison's challenge – to infuse a ‘breath of fresh air’ into learning about the lungs, and put a pulse into the heart of this course, preparing our future physiotherapists for safe and effective care of patients.

Lecturer's biography
A/Prof Allison Mandrusiak breathes fresh life into an historically unpopular area of physiotherapy and proves that clearing phlegm can be surprisingly fun! Her fresh approach has secured her a number of teaching awards, including UQ, national, and an international (Universitas 21) Teaching Excellence Award.

Please note: this class is standing room only.