At a key transition point in their studies, occupational therapy students across all USAHS campuses participate in a meaningful ritual, witnessed by family and friends. The OT pinning ceremony marks the end of the classroom portion of their studies and the beginning of their fieldwork. For Residential MOT and OTD students, this happens in their fourth term, and for Flex, in the seventh term.
A longstanding tradition in OT practice, the pin celebrates the diversity of practice areas, the client-centered nature of our practice and the values of our profession.
“It’s an opportunity for faculty to acknowledge our students’ transition from classroom learning to clinical learning,” says Mary Zadnik, ScD, MEd, OTR/L, director of the entry-level OT programs on Read more
Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT), University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences
Master of Science in Physical Therapy (MSPT), Springfield College
Research Interests
Movement science
Musculoskeletal rehabilitation and differential diagnosis
Cervical pathology
Vestibular rehabilitation
Parkinson’s disease
BACKGROUND
Dr. Ed Bezkor became assistant professor for the Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) program at the university in 2017.
Prior to joining the university he was a faculty member in the DPT program at San Diego State University where he was awarded the Most Influential Faculty Member in 2015 and 2017. He was also a faculty member in the biomedical department at Pacific College of Oriental Medicine where he taught musculoskeletal and neurological anatomy, orthopedic neurologic evaluation, and biological aspects of physics.
He is a member of the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA), as well as its California chapter (CPTA) where he was the chief delegate for the Assembly of Representatives 2013-2016 and delegate for the national House of Representatives 2017.
Dr. Bezkor has been involved in clinical care for the past 18 years, with the majority of his time at NYU Medical Center’s Rusk Institute of Rehabilitation Medicine working as lead clinical specialist in the departments of orthopedics, neurology, vestibular, respiratory, and hand therapy.
He served on the Editorial Advisory Board for Rehab Management magazine, and is an item writer for the Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy. Dr. Bezkor is the case study and multimedia editor for the two most recent editions of the textbook Physical Rehabilitation; he is the lead author for the chapter on Parkinson’s disease in the 7th edition. He has been invited once again to serve as the multimedia editor for another F.A. Davis textbook, Improving Functional Outcomes in Physical Rehabilitation (2nd edition) and co-author of the chapter on interventions to improve sitting balance.
In 2014 the Springfield College Doctor of Physical Therapy program awarded Dr. Bezkor with the Gertrude M. Lamb Award for excellence in education, scholarly activity, and professional service.
