Miami, Dec. 14, 2021 – Students from Miami Dade College’s (MDC) Physical Therapist Assistant Program at the Medical Campus won the Second Annual “Battle of the Brains,” a virtual competition organized by the Florida Physical Therapy Association (FPTA) Southeast District division last month. This was MDC’s first participation in this competition.
MDC’s team, composed of students Christianna Wygant, Lucio Chang, and Erick Garcia, contended against representatives from PTA programs at Concord Career Institute, Florida National University, Gulf Coast State College, and Pensacola State College.
In a two-hour virtual competition, the teams were challenged with trivia-style questions testing their comprehensive knowledge related to anatomy, physical therapy interventions, and the profession in general with ten questions in each of the easy, moderate, and difficult rounds.
MDC reigned victorious with a total score of 42 points. The students prepared for the competition for two weeks with the coaching and guidance of Dr. Marlene Carmona, MDC Physical Therapist Assistant Program Professor and Program Director.
“We are extremely proud of the students who represented us at this competition,” Dr. Carmona said. “This victory speaks volumes of the caliber of the professionals being trained by our program at Miami Dade College.”
The Physical Therapist Assistant Program at MDC prepares students for employment in hospitals, rehabilitation centers, nursing homes, private practices, or other qualified health agencies. Graduates work under the direction and supervision of a physical therapist (PT) in the promotion of optimal human health and function through the application of scientific principles to prevent, identify, correct or alleviate acute or prolonged physical impairments, functional limitations, and disability. A pioneer in the field, MDC graduated the nation’s first Physical Therapist Assistants in 1969. Today, MDC is a leader in the education of PTAs – the continuation of a proud legacy started in 1967. For more information visit: https://www.mdc.edu/physicaltherapistassistant/.