The College of Rehabilitation Sciences Sports Science Department hosted nine students and three faculty members from the California Baptist University (CBU), USA from June 6-24, 2016, as part of the implementation of a Memorandum of Agreement signed between UST and CBU in 2015. This is the second batch of exchange students and faculty members that CRS hosted from CBU. CBU faculty members, Dr. Amy Miller, Dr. Lisa Friesen, and Ms. Morgan Miller led the delegation, with students Jonah Bourbinay, Junior Duvu, Isela Sanchez, Laney Hantz, Kaycee Cannon, Jenna Koch, Ashley Nitzel, Emily Armstrong, Erica Stevens.
Similarly, CRS welcomed Christopher Bienkiewicz, a student of Seton Hall University (SHU), USA, who stayed from July 3 to August 3, 2016. UST’s exchange program with SHU started in 2015, initially for the Speech-Language Pathology program, and now for the Sports Science program.
The student exchange program in CRS aims to expose international students to different areas of practice in the field of allied health sciences in the clinical, fitness industry, sports teams and community based rehabilitation settings here in the Philippines. Exposure to Focus Athletics and Purefoods Star Hotshots Basketball Team provided the opportunity to observe and have hands-on experience in strength training and conditioning for athletes, as well as the general population. Exposure to the Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Department of the Philippine Heart Center allowed them to understand rehabilitation protocols for special populations, such as stroke and cardiac conditions, and assist the staff in providing exercises for these patients. Finally, a visit to the Rural Health Unit of the Municipality of Abucay, Bataan, a partner community of UST-CRS, allowed them the opportunity to work with interns from the departments of Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy, and Speech-Language Pathology in providing health services to persons with disabilities (PWDs). This provided them with a better understanding of the benefits of community-based rehabilitation in a developing country.
The delegation was welcomed by Prof. Cheryl R. Peralta, DrPH, Dean of the College of Rehabilitation Sciences, Mr. Reil Vinard Espino, CSCS, MSHMS, MTAI, Chairperson of the Department of Sports Science, and Assoc. Prof. Sally Jane Uy, MBAH, Coordinator for International Relations and Programs.
