Arcadia University’s Department of Physical Therapy opened its student-run pro bono clinic on March 18 to provide no-cost physical therapy to underinsured or uninsured community members. 

First- and second-year students in Arcadia’s Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) program will develop rehabilitation strategies and exercises for patients, with oversight by Physical Therapy faculty. 

This is Arcadia’s first pro bono clinic, and it is one of only seven University-based pro bono clinics in the Philadelphia region and 108 nationwide. The clinic’s goal is to help address healthcare disparities in the Philadelphia region by providing free physical therapy services while giving students a hands-on learning opportunity. It is open to all community members for preventative care or rehabilitation from injuries or long-term conditions without requiring a doctor’s referral. 

“As future physical therapists, part of our mission is to meet the health needs of others,” said Adriana Pillot ’22DPT, who is one of the clinic’s founding students. “There’s no better place to start than in our local community. While dedicating these few years of our lives to our DPT studies at Arcadia, we decided not to wait until we entered our careers to fulfill the code of ethics we will pledge to abide by.”

Last fall, the College of Health Sciences, which houses the Department of Physical Therapy, announced its initiative to address health disparities in healthcare in the region through programming and across the United States with its network of medical and public health professionals. 

“As the clinic evolves, we hope to become an integral part of the Arcadia and Glenside communities,” said Pillot. “Some of our future dreams include incorporating other health care disciplines in the clinic, hosting wellness events for the community, and overall becoming a clinic patients and practitioners alike will refer others to knowing they will be treated with integrity, kindness, and expertise by our student PTs.”

Arcadia’s DPT program is ranked in the top 10 percent in the country by U.S. News and World Report. 

Community members can schedule an appointment by calling 215-517-2455 or emailing probonopt@arcadia.edu. The pro-bono clinic is located at Oak Summit.