Pamela Pologruto, teaching professor at Penn State Fayette, left, receives The F.A. Davis Award for Outstanding Physical Therapist Assistant Educator from Roger Herr, president of the American Physical Therapy Association, right, at the APTA Honors and Awards Reception on July 21.
LEMONT FURNACE, Pa. — Pamela Pologruto, teaching professor of the physical therapist assistant (PTA) program at Penn State Fayette, The Eberly Campus has received the F.A. Davis Award for Outstanding Physical Therapist Assistant Educator. The American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) recognized her achievement with this national award, only given to one recipient annually, at their honors and awards reception ceremony in Kansas City, Missouri.
Pologruto is a dedicated physical therapy professional and compassionate educator. She has presented nationally at the APTA Combined Sections Meetings and Education Leadership Conference on the pedagogical strategies and issues affecting PTA education, co-authored articles regarding the role of the PTA and simulated patients, and chaired the American Physical Therapy Association Pennsylvania ethics committee in 2019.
Admired by students and peers alike, the Fayette campus presented Pologruto with the Ellen M. Laun Advising Excellence award in 2018 and the Faculty Teaching Excellence award in 2021. She currently maintains clinical practice in the acute care setting and contributes to research within her field.
F.A. Davis Award for Outstanding PTA Educator
The F.A. Davis Award for Outstanding Physical Therapist Assistant Educator recognizes Pologruto’s indelible efforts in provisioning quality education, and her involvement in advancing the field through state and national activities.
Pologruto’s award submission included research on the integration of simulated patients into the PTA curriculum across multiple campuses. By analyzing student responses, the study evaluated how this active learning approach assisted with the development of students’ clinical problem-solving skills, ultimately preparing them for successful careers as PTAs.
Fellow PTA colleague, Jennifer Jewell, stated in her nomination letter that Pologruto “demonstrates a noteworthy level of commitment to PTA education through leadership roles that advance and inform education and practice of PTAs, shares her knowledge and expertise as a presenter and organizer of both academic and continuing education experiences, and serves as a leader and mentor to other educators, clinicians, students, and colleagues.”
“I am deeply honored to be recognized with this prestigious award," Pologruto said. "As a PTA educator, I am fortunate to do what I love every day: teaching and influencing the next generation of physical therapy providers. I am committed to leading students by exemplifying professionalism, a pursuit of knowledge, and a dedication to service. I strive to create a supportive and engaging learning environment to empower students to gain knowledge and skills to prepare them for their future career."
