Stacie Fruth, PT, DHS

Stacie Fruth is an assistant professor. She teaches Generic Patient Examination and Intervention, Educational Roles, Movement Science, and Complex Medical Conditions in the professional program. Stacie is also the physical therapist at the University of Indianapolis-sponsored Fountain Square Center serving un- and under-insured patients with a wide variety of diagnoses.

She published a case report on rib pain treated with joint mobilizations and trigger point release, as well as research on the prevalence of patient education during physical therapy sessions and a literature review regarding the prevalence of and interventions for amenorrhea in high-level athletes.

Stacie has presented at the World Confederation of Physical Therapy, the Indiana State Conference, and the APTA Annual Conference. She completed doctoral research through a qualitative and quantitative exploration of physical therapy practice in the emergency department setting.

Stacie is a member of APTA, INAPTA, and the APTA Education section. Her clinical interests include PT in the emergency department, sports medicine, orthopaedics, chronic pain, and foot/ankle disorders.

Congratulations to Stacie for being the 2009 University of Indianapolis Teacher of the Year! She was also awarded a 2009 InQuery grant to assist in her trip to Africa for Education for Service Far Beyond Our Walls: The Immediate and Long-Term Impact of a 4-week Service-Oriented Trip to a Village in Tanzania on Physical Therapy Doctoral Students.

Click to view Dr. Fruth's publications.



Education for Service: Tanzania 2009
In December 2009, ten Doctor of Physical Therapy students and two faculty members (Renee VanVeld and Stacie) will be participating in a service-learning trip to provide medical and educational services to the underserved population of Pommern, Tanzania. Our goal is for the participating DPT students to return to the U. S. with a renewed enthusiasm for service, increased creativity for solving problems with few resources, a heightened appreciation for cultural differences and a newfound appreciation for medical resources in the U. S.

Previously, a group of approximately ten students and faculty members traveled to Honduras to assist with the construction and repair of homes. The 2009 KSPT trip to Tanzania is the first of its kind as it will incorporate a formal qualitative research study involving students on campus as well as those traveling abroad. DPT Students traveling to Africa will apply skills learned in the classroom when they are performing physical therapy services including the evaluation and treatment of musculoskeletal, neuromuscular, integumentary and cardiopulmonary conditions. In addition, students will assist in the rudimentary medical clinic with conditions including malaria, tooth extractions and intestinal worms. Students will conduct well-baby clinics for mothers who travel great distances in order to have their children weighed and vaccinated in order to reverse striking national statistics of infant mortality and malnutrition. Students will also have the opportunity to teach in a local school, assist with local construction projects and participate in cultural sharing.

A qualitative research study is being conducted on the students who are traveling to Tanzania to determine what changes may occur with regards to cultural understanding and appreciation, the level of interest in international service, resource management and personal struggles encountered. Data for the study will be gathered one month before departure, immediately upon returning, six months and one year post trip by students in the Class of 2012 by means of interviews and journal reviews. The students collecting the data will then be studied to determine whether or not participation in the study increases a desire to participate in future studies in international health.

Participating in this project will catapult theses students from central Indiana into a journey focused on international health. A significant investment of time has been made by these students as they will be spending four weeks away from home over the Christmas and New Year's holidays. The estimated cost of participating in this experience is approximately $4,500 per student.

KSPT students participating in this experience will take away in experience more than they could ever give to the people of Tanzania. According to Assistant Professor and trip organizer Stacie Fruth, "myself and others I know who have been on similar trips know that, upon returning home, you definitely feel like you received far more than you gave. I guess I can't say that's my goal for these students, but I do hope it happens."

You can support this study or make a generous gift to KSPT by visiting our secure Web site. When making a gift for the Tanzania service-learning trip, please type Tanzania Trip in the Other area/designation box.