He says it took years of work, flying back and forth, to get all the details worked out. and to assure the programs he recommends will offer a quality PT educational opportunity, comparable with what these individuals would get here in the states. Students returning to the US from one of these programs typically have no trouble getting licensed to practice in the US. Shifrin reemphasizes that these programs are accredited by London's physiotherapy governing body and the United Kingdom's licensing body. "The next step now." he says, "is to get full accreditation with the American Physical Therapy Association, and we're in the process of doing that."

Vicki Kirchner, of Vashon. Washington, had been trying for some time to get into a PT program this country. "I'd been applying for two years, ten schools at a pop. crying to get into FT studies here, and I just wasn't having any luck." Kirchner explains that while her college grades had been good, her overall GPA wasn't quite high enough to get her an interview at a US school. I feic strongly that if I could get to the interview stage. I'd be able to g-:c 'n. she says.

In addition to the University of Ulster, Shifrin students also attend

Robert Gordon University in Aberdeen. Scotland; The University of Dublin, Trinity College, in Dublin, Ireland and Curtin University of Technology in Perth. Western Australia. A major consideration in working with these universities was that Shifrin wanted to deal with schools that had already established highly-regarded PT programs.

Other factors were also important. "I had looked at a number of schools in several different countries," Shifrin says, "but quickly

came to the conclusion chat we needed to stick with an English speaking country." Most applicants he feels, "certainly don't have the time to learn, or even polish up on, a second language in order to complete those studies."

Also considered in the development phase, were the co-factors of time and great physical distance between the students and their families. This prompted organizing the PT studies

and certification so students in his programs could cover, in a shortened time frame, the same material the universities' regular PT students covered in four years. To achieve this, he explains, "They have less time off and go to school through the summers."

This intensive study program also benefits another group of applicants. Shifrin notes a subtle difference between his applicants and the typical U.S. program candidate. "A tot of our students are older than the

average college age and don't feel they can afford that long," he says.

Shifrin's students earn the four-year Bachelor of Science Honors degree in PT, in an accelerated program chat is completed in two and a third years.

Participating students can live in dorms on-campus or choose to live with host families off-campus. In some cases, they rent rooms or small houses near campus. As they work within Great Britain's National Health Service, they are. themselves, covered by it. So, if necessary, they receive medical care at no cost.

"Every time we interview for our programs," Shifrin says, "the prospective students interview with the director of the PT program and another PT faculty member-both from the foreign university. We fly them over here once a year. just to help conduct and evaluate interviews. The application process requires a background of two years of undergraduate college work that includes classes in chemistry, physics, and biology; an essay; and letters of recommendation."

As Shifrin's programs are set up, they combine professional education with 1100-1200 hours of clinical, hands-on internships. Classes include electro-physical modalities, manipulation, health promotion, movement studies, professional studies, imaging, advanced computing and aspects of design, integrated clinical studies, pharmacology, advanced practice, management and quality assurance, alternatives modes of health care delivery, management of change and clinical services.

Kirchner says. "We do three one-month-long clinicals in Ireland [or in Scotland or Australia, wherever the university is located], then we do a longer clinical- six weeks- and we can set it up anywhere we want to— where we are, back in the US, or even in a totally new country." In the past, Shifrin says, many of the clinical placements have been in England, and some have been in Australia, Canada, Hong Kong, and Israel.

Where do the students come from? "All over the United States," says Shifrin, "with at least 40 states represented so far." He is proud that although the applicant may not have successfully competed for a spot at a US school, his programs will see that students with dedication and a desire to work will eventually prevail.

In additions to coursework and clinicals. there are also are research and presentation requirements. The cost of the program is comparable to that in a private US PT school. Just like in the US, students are eligible for financial aid. Another advantage of these programs, he says, is that because the classes are small, most students become very close with faculty members. "There is a great relationship between students and faculty, and since the average age of our students is 26, the professors

Kirchner, who entered the program in May of 1996 and will graduate in November of 1998, says it's a real advantage to have fellow students from throughout the states. "The education we're getting is great, but the cultural experience is just as wonderful. It's an ideal situation."

Kirchner says she has compared her curriculum to what some of her contemporary PT students in the US are offered. "I believe we're getting more hands-on experience and that's the way I learn best."