A strong sense of community among physical therapy students is a cornerstone of the educational experience, and the relationships established are often lifelong.

While the current pandemic has disrupted education as usual, many DPT programs were already employing hybrid or blended learning models that maximize technology, use mentorship to foster learning, and focus on building a diverse and inclusive educational environment.

Educators Alex Koszalinski, Leigh Murray, and Alexis Ortiz share several strategies for developing relationships and establishing a student community within the classroom — whether your program is designed as a hybrid model, recently transitioned to hybrid, or has classes on campus.