Effective patient communication is a core part of a physical therapist’s daily work.
Many students find traditional classroom exercises “static and contrived,” as peer interactions can feel predictable and overly agreeable. Students often seek more realistic, experiential opportunities to practice patient interviews and communication skills.
Drs. John Sutera and Mitchell Batavia pondered the question: “How valuable would it be to involve theater students in our first-year physical therapy students’ learning process?” The answer proved to be very valuable. Students from the Steinhardt Educational Theater Department, led by Dr. David Montgomery, engaged in this innovative collaboration by portraying patients with specific behaviors and reactions. Using theatrical techniques, they convincingly embodied their roles while improvising responses appropriate to each scenario, challenging our physical therapy students to think critically and respond in real time.
Feedback from our students was overwhelmingly positive. They reported that the theater students were highly convincing and encouraged them to think on their feet, practicing patient-centered communication in a realistic, but safe learning environment. The first-year students thoroughly enjoyed the experience and expressed hope that this collaboration could continue throughout their time in the program.
We are deeply grateful to the Steinhardt Educational Theater Department for their creative involvement in shaping the next generation of physical therapists here at NYU Steinhardt.
