Graduates of physical therapist assistant program honored at NVCC pinning ceremony

WATERBURY (Jan 31, 2008) – The 2007 graduating class from Naugatuck Valley Community College’s (NVCC) physical therapist assistant (PTA) degree program was honored on Jan. 12, with a pinning ceremony on campus.

The two-year program, which confers an associate degree in science, runs from January to the following December. Its graduates become assistants to physical therapists and work in hospitals, school systems, private offices, home health agencies, industry, rehabilitation hospitals and nursing homes.  PTAs assist physical therapists in educating patients, implementing treatment programs, and training patients in exercises and activities of daily living.  PTAs are currently in high demand and the need is expected to grow due to an increasingly aging population in need of medical and rehabilitation services.

The program is offered through a collaborative agreement that includes NVCC, Northwestern Connecticut Community College (NWCC), Housatonic Community College (HCC), Capital Community College (CCC), Manchester Community College (MCC) and Tunxis Community College (TCC).  General education courses are taken at the students’ home campuses and the PTA courses are taken at NVCC.

The 2007 graduating class includes:

• Essex resident Marilyn Berliner, an NVCC student;
• Torrington resident Beth Canny, an NVCC student;
• Bristol resident Elizabeth Colaianni, a TCC student;
• Milford resident William Coon, an NVCC student;
• Waterbury resident Elizabeth Crouthamel, an NVCC student;
• Bridgeport resident Scott Fortunato, a HCC student;
• Stafford Springs resident, Kathy Gleason-Fortin, a MCC student;
• Torrington resident Pamela Martinsen, an NCCC student;
• Hampton resident Lisa McCormick, a MCC student;
• Manchester resident Beverly Nelson, a MCC student;
• Bridgeport resident Emily Ponce, a HCC student;
• Stafford Springs resident Daniel Roussey, a CCC student;
• Danbury resident Nicole Saviano, an NVCC student;
• New Milford resident Ruth Stoklosa, an NVCC student;
• Torrington resident Sandy Tobin, an NCCC student;
• New Britain resident Kyoko Yoshida, an NVCC student; and
• Naugatuck resident Diego Zuniga, an NVCC student.

In addition to associate degrees for physical therapist assistants, NVCC offers several other allied health programs to train professionals as health care providers. They include associate degrees in nursing, radiologic technology and respiratory care; as well as continuing education certificates for certified nurse aides and patient care technicians. The community college also provides a wide range of continuing education programs for those already working in health care.