Heidi M. Garske

Programs and Courses Taught

Doctor of Physical Therapy

PHYTH-702: Capstone II: Exploration and Planning 

PHYTH-703: Capstone III: Implementation

PHYTH-704: Capstone IV: Completion

PHYTH-747: Professional Issues II 

PHYTH-763: PT Clinical Experience I 

Faculty Research Spring: Faculty Research 

PHYTH-766: PT Internship 

PHYTH-743: Interpersonal and Interprofessional Communication 

PHYTH-761: PT Integrated Clinical Experience I 

PHYTH-703: Capstone III: Implementation 

PHYTH-745: Behavioral and Psychosocial Factors in Physical Therapy

PHYTH-742: Teaching and Learning

About Me

Hello, I am Dr. Heidi McGregor Garske, PT, DPT, MPT (she/her/hers). I am an Assistant Professor and the Director of Clinical Education for the Doctor of Physical Therapy Program. I have been in this role since 2018.

My prior experience includes 15 years of private practice, contracting in the Early Intervention program with the Regional Center of the East Bay, serving as a clinical instructor, and clinician with a focus on the pediatric population, more specifically as a neonatal therapist in the neonatal intensive care unit, in the inpatient and home health environments. 

As Director of Clinical Education (DCE), my teaching and administrative responsibilities are primarily in clinical education, supporting students and clinical educators in the application of strategies for teaching and learning in practice. My responsibilities require building partnerships among employers, clinical educators, students, and new graduates. I coordinate the final clinical education experience where the student becomes an entry-level physical therapist.

Education

I have a bachelor's degree in Health Education and a Master of Physical Therapy.  I earned a transitional Doctor of Physical Therapy from Chapman University in 2017.  I am currently a Doctoral Candidate in Pacific University’s PhD in Education and Leadership program.

Teaching Interests

For the DPT program at Samuel Merritt, I teach in the areas of clinical education, pediatric physical therapy, research, foundations of PT practice, and interprofessional communication.

I currently serve as one of only 3 Northern California instructors of the American Physical Therapy Association Credentialed Clinical Instructor Level 1 course.

I am one of 7 developers of the American Physical Therapy Association Credentialed Clinical Instructor 3 Course which is scheduled to launch in 2025.

I have helped to develop and teach the curriculum in Health Equity and Diversity Equity and Inclusion in interprofessional education.

I teach workshops on resilience, cultural humility and the mitigation of discrimination  in health professions education to the community.

Scholarly Interests

Resilience as a framework for optimizing Health Professions Education
DPT clinical education assessment

Publications

Birkmeier, Marisa PT, DPT, PCS; Wheeler, Emma PT, MS; McGregor Garske, Heidi PT, DPT; Gorman, Sharon Lynn PT, DPTSc; Richards, Heather; Wolff-Burke, Melissa PT, EdD; Bureau, Megan R. PT, DPT. Feasibility of Use of the Clinical Internship Evaluation Tool in Full-Time Clinical Education Experiences: A Multi-institutional Study. Journal of Physical Therapy Education 36(3):p 263-271, September 2022. | DOI: 10.1097/JTE.0000000000000237

Professional Affiliations & Memberships

Northern California Clinical Education Consortium
American Physical Therapy Association
Academy of Physical Therapy Education
Academy of Pediatric Physical Therapy
California Physical Therapy Association
American Council of Academic Physical Therapy (ACAPT)
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Consortium of ACAPT
National Consortium of Clinical Educators
National Association of Neonatal Therapists

Community Service

Leukemia Lymphoma Society Fund Raising
Northern California Clinical Education Consortium website coordinator
Meals on Wheels volunteer
Youth Heart Center Program – mentor for high school students
I am a reviewer for manuscript submissions for the Physical Therapy Journal

Honors & Awards

• APTA Credentialed Clinical Instructor Program level I and II credentialed.
• APTA Credentialed Clinical Instructor Program level I Trainer 
• Professional Member of the National Academy of Practice
• Speaker at two separate Chapman University DPT Graduation Ceremonies for MPT and DPT degrees