Putting Knowledge Into Action: DPT Students Lead Community-Driven Health Fair
First- and second-year Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) students got an opportunity to turn their classroom learning into a real-world service for impact by developing a health fair based on the needs of the community. Whether demonstrating how much sugar is found in a can of soda or showcasing games designed to help seniors keep their cognition sharp, each part of the Health & Wellness Fair was carefully tailored to empower individuals to take control of their own health with actionable and trustworthy health information.
The Health & Wellness Fair was the result of a two-part experiential learning process overseen by Dr. Julie Gahimer and Dr. Jill Henderzahs-Mason. During the Fall 2024 semester, first-year students in PT 615: Health Promotion and Wellness I visited the Baxter YMCA and interviewed members of the Active Older Adults (AOA) program to determine what health topics mattered most to them. This summer, second-year students in PT 685: Health Promotion and Wellness II transformed those responses into interactive displays, educational posters and other hands-on activities for the ‘Spring Into Wellness’ Health & Wellness Fair—a highly-visible, free event where individuals could learn about the topics they were most interested in and interact with the students.
“It was a real success,” said Gahimer. “The students had nothing but good things to say about it. Several of the Y members told me, ‘Wow, that was really good. That was really informative.’”
The interactive stations covered topics like “No-equipment workouts for strength, balance & flexibility,” “Making good food choices,” and “Mindfulness for cancer & chronic conditions.” Gahimer said some attendees spent 15 minutes talking with the second-year DPT students about topics they were interested in, truly getting one-on-one opportunities to learn about a variety of health-related issues. By holding the fair in the Baxter YMCA’s front lobby on May 29, students could connect with dozens of older adults coming for classes.
About 50 second-year DPT students were involved with the health fair. Gahimer, who is on the Baxter YMCA Advisory Board and teaches a weekly ‘Fitness Following Disability’ class at the YMCA, said it’s a perfect event for showcasing the experiential learning and service for impact aspects of UIndy’s mission.
“A lot of things we try to teach in a classroom don’t resonate with our students until they actually experience it,” she added. “When they experience something like the Health & Wellness Fair, it’s a whole different thing.”
“The Health & Wellness Fair offered a valuable opportunity for our DPT students to bring their learning full circle,” added Henderzahs-Mason. “It not only allowed them to apply their knowledge in a meaningful way but also underscored the vital role of physical therapists as advocates for health promotion and wellness within our community.”
Gahimer and Henderzahs-Mason categorized all the responses received by first-year students (see photo at left) and put them into a list of topics to cover for the health fair. The process was tedious and time-consuming, but the end result was worthwhile—particularly because of the idea that the work done by the first-year DPT students was getting passed to second-year DPT students. And with the plan for this to become an annual event, this year’s incoming DPT class will be engaging with similar interviews to pass to second-year DPT students next summer.
“I’ve dreamed about having a health fair at the YMCA for active older adults for years, especially one related to health promotion,” said Gahimer. “To see it all come together so well is a dream come true. And the timing is so cool that the baton can be passed to the older students. I cannot wait for the first-year students who did the interviewing last fall to be able to see the end result with the health fair next summer.”
Students came away with a highly positive opinion of the experience as well. Based on the reflections that were collected after the Wellness Fair, students consistently described the event as an invaluable opportunity to practice health promotion and patient education skills in a supportive, low-stakes environment. Many emphasized how engaging directly with community members enhanced their confidence—often reporting measurable increases on self-rated confidence scales—and helped them adapt communication for diverse audiences with varying backgrounds and knowledge levels. Numerous DPT students said they gained a greater appreciation for a physical therapist’s broader role as an educator, advocate and resource provider, as well as the value of tailoring conversations to individual needs and interests. In short, students viewed the experience as a meaningful, confidence-building experience that not only reinforced classroom learning but also expanded their readiness to educate and advocate for health in both clinical and community contexts.
By embedding this sustained, student-led service learning into the curriculum, the DPT program is not only helping students build confidence and clinical communication skills—it’s also making a lasting difference in the lives of community members. The Health & Wellness Fair is just one example of how UIndy’s partnerships are bringing learning to life far beyond the classroom.
