Des Moines University’s Stroke Camp, an annual elective that brings together local stroke survivors and physical therapy students, received a $5,000 2017 Prairie Meadows Community Betterment Grant, which will help sustain the program.
The camp is coordinated by Kathy Mercuris, P.T., D.H.S., associate professor in the Doctor of Physical Therapy program, and utilizes volunteer professionals, DMU faculty and current DMU students to provide free, intensive therapy and support for stroke survivors.
“The camp is a win-win-win,” Mercuris says. “The patient volunteers improve their skills and are provided with a new home exercise program. The students win through honing their physical therapy skills and learning more about the challenges and triumphs following a stroke. I win through offering a service to these deserving stroke survivors and seeing firsthand how far our students have come on their journey to becoming physical therapists. It is an awesome and humbling experience.”
The 2017 Stroke Camp, which runs August 21-25 at Des Moines University is still recruiting patient volunteers and physical therapists to assist with the programming. Grant funds enable DMU to cover DART paratransit services for patient volunteers in need of transportation.
For more information on getting involved, please contact Dr. Kathy Mercuris: kathy.mercuris@dmu.edu or (515) 271-1734.
Read more about the stroke camp experience: “Stroke Camp uses fun to gain function”
