ATLANTA – Dr. David Taylor, clinical associate professor of physical therapy in Mercer University’s College of Health Professions, is highlighted on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website for STEADI: Stopping Elderly Accidents, Deaths, and Injuries.
In a video, titled “STAND STEADI: Training a Multidisciplinary Team for Fall Prevention,” Dr. Taylor describes how Mercer incorporated STEADI modules in interprofessional training on screening, assessing and intervening to decrease fall risk in older adults. Physical therapy, pharmacy, nursing and public health students completed the training.
Dr. Taylor, recognized by the American Board of Physical Therapy Specialties as a Board-Certified Geriatric Clinical Specialist, joined Mercer’s faculty in 2011 and serves as director of clinical education for the Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) program in the Department of Physical Therapy. He teaches geriatrics in the DPT program and has presented nationally on topics related to fall risk prevention.
Additionally, he is part of a multi-institution and multi-disciplinary team researching best practices in geriatric education for healthcare providers. This work is funded by a five-year grant from the U.S. Health Resources and Services Administration.
“Dr. Taylor is a strong advocate for improving and maintaining the health of older adults,” said Dr. Jeannette Anderson, chair of the Department of Physical Therapy. “This video captures how he helped create an effective interdisciplinary education experience utilizing CDC resources to optimize our students’ ability to address fall risk prevention in older adults.”
Dr. Taylor earned Bachelor of Science, Master of Physical Therapy and Doctor of Physical Therapy degrees from Emory University. He holds a graduate certificate in health-focused patient/client management for physical and occupational therapists from the University of Alabama at Birmingham.
About the College of Health Professions
Mercer University’s College of Health Professions is composed of five disciplines: physical therapy, physician assistant studies, public health, clinical psychology, and athletic training. The College offers a doctoral-level physical therapy program, master’s-level physician assistant program, bachelor’s- and master’s-level public health programs, doctoral-level program in clinical psychology, and master’s-level athletic training program. The Department of Physical Therapy offers residencies in orthopaedic, neurologic and cardiovascular/pulmonary physical therapy; a fellowship in orthopaedic manual physical therapy; and an onsite clinic. Each program is housed in a department that provides students with comprehensive didactic courses taught by an extraordinary faculty and extensive clinical experience enhanced by outstanding service-learning opportunities. For more information, visit chp.mercer.edu.
