Each year, Samford University's School of Health Professions crawls with little hands and precious minds during its annual Baby Lab, a unique opportunity for graduate students to gain hands-on observation and practice in pediatrics.
"Many of our students enter the program having been exposed only to adult outpatient physical therapy, with limited experience understanding the physical therapist's role in pediatrics," said Maegan Powell, assistant professor in the Department of Physical Therapy. "Baby lab was created to give students a controlled experience working with kids, and maybe even consider pediatrics as a potential future career choice."
This lab allows students to learn the importance of establishing rapport with the child, following the child's lead, and using evidence-based practices when working with this population, Powell explains.
"Samford's focus on interprofessional education equips our students with the skills necessary to thrive in the workforce and serve their patients and colleagues well," said Powell.
The program was launched by the Physical Therapy (PT) department and in recent years, the Baby Lab has expanded to include graduate students studying Speech-Language Pathology (SLP). This collaboration allows SLP students to practice parent interview skills while PT students perform motor assessments on the babies.
"This lab is a safe place for SLP students to practice essential soft skills, such as interviewing, which helps them learn how to gather valuable information about the child and ask challenging questions of caregivers," said Karen Flynn, professor in the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders.
"By partnering with physical therapy, students learn more about how to evaluate infants and toddlers. In return, the speech pathology students can learn when to refer a child they are working with for physical therapy," Flynn explained.
Finding children for the lab has been made easier through program alumni who are now parents.
"Baby Lab was initially designed to provide a practical context for early physical development," Powell shared. "It has also become a beautiful way to connect alumni to the program, helping current students relate to their future colleagues."
Baby Lab consistently receives the highest rankings on course evaluations, with students noting how much they enjoy applying the content they are learning. This innovative program enriches the student's educational experience and fosters a deeper connection to pediatric care, shaping future health care professionals.
