PHILIPPI — Doctor of Physical Therapy Sara Mayle, from the Broaddus Hospital Inpatient Physical Therapy Department, was named a board-certified clinical specialist in geriatric physical therapy by the American Board of Physical Therapy Specialties (ABPTS) of the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) on June 31, 2020.

Specialist certification formally recognizes physical therapists who have demonstrated advanced clinical knowledge and skills in a specific area of physical therapist practice.

To obtain board certification, candidates must submit evidence of required clinical practice in one of nine specialty areas. In addition, candidates must complete a rigorous examination demonstrating specialized knowledge and advanced clinical proficiency in a specialty area of physical therapist practice.

Certifications are valid for 10 years during which specialists must complete a Maintenance of Specialist Certification including professional standing and direct patient care hours, commitment to lifelong learning through professional development, Practice performance through examples of patient care and clinical reasoning, and cognitive expertise through a test of knowledge in the profession.

Currently, Sara is 1 of 10 geriatric clinical specialists in the state of West Virginia and over 3,000 in the United States.

Mayle specializes in working with geriatric patients in our inpatient Swing Bed, Acute Care, and Long Term Care (Mansfield Place) units of Broaddus Hospital. She has a specific interest in patients with neurological conditions and has a background starting her career in an acute inpatient rehabilitation hospital providing care to patients after sustaining a stroke, spinal cord injury, or brain injury, in addition to patients with multiple other complex medical conditions.

Additionally, she was recently certified to provide LSVT BIG services to individuals with Parkinson’s disease.

According to Sara, she realizes that rural areas are in constant need of clinicians who strive to stay current. She says she chose to pursue a specialist certification because she believes in providing the best possible care to her patients and wants to bring a higher level of care to the residents in our area.

“I have always had an ‘old soul’ and enjoy spending time with and learning from our older generations. Becoming a board-certified clinical specialist in geriatric physical therapy allows me to do this while demonstrating my commitment to pursuing the highest level of skill with which to best serve them as my patients,” says Mayle.

Mayle graduated Summa Cum Laude in 2012 from West Virginia University with a Doctorate in Physical Therapy and Bachelor of Science in Exercise Physiology with an emphasis in Aquatic Therapy and Certification Disabilities Studies.

As a student, she was awarded the Outstanding Physical Therapy Student Award by the APTA Orthopedic Section, the Pathways and Basic Sciences Award by the WVU Division of Physical Therapy, The Outstanding Senior Awards by the WVU Division of Exercise Physiology and WVU Foundation, Outstanding Scholar Award by the WVU Division of Exercise Physiology, and the President’s Volunteer Service Award by the President’s Council on Service and Civic Participation.