A Butler County Community College professor is receiving recognition for her clinical work and community service.
Ashlee Esplen was named the winner of the Steven Kolumban Award, which is given to someone who helps support the role of physical therapist assistants.
“A pretty prestigious honor to receive as a physical therapist assistant,” Dr. Norman Johnson, a professor who nominated Esplen, his former student at the Community College of Allegheny County said. “It’s one of the top awards you can get.”
Esplen currently teaches and manages clinical experiences for students in BC3’s physical therapist assistant program, and has been with the college since 1995.
Esplen is also a licensed massage therapist in Pennsylvania and coordinator of BC3’s
“We want to help people,” Esplen said. “That’s why we all do it. To help someone who can’t walk or can’t lift, to get them to get back to doing what they liked. You helped them achieve that goal. It’s as simple as that.”
The award is given by the American Physical Therapy Association-Pennsylvania, which has over 5,000 members.
