Maria Teresa Ferrer ’06 to give Mackin-Mailander Alumni Lecture

Maria Teresa Ferrer will return to Clarke on Tuesday, March 28, to present the Mackin-Mailander Alumni Lecture.

Ferrer is a native of Colombia and completed her studies in Medellin, Colombia, in Occupational Health at the Universidad Politecnica Colombiana Jaime Isaza Cadavid in 1987. She started her own practice in occupational rehabilitation and work-related injuries, as well as ergonomic program integration for elementary schools, in 1989 in Medellin. She also completed a Master’s in Toxicology and Environmental Health from the University of Antioquia in 1990. Upon moving to the United States, she completed her Doctorate of Physical Therapy at Clarke University in 2006.

She started Ferrer Pediatric Physical Therapy in Coralville, Iowa, to train therapists, health care providers and families on therapy treatments and at-home treatment plans for children and adults. She also developed a TeleTherapy program to assist patients from other countries on video calls. In addition to operating her private practice, Ferrer is the supervisor for Genesis Pediatric Therapy in Coralville, Iowa.

Ferrer will tell her story of moving from Columbia to the United States and its impact on both her professional and family life. She will speak about her Clarke experience, her professional career as a physical therapist and the importance of life balance.

The lecture will take place at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, March 28, in Jansen Music Hall on the Clarke campus. Admission is free.

The Mackin-Mailander Lecture Series was established through the generosity of two Clarke alumnae, Mary C. Mackin ’34 and Verna Slattery Mailander ’20.