Doctor of Physical Therapy

Division Chief: W. Todd Cade, PT, PhD, FAPTA, and Program Director: Tiffany Hilton, PT, PhD

Tiffany N. Adams, PT, DPT, MBA, PhD; Laura Case, PT, DPT, PhD; Richard Clendaniel, PT, PhD, FAPTA; Derek Clewley, PT, DPT, PhD; Chad E. Cook, PT, PhD, MBA, FAPTA; J. Kyle Covington, PT, DPT, PhD; Timothy D. Faw, PT, DPT, PhD; Jody Feld, PT, DPT, PhD;  Adam Goode, PT, DPT, PhD; Jamie Greco, PT, DPT, EdD; Jeffrey M. Hoder, PT, DPT; Maggie Horn, DPT, MPH, PhD; Gary E. Johnson, PT, DPT; Joshua Johnson, PT, DPT, PhD; Katie Myers, PT, DPT,PhD; Amy Pastva, PT, MA, PhD; Laura Pietrosimone, PT, DPT, PhD; Ashley Poole, PT, DPT; Michael Reiman, PT, DPT, PhD; Kelly Reynolds, PT, DPT, PhD; Marcus Roll, PT, DPT; Corey Simon, PT, DPT, PhD

Website: medschool.duke.edu/education/health-professions-education-programs/doctor-physical-therapy-program

The Profession of Physical Therapy

Doctors of physical therapy apply knowledge of the basic sciences to the prevention and treatment of movement dysfunction resulting from disease or injury. The physical therapist screens, examines, evaluates, diagnoses, prognoses, and provides interventions across the lifespan. Patient interventions are focused on the prevention of dysfunction, the relief of pain, and the improvement of strength, endurance, flexibility, coordination, and joint range-of-motion to maximize functional potential. The variety of settings in which a physical therapist may work includes hospitals, outpatient clinics, schools, skilled nursing facilities, rehabilitation centers, sports facilities, home care agencies, and corporate businesses. With experience, additional education, and board certification, the physical therapist may choose to specialize in orthopedics, pediatrics, neurology, cardiopulmonary, sports physical therapy, clinical electrophysiology, women’s health, or geriatrics. Beyond clinical practice, physical therapists may also pursue roles in education, research, and administration. 

Vision, Mission, and Values of the Doctor of Physical Therapy Division

Vision: To transform physical therapy through innovative education, research, and practice.

Mission: Duke DPT is committed to foster learning through a community that embraces equity and inspires discovery.

We will accomplish these by embracing our core values that drive and inform all things that we as an organization aim to accomplish. These values include:

1. Belonging: Creating an inclusive environment that supports, respects, and values authenticity;

2. Equity: A commitment to supporting diverse needs to ensure success;

3. Education: Fostering growth in the process of learning;

4. Innovation: Bringing bold novel, and forward-thinking ideas to transform education, research, advocacy, service, and leadership;

5. Respect: Building a community of trust, humility, critical consciousness, and collaboration that values unique perspectives to achieve mutual goals; and

6. Collaboration: Pursuing relationships, experiences, and diverse perspectives to strengthen our work towards a common goal.

Doctor of Physical Therapy Program

The Duke DPT is a graduate professional degree program for entry into the profession of physical therapy. Upon successful completion of the didactic and clinical components of the curriculum, the student is awarded the DPT degree. The three-year full-time program, part of the Duke University School of Medicine, provides a comprehensive foundation in the art and science of physical therapy, and prepares graduates to serve as primary clinical care practitioners in the prevention and rehabilitation of movement related dysfunction in patients with neurologic, musculoskeletal, cardiovascular, urologic and metabolic abnormalities, throughout the continuum of care. The Doctor of Physical Therapy Program at Duke University is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE), 3030 Potomac Ave., Suite 100, Alexandria, VA 22305-3085; telephone: (703) 706-3245; email: accreditation@apta.org; website: capteonline.org.