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During Women’s History Month, Duke Orthopaedics celebrated the women whose leadership and contributions continue to shape the department—and Duke DPT is proud to spotlight the faculty, staff, and students who carry this legacy forward. From educating and mentoring future clinicians to advancing research, clinical care, and community engagement, women across Duke DPT play a vital role in strengthening the program and the profession.

Congratulations to the following individuals who have been elected to serve as class officers for the DPT Class of 2028: Vice President: Rob Farris Treasurer: Gia Ebel Secretary: Faith Lawrence GPSG Senator: Genna Bickford We thank all the candidates for a well-run election and for your willingness to step forward in service to your class!

Two Duke University School of Medicine students are among the 31 graduate students recently named 2026-27 North Carolina Albert Schweitzer Fellows.    Students selected to this year’s class by the North Carolina Albert Schweitzer Fellowship will spend the next year learning to effectively address the social factors that impact health as they develop lifelong leadership skills.   

Researchers looking to stretch their sequencing budgets without compromising quality are invited to attend “Maximizing the Impact of Genomic Experiments with Limited Resources,” a free Genome Academy workshop led by Devi Swain-Lenz, PhD. The session will take place Tuesday, April 7, from 2:30 to 3:30 p.m. in Trent Semans, room 4067.

Colin S. Duckett, PhD, executive vice dean for basic and preclinical science, will leave Duke University to become the next provost and chief academic officer of Boston University, effective July 1. Dr. Duckett’s last day at Duke will be June 30, 2026.

Held on May 17, 2025, the student‑led Duke DPT 5K event raised $4,183 in support of physical therapy research through the Foundation of Physical Therapy Research (FPTR) as part of the VCU‑Marquette Challenge. Co‑organized by Reghan Flores, alongside student leaders Emily Ryan and Mason Kosik, the Duke DPT 5K was made possible through strong faculty mentorship, past philanthropy leaders, generous sponsors, and the support of the Duke DPT family and local community.

What is it really like to be a Duke Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) student? First‑year DPT student Alex Park offers an authentic answer in a newly released Day in the Life video that takes viewers behind the scenes of the program. Created in collaboration with Kelly Reynolds, PT, DPT, NCS, PhD, assistant professor of Orthopaedic Surgery, the video follows Park through a typical day in the Duke DPT curriculum—highlighting hands‑on experiences that help shape students into patient‑centered clinicians. 

Artificial Intelligence platforms can plan trips, budget finances, provide directions on how to repair broken appliances and devices, and so much more. But how much can health care providers actually trust the information it generates in a clinical setting?     Nicholas Hudak, PhD, PA-C, professor in family medicine and community health, is helping physician assistant (PA) students answer that question through a 4-hour seminar.   

Duke OTD students were among the presenters at the 2026 Orthopaedic Surgery Research Day & Symposium, held March 10 at the Interprofessional Education Building. The Poster Competition is a core component of the event, offering a forum for students and trainees to present research spanning clinical, translational, and educational domains.

What first inspired you to pursue a career as a physician assistant? I wanted to be in health care and take care of patients, but I didn’t feel like medical school was the right mixture of what I was looking for.