A Day in the Life: Inside the Duke DPT Student Experience
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.
A standout moment features a visit to a nearby continuing care retirement community, where Park reflects on the impact of working with older adults early in his training.
“Being able to work with real people and hear their stories has really shaped how I think about patient‑centered care,” Park shared in the video. “Those experiences help connect what we’re learning in class to why it matters.”
For prospective students, the video offers a firsthand look at the balance of academic rigor, experiential learning, and community engagement that defines the Duke DPT experience—beginning in the first year of the program.