DPT Student Joy Xiao Earns Forever Duke Leadership Honor
Yao “Joy” Xiao, a Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) student at Duke, has been selected to receive the Forever Duke Student Leadership Award, a university-wide honor recognizing graduating students who exemplify the spirit of service, leadership, and stewardship at Duke. Joy will be formally recognized this spring during the award’s 10th-anniversary year.
The Forever Duke Student Leadership Award honors students who have gone above and beyond to give back to the Duke community during their time on campus. Recipients are nominated by faculty and administrators across the university and are recognized not for positional leadership but for their integrity, advocacy, and lasting impact. Awardees embody Duke’s guiding principle of “knowledge in the service of society” and leave Duke better than they found it.
Joy was nominated by faculty and staff who highlighted her exceptional advocacy, curiosity, and service across multiple Duke communities.
Strong Advocate for the Duke Community
Jane Gagliardi, MD, MHS, FACP, DFAPA, associate dean for Learning Environment and Well-Being and a professor of Psychiatry, Behavioral Sciences, and Medicine, highlighted that Joy has been a dedicated advocate for Duke throughout her academic career. From her undergraduate studies at Duke Kunshan University to her training in the DPT program, Joy has consistently promoted the university’s values. She has represented Duke positively at clinical sites and during Translational Clinical Experiences at Stanford and Yale. Additionally, she has championed DPT students through her involvement with Le Well and contributed to initiatives supporting students, faculty, and staff. Gagliardi also emphasized Joy’s role in advancing accessible, integrated wellness services within the healthcare education setting.
Embodiment of “Knowledge in the Service of Society”
Joy’s intellectual curiosity and commitment to scholarship were also central to her nomination. Her archival research on the history of the white coat at Duke—including early GME training traditions and the origins of Duke Hospital—reflects a deep engagement with medical history and institutional legacy. She has pursued scholarly opportunities through involvement in wilderness medicine, medical humanities coursework, and academic presentations.
Leaving Duke Better Than She Found It
Joy’s contributions have strengthened multiple wellness and community‑building initiatives. Her leadership and participation have significantly enhanced Le Well offerings, including wellness workshops, interprofessional “Granola with Gagliardi” sessions, and the emerging Peer Collective. As noted by Jeffrey Hoder, PT, DPT, associate professor and director of Student Affairs for the DPT program, Joy served as the first DPT representative in the inaugural Peer Collective, supporting peer well‑being across the School of Medicine through interprofessional collaboration.
Paige Vinson, Student Services coordinator for the DPT program, shared additional examples of Joy’s impact—particularly her role in shaping a meaningful and lasting Lunar New Year celebration. Joy contributed time, expertise, and materials from her visit to China to create an event centered on storytelling, education, and cultural connection. The program was so impactful that it has since been requested again and is expected to continue for years to come.
Through her advocacy, scholarship, and service, Joy exemplifies the values at the heart of the Forever Duke Student Leadership Award. The Duke DPT community proudly congratulates Joy on this well‑deserved recognition and celebrates the lasting contributions she has made to Duke and for Duke.