Duke DPT Faculty Present Collaborative Research at ELC 2025 Event
This past weekend, faculty members from the Duke Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) Education Innovation Lab presented a research poster at the 2025 APTA Education Leadership Conference (ELC) in Kansas City, Missouri. The project, titled “Perspectives of Clinical Education Faculty About Professionalism in Physical Therapist Students,” was a collaborative and intentionally mentored qualitative investigation involving both experienced and emerging education researchers within the lab.
The study examined how clinical education faculty define professionalism in DPT students and explored the factors that influence their perceptions. Key findings showed that professionalism was characterized by three main aspects: qualities, conduct, and appearance. Additionally, faculty attitudes toward professionalism were viewed through either a fixed or flexible perspective, highlighting differences in expectations and interpretations. Factors influencing professionalism included personal experience, interpersonal relationships, organizational culture, and time.
“This project was a valuable opportunity to mentor new education researchers while exploring a topic that greatly influences clinical education,” said Dr. Jamie Greco, associate professor of Orthopaedic Surgery and co-director of Clinical Education. “We’re proud to contribute to the ongoing discussion about how professionalism is understood and shaped in DPT programs.”
This was a collaborative project involving several lab members who contributed to various phases of the work. The Duke DPT Education Innovation Lab team, who presented this poster at ELC, included:
- Tiffany Adams, PT, PhD, DPT, MBA – Assistant Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery
- Kyle Covington, PT, DPT, PhD – Associate Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery; Director, Post-Professional Education and Educational Innovation
- Jamie Greco, PT, DPT, EdD – Associate Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery; Co-Director, Clinical Education
- Katie Myers, PT, DPT, PhD – Associate Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery; Co-Director of Clinical Education; Director of Curriculum
- Marcus Roll, PT, DPT, CBIS – Assistant Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery
Their participation at ELC 2025 demonstrates Duke DPT’s ongoing commitment to advancing educational research and fostering mentorship within academic physical therapy. The Education Innovation Lab remains a vibrant space for faculty collaboration, inquiry, and innovation in teaching and learning.