Joanne Farley Honored with Dean’s Professionalism and Integrity Staff Award

Joanne Farley, Senior Curriculum Coordinator for the Duke Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) program, has received the Dean’s Professionalism and Integrity Staff Award—an honor that highlights her outstanding dedication, ethical leadership, and unwavering commitment to excellence in health professions education.

For over 14 years, Joanne has been a key figure in the DPT program, managing the complex systems that support curriculum delivery, evaluation, and ongoing improvement. Known as the “point guard” of the program by her colleagues, she brings accuracy, fairness, and clarity to each aspect of her work—helping faculty and students focus on teaching and learning within a well-organized, high-achieving academic environment.

“It is an honor to receive the Dean’s Professionalism and Integrity Staff Award,” Joanne said. “I love my work and don’t do it for recognition—I do it because I genuinely care about supporting the DPT community of faculty, staff, and students. This recognition affirms the importance of leading with integrity, professionalism, and respect in service of our shared mission, and I am grateful to be part of a program that embodies these values every day.”

In her role, Joanne oversees all aspects of curriculum operations, including course scheduling, syllabus management, evaluation logistics, and accreditation. She works closely with faculty leadership and the Curriculum Committee to ensure accuracy, transparency, and alignment with program objectives. Her efforts have been crucial to major milestones, including launching Duke DPT’s innovative 2019 curriculum and guiding the successful 10-year CAPTE reaccreditation process in 2024–2025.

Joanne’s approach is based on a straightforward but powerful principle: people come first.

“Professionalism and integrity guide my work by reminding me that details matter because people matter,” she said. “As the senior curriculum coordinator, I handle complex logistics carefully and fairly, with clear communication and follow-up, so faculty and students can concentrate on teaching and learning.”

Her leadership extends beyond Duke as well. Joanne has assisted peer institutions with accreditation and curriculum guidance and contributed to collaborative initiatives, including a joint educational contract with the University of North Carolina that expands access to quality health professions education.

Colleagues often praise Joanne’s thoughtful leadership, steady presence, and ability to handle complexity with fairness and respect. Whether coordinating over 200 teaching assistants, guiding faculty through curriculum modifications, or supporting students individually, she is widely recognized for cultivating an environment based on trust and accountability.