Class Vice President Shawn Armstrong received the Helen Kaiser Alumni Award at a celebration honoring the 2023 graduates. He has demonstrated leadership within the Class of 2023, the School of Medicine, and as part of the American Physical Therapy (APTA) Student Assembly.
A Summer Discovery program alumni, Dr. Armstrong served in several leadership roles for a number of special interest groups and clubs. He also served on the School of Medicine’s Well-Being Committee and as a member of the APTA Student Assembly DEI Project Committee. He also excelled in roles involving research, health policy, and advocacy.
While enrolled he completed the North Carolina Medical Society’s Future Clinician Leader’s Society College.
"I have known Shawn since the summer of 2019 when he participated in Duke's Summer Discovery Program. Shawn immediately stood out to me as a leader among his peers, and he has proved to be a leader in the DPT program and the profession of physical therapy since his arrival on campus," a nominator stated.
The Duke Physical Therapy Alumni Association established the Helen Kaiser Award to recognize a student who has demonstrated outstanding dedication to the profession of physical therapy and continues to promote involvement as a member of the American Physical Therapy Association. It is named in honor of Helen Kaiser, who was the founder and first director of the graduate program.