DPT Newsroom

Duke University's Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) program has risen to the No. 4 spot in the 2025 U.S. News and World Report Rankings. This milestone underscores the program's unwavering commitment to innovation, academic excellence, and student success.

This past Saturday, Duke’s Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) students had the chance to inspire and engage with the next generation of healthcare professionals at the Duke Health Professions Recruitment and Exposure Program (HPREP) Health Professions Fair. The event was part of HPREP's ongoing initiative to introduce high school students to various careers in science, technology, engineering, mathematics (STEM), and health professions and encourage them to pursue these fields.

The Duke Department of Orthopaedic Surgery recently welcomed a new IT analyst, Matthew Wilkinson, who joined the team this month to support faculty and staff with their technology needs.

Matthew, originally from Oxford, has always had an interest in the computer field, which led him to pursue a degree in computer science at UNC Charlotte with a concentration in robotics, AI, and gaming. “During college, I had an internship at Duke in cybersecurity,” Matthew shared. “That experience inspired me to return to Duke full-time.”

Marcus Roll, PT, DPT, is an assistant professor in the Duke Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) program, with a clinical focus on adult neurologic rehabilitation.

Q: When did you join the DPT division?

A: I joined Duke DPT as a student in 2008, returned as a faculty resident in 2016, and became a core faculty member in 2018.

In a recent editorial, Steven Z. George, PT, PhD, FAPTA, professor, Departments of Orthopaedic Surgery and Population Health Sciences and the Duke Clinical Research Institute, Duke University, and Alan M. Jette, PT, PhD, FAPTA, professor, Boston University Sargent College of Health & Rehabilitation Science, explore the significant impact of recent disruptions in federal funding on rehabilitation research.

Community. That was the overarching theme of my experience at the 2025 American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) Combined Sections Meeting (CSM).

I attended Spelman College in Atlanta for my undergraduate studies and chose to take a gap year, working at multiple clinics with Team Rehabilitation. CSM provided me with a unique opportunity to reconnect with the support system I developed during that time.

The American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) recently hosted its 50th annual Combined Sections Meeting (CSM) in Houston from February 13 to 15. As the largest physical therapy conference in the U.S., CSM attracted thousands of practitioners, students, and professionals for a week of networking, learning, and professional development. The Duke Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) program was well represented at this event, showcasing the depth and breadth of the Duke DPT community.

Duke University Health System has launched an innovative program that integrates physical therapy into postpartum care, addressing a gap identified by physical therapists and obstetricians. This program, which combines inpatient and telehealth services, aims to support new mothers' recovery and has gained national recognition for its comprehensive approach.

Before joining Duke University’s Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) program, I was a ballet dancer for regional dance companies along the East Coast. In several companies, we had the good fortune of having physical therapists provide care when needed most.