DPT Newsroom

Leonardo Ferreira, PT, PhD, associate professor of Orthopaedic Surgery and Interim Division Chief and Vice Chair for Research at Duke University School of Medicine, has accepted an invitation from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to serve as Chair of the Integrative Myocardial Physiology/Pathophysiology B (MPPB) Study Section within the Cardiovascular and Respiratory Sciences Integrated Review Group.

Faculty, staff, and students from Duke University School of Medicine traveled to Peru this March to advance a growing global health partnership with Vidawasi Children’s Citadel in the Sacred Valley. The effort represents Duke’s second visit to Vidawasi, further strengthening a collaboration that blends shared expertise with immersive, hands‑on clinical training for Duke trainees.

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.

A collaborative team has received funding from the Barth Syndrome Foundation to advance research into the feeding and gastrointestinal challenges faced by individuals with Barth syndrome. The project, “Gut Microbiota and Metabolites in Barth Syndrome: Potential Mechanistic Links to Feeding and Gastrointestinal Dysfunction,” brings together expertise from physical therapy, orthopaedics, medicine, microbiome science, and genetics to explore how gut health may influence symptoms that affect daily life and long‑term well‑being.

A major pragmatic clinical trial published this month in JAMA Network Open offers new insight into how the U.S. health system can support Veterans living with chronic low back pain—one of the most common and disabling conditions affecting former service members.

Duke Orthopaedic Surgery continues to strengthen interdisciplinary collaboration in rehabilitation research through its Interdisciplinary Rehabilitative Research Seminar Series, which this week featured Megan Kennelly, MD, assistant professor of orthopaedic surgery with expertise in Pediatric Rehabilitation Medicine (PRM).

During Women’s History Month, Duke Orthopaedics celebrated the women whose leadership and contributions continue to shape the department—and Duke DPT is proud to spotlight the faculty, staff, and students who carry this legacy forward. From educating and mentoring future clinicians to advancing research, clinical care, and community engagement, women across Duke DPT play a vital role in strengthening the program and the profession.

Congratulations to the following individuals who have been elected to serve as class officers for the DPT Class of 2028: Vice President: Rob Farris Treasurer: Gia Ebel Secretary: Faith Lawrence GPSG Senator: Genna Bickford We thank all the candidates for a well-run election and for your willingness to step forward in service to your class!

Held on May 17, 2025, the student‑led Duke DPT 5K event raised $4,183 in support of physical therapy research through the Foundation of Physical Therapy Research (FPTR) as part of the VCU‑Marquette Challenge. Co‑organized by Reghan Flores, alongside student leaders Emily Ryan and Mason Kosik, the Duke DPT 5K was made possible through strong faculty mentorship, past philanthropy leaders, generous sponsors, and the support of the Duke DPT family and local community.

What is it really like to be a Duke Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) student? First‑year DPT student Alex Park offers an authentic answer in a newly released Day in the Life video that takes viewers behind the scenes of the program. Created in collaboration with Kelly Reynolds, PT, DPT, NCS, PhD, assistant professor of Orthopaedic Surgery, the video follows Park through a typical day in the Duke DPT curriculum—highlighting hands‑on experiences that help shape students into patient‑centered clinicians.