DPT Newsroom

The Duke Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) program held the White Coat Ceremony for the Class of 2025 in Duke Chapel on June 4. The celebration marked the end of didactic work and the transition to third-year clinical experiences for the 96 students.

It’s a tradition that whenever a breakthrough is made in treating children with genetic disorders, Laura Case, PhD, PT, DPT, MS, PCS, C/NDT, gathers the Duke Doctor of Physical Therapy students and they celebrate with cake. Recently, they celebrated three exciting breakthroughs in the past months:

I recently had the opportunity to travel to Honduras with an interprofessional team of healthcare providers to work with patients in underserved areas.

May is Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, and this year's theme is “Advancing Leaders Through Innovation.” To honor this, we're recognizing some of our first- and second-year students who identify as part of the AANHPI community and are leaders in their communities. Leadership styles can be incredibly diverse across the board, as no two individuals are exactly alike. These students embody this individuality and inspire our Duke Doctorate of Physical Therapy community.

The Class of 2024, a group of 94 remarkable individuals, was formally hooded and awarded their doctorates on Saturday, May 11, in a special ceremony at the Washington Duke Inn. This momentous occasion marked the 80th class to graduate from the esteemed Duke physical therapy program.

The American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) Capitol Hill Day is an annual event that brings together physical therapy professionals and students in Washington, D.C., so they can amplify their voices while engaging with legislators and advocating for their profession.  

Richard “Rick” L. Lieber, PhD, MBA, delivered an address titled “Is It OK That Science Is a Business?” to the Duke Doctor of Physical Therapy program on May 9 as part of the annual Branch Lecture series.

This year’s APTA NC Student Conclave took place at Methodist University in Fayetteville, NC, where a total of 135 students from PT/PTA programs from across the state attended. In addition, 12 highly respected clinicians were present and spoke on topics about pelvic health, private practice, travel physical therapy, sports physical therapy, and more.

Duke University’s Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) program, a beacon of academic excellence, continues to rise in the U.S. News and World Report Rankings. In the 2024 rankings, Duke DPT has reached a significant milestone, proudly securing the No. 6 spot in the country.

DPT students teamed up with OTD and PA students to play and observe wheelchair basketball, seated volleyball, boccia, and more during the Adapted Sports Experience (ASE), a fun educational event on Duke’s campus.