Welcome to the written version of my weekly announcement, mirroring the updates previously shared every Wednesday at 7:30 a.m. Occasionally, I'll include a video message, but not for this week. Please feel free to reach out if you'd like me to share something with the department.
DPT and OTD Program Rankings
The latest USNWR rankings for DPT and OTD programs were released this week. I'm thrilled to announce that our DPT program has achieved an outstanding 6th-place ranking! This accomplishment reflects our program's strong reputation. Despite not yet graduating a class, our OTD program was ranked in the top 10%, a testament to its promising start.
Dr. Barb Hooper commented, "Given that we haven’t yet graduated our first class, this is a strong initial ranking. Thanks to all who are making Duke OTD a leading program!"
Dr. Todd Cade shared, "We are grateful! The Duke Doctor of Physical Therapy program remains strong. Our rigorous programs prepare students for what comes next, whether entering clinical practice, engaging in new research endeavors, or pursuing advanced education."
Accreditation Site Visit
This week, the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE) successfully visited our DPT program. The reviewers provided a very positive verbal report. Congratulations to all DPT faculty, staff, students, and Program Director Tiffany Hilton on their efforts in this process.
Please join me in congratulating our OTD and DPT programs for these remarkable achievements.
New Grants
Our faculty secured two new grants:
- Leo Ferreira and Todd Cade received a grant from the Barth Syndrome Foundation (BSF) for their project on treating Barth syndrome.
- Alison Toth, John Bonini, and Marcus Strickland received funding from the Duke Institute for Health Innovation (DIHI) for their innovative project using AI for Surgery Prior Authorization.
New Members Joining the Spine Team
We're excited to welcome Peter Passias and Douglas Orndorff to our Spine Division. Peter, currently with NYU, brings extensive clinical and academic experience in spine care. He has hundreds of publications and is a sought-after mentor for students and trainees interested in orthopaedics or spine. Douglas joins us from Colorado with a wealth of clinical experience in spinal care, treating a broad spectrum of spine problems. Please be on the lookout for more information about Peter and Doug soon.
Additionally, we are recruiting several new faculty members for the upcoming academic year. In my next update, I'll share more details as their recruitment progresses.
DUHS Culture Pulse Survey
The DUHS culture pulse survey will launch the week of April 22nd. Look for it, and I encourage you to take the time to fill it out.
Department Picture
Please mark your calendars for May 15th at 7 a.m., when we'll take our department picture at Cameron Indoor Stadium. This will also be an opportunity to take individual or group photos on the court. Stay tuned for more details.