The Duke Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) program participated in the inaugural Duke National Health Research Conference (DNHRC)—a new national forum bringing together undergraduate and recently graduated scholars from across the country to share innovative research, connect with faculty experts, and build meaningful professional networks. Designed to advance medical discovery and spark interdisciplinary collaboration, the conference welcomes research from all health‑related fields, spanning STEM, social sciences, and the humanities. This broad, cross‑disciplinary vision positions DNHRC as an important new platform for defining the future of healthcare.
As part of the day's program, Dr. Corey Simon, Dr. Amy Pastva, and Dr. Todd Cade led an engaging, hands-on workshop for the Duke DPT Program. Their session provided participants with an immersive introduction to clinical assessment tools commonly used in physical therapy practice and aging-related research.
During the workshop, attendees rotated through stations to complete a battery of standardized physical function tests, including:
- Timed Chair Stands – assessing lower‑extremity strength and power.
- Gait Speed Measurement – evaluating mobility through a timed walk over a measured distance.
- Static Balance Tasks – measuring postural control and stability.
Together, these objective and reproducible measures offer meaningful insight into functional capacity and are well‑established predictors of independence, fall risk, and physical performance—particularly in older adults. By experiencing these assessments firsthand, students gained practical exposure to clinical metrics commonly used in physical therapy practice and research, deepening their understanding of how movement‑based evaluations inform patient care and clinical decision‑making.
Duke DPT was proud to contribute to the inaugural DNHRC and to help equip the next generation of health researchers with applied skills, interdisciplinary perspectives, and a clearer picture of the role rehabilitation science plays in advancing public health.