Doctor of Physical Therapy program at UC addresses student debt head-on

When University of Cincinnati Professor Chalee Engelhard worked on the 2021 landmark report “A Vision for Excellence in Physical Therapy Education,” she and other experts examined physical therapy curriculum, clinical experiences, the job market and other changes in the field of physical therapy.

When the process was completed, they settled on access to education as the first pillar of the new vision.

“Our faculty regularly review ways to enhance the student experience and outcomes of the program,” says Engelhard, director of UC’s Doctor of Physical Therapy program. “Taking into account the new vision, we’re making some changes, including addressing student debt head-on.”

Out in the world, physical therapists help injured or ill people improve movement and manage pain, and UC is proud of its graduates, who exceed averages pass rates on the national board exam and experience a 100% employment rate.

“Our mantra is to give our students the tools they need to be successful in the clinic, give them the learning experiences they are required to graduate on time and to pass the licensing exam,” Engelhard says. “One way we do this is by creating strong academic-clinic partnerships.”

A driving force behind those partnerships is associate professor Amber Boyd, who serves as director of clinical education in the DPT program. Boyd joined UC in 2017 after working at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital as an orthopedic sports medicine therapist for eight years. 

Growing up, Ben Just’s mother taught him the difference between something being even and something being fair. As admissions chair of the Doctor of Physical Therapy program, that sentiment is constantly on his mind.

“Every day, I’m asking how can we create an environment that is more inclusive?” Just says. “I'm looking at ways I can have a more direct effect on building diversity in our program.”

Dropping the GRE requirement also opened doors to applicants who can’t afford to take the standardized test one or more times. 

It’s working, the DPT program has seen a 25% increase in its minority applications and the percentage of minority DPT students has grown from 3% to 11%. Just hopes the eight-term change will only increase these percentages because it brings students that much closer to their first paycheck.

“Our program turns you into a very highly skilled, independent, licensed practitioner in healthcare,” Just says. “We want to bring in students who are good humans and want to treat other humans well.”