Old Main on the University of Arizona campus.
The University of Arizona’s first physical therapist accreditation program is currently pending approval for next fall.
Director Christine Childers said she wants to distinguish the new Doctor of Physical Therapy program by focusing on holistic care.
“Not just, oh, this is a total knee replacement. No, it's not. It's Mrs. Jones, who's had a total knee, who maybe had a stroke a few years ago, did a great recovery, now the knee needs replacing. Maybe she has some chronic bronchitis on top of that. There is so much that goes into treating one patient, and we want the students to really understand that,” she said.
The new program through the College of Health Science is planning to accept 50 students per year.
Childers said the cohort will get hands-on clinic experience that will help Southern Arizona ease a particularly steep physical therapist shortage.
“Almost every PT location, whether it's inpatient or outpatient here in Tucson, has at least one job opening,” she said. “The clinicians locally are extremely excited to get our students and then get our graduates staying out here.”
Childers explained the Doctor of Physical Therapy is an entry level clinical doctorate.
“Meaning, the students can call themselves doctor, but it’s not considered an academic doctoral degree like a PhD,” she said.
Applicants need to have a Bachelor’s degree, but Childers said there are alternative pathways for students switching careers or re-entering education.
Although the program is still awaiting final approval by the American Physical Therapy Association, applications for next fall are open until October 1.
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