Along the Piedmont Plateau of central North Carolina, in an area referred to as "Tobacco Road," lies the city of Durham. To college basketball fans this region is hallowed ground, where three storied programs stand within 25 miles of each other-the University of North Carolina, North Carolina State University and of course Durham's own Duke University Blue Devils. One of the most successful teams in college basketball history, Duke is hailed for excelling on the court while maintaining its integrity as a premier academic institution.

That sterling reputation extends to Duke's Doctor of Physical Therapy Division, ranked among the top 15 in the country by U.S. News & World Report. This division is supported by partnerships with many premier specialties at Duke University Medical Center, which was just honored as one of the top 10 hospitals in the country by the same publication.

Founded in 1943 as a post-baccalaureate certificate program, the Doctor of Physical Therapy Division transitioned to an MS degree in 1970 and then a DPT in 1999, graduating its first class of doctorally prepared students in 2002. The current enrollment is approximately 170, including an incoming class of 75 students.

Unique Opportunities

"I think the environment here offers unique opportunities," said Pamela W. Duncan, PT, PhD, FAPTA, FAHA, interim chief and professor of the division. "We are constantly evolving and expanding our interaction with colleagues in the medical school. For example, we have access to a new state-of-the-art gross anatomy lab where in collaboration with orthopedics we have developed a fresh-tissue lab for our students. We are also partnering with the department of radiology to provide students with experience in diagnostic imaging."

Furthermore, the division is revising its neurorecovery course, so that students may provide free services for patients to enhance access to needed therapy.

"This clinic will also increase supervised clinical experiences for our students, who are afforded the opportunity to work across the university with many disciplines and departments. For example, we collaborate with the Center for Aging to develop innovative programs and curricula to manage functional decline in the elderly, and our students are exposed to that," she said.

Faculty Accolades

In addition, division faculty are part of a university effort to develop the science of rehabilitation practice.

"Laura Case, PT, DPT, MS, PCS, assistant professor, is integrally involved in advancing the science of how children and adults with neuromuscular degenerative diseases should exercise," continued Dr. Duncan. "So what we offer here is a group of scientists in the classroom. We have some of the best teachers in the country."

Supporting this point, Chad Cook, PT, PhD, MBA, OCS, FAAOMP, associate professor, was just selected by APTA as the 2009 recipient of the Dorothy E. Baethke-Eleanor J. Carlin Award for Excellence in Academic Teaching.

"Manual therapy is a strong point of our curriculum and Dr. Cook is leading an innovative program to help credential manual therapy fellows as part of clinical practice."

Dr. Duncan herself is a former McMillan lecturer, the highest honor that APTA can bestow on an individual.

"Our faculty are leaders not only in physical therapy but also other organizations," she related. "I recently received an Excellence in Leadership Award from the American Heart Association for years of serving on their stroke council. Dr. Case is a leader nationally for CDC initiatives on Duchenne muscular dystrophy and internationally on panels for management of Pompe disease. Jan Gwyer, PT, PhD, professor, is working closely with the Carnegie Foundation and potentially other groups to better understand and educate the physical therapy practitioner of the future."

Health Care System

The division also takes pride in its relationship with Duke University Health System (DUHS).

"We are developing programs with the health system right now on how best to translate our science into clinical practice," noted Dr. Duncan.

"Our faculty work in the clinic and collaborate with DUHS to develop clinical residency programs in manual therapy, orthopedics/sports medicine, women's health, pediatrics and cardiopulmonary. About 47 percent of our curriculum is conducted clinically and we have some of the strongest affiliations in the country. Our network of rotations throughout the United States offers students the ability to practice in premier rehab programs like Ranchos Los Amigos National Rehabilitation Center or Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago, incredible sports medicine practices in Utah, as well as our own DUHS facilities."

But there is more to the quality of Duke's program than its faculty and clinical affiliations, Dr. Duncan related.

"The students are our great treasure. We have a high number of awardees in APTA for the Mary McMillan scholars program and minority scholarship program. We're also very proud that Sadie Anderson and Wren McLaughlin just received an Albert Schweitzer Fellowship Award. The other fundamental strength is our alumni, comprising some of the most successful physical therapists in the profession."

Prominent graduates of the division include Terry Malone, EdD, PT, ATC; Rebecca Craik, PT, PhD, FAPTA; Andrea Behrman, PT, PhD; Daniel Vreeman, PT, DPT; and Joaquin Barrios, PT, DPT, PhD, said Dr. Duncan.

"So what's fabulous about this program is we have an outstanding partnership with the health care system. We are award-winning teachers and scientific investigators throughout the university, building the science of physical therapy practice. And we emphasize interdisciplinary education programs with Duke University Medical Center."

Faculty member Leonard White, PhD, assistant professor, exemplifies that interdisciplinary approach by serving as director of neuroscience education for the Duke Institute for Brain Science. Furthermore, Andrea Taylor, PhD, associate professor, coordinates and manages anatomy for both physical therapy and physician assistant students.

Innovative Education

But no matter how much is accomplished by Duke's physical therapy program, those affiliated with it do not rest on their laurels.

"Looking to the future, we are assessing our curriculum and technology to prepare the learner of tomorrow," explained Dr. Duncan. "So we constantly evaluate our learning strategies. We are exploring more integrative technology and different methods of teaching so that students are self-motivated and learn how to manage the infinite information available to them."

Looking at the APTA's vision for physical therapy education, Duke has always led the way, Dr. Duncan continued.

"We've been the innovators in physical therapy education. Lenox Baker, MD, a Duke orthopedic surgeon, was actually chair of the AMA committee that determined physical therapy could become its own accrediting body," related the interim chief.

"Both Dr. Baker and Helen Kaiser, PT, the first chair of Duke PT, were very forward-thinking in their belief that education of physical therapists must be at the ­post-baccalaureate level. So Duke has never had a baccalaureate level of education for PT. We were one of the first programs to offer a master's degree and later a DPT. We have a legacy of being innovative in education and continue to uphold that today."

There are many appealing aspects to campus life as well.

"Well, of course it's all about Duke basketball--?don't come here if you don't know basketball," Dr. Duncan laughed. "But truly, it's an incredible learning environment. The Duke legacy pertains not only to the core development of who we are academically but also to great resources that enhance ourselves personally. The strength of our program is we are building on that legacy and its excellence in education. We have diversity in students and faculty. Our professors are leaders in research to develop the evidence for clinical practice. Our incredible student body receives the highest accolades from the profession and our alumni are among the best PTs in the country. But we're still not satisfied and will continue evolving."

Brian W. Ferrie is managing editor of ADVANCE and can be reached at bferrie@advanceweb.com

Duke University Doctor of Physical Therapy Division: At a Glance

Location: Durham, NC

Type: Private

Founded: University (1924)-Previously Known As Trinity College Division (1943)

Academic Offering: Entry-Level DPT

Tuition: $27,249 per year

Enrollment: Division (170) University; (13,450 Undergraduate and Graduate)