As we close out another year we want to look back to some of the top stories of 2022 for our USF School of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Sciences.  They are in no particular order and reflect the top stories read on our website and social media based on views. We look forward to 2023 to celebrating our 25th anniversary as a school and 40th anniversary of the Athletic Training program.

1. Shirley Sahrmann visits USF

In November 2022 Shirley Sahrmann, PT, PhD, FAPTA visited our school to provide a lecture for our Physical Therapy and Athletic Training students, faculty, and staff. During this lecture she covered the Movement System Impairments of the Shoulder and Upper Extremities. She also put on a lectureship/CEU for folks in our local community covering Movement Impairments of the Lower Back, which all members enjoyed attending and learning from Shirley.

2. Climate Change and Athletics

Rebecca Lopez,  PhD, ATC, CSCS, FNATA – Professor and Assistant School Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (left), Gary Cohen, PhD, LAT, ATC – Assistant Professor (right) and some of our athletic training students were featured in the WEDU PBS series on climate change this past year, along with colleagues in USF Athletics.

To read more and view the video series visit: HERE.

3. 2022 Awards, Recognition, and Service

During the past year we had several award recipients from our school:

1. Doug Haladay PT, DPT, PhD, OCS, CSCS – Professor, School Director, and MCOM Associate Dean
   1. Florida Physical Therapy Association (FPTA) Scholarly Impact on Practice Award. To learn more visit: HERE.
   2. University of Scranton Physical Therapy Inaugural Outstanding Alumni Award. To learn more visit: HERE.
2. Jeremy Turkall, MS – Manager, Educational and Student Affairs
   1. University of South Florida Outstanding Staff Member Award 2022. To learn more visit: HERE. 
3. Wendy Herbert, PT, DPT, PhD – Associate Professor
   1. USF Health Culture Coin for her work with USF Health PT Bridge Clinic.

Recognition: 

• Rebecca Lopez, PhD, ATC, CSCS – Associate Professor & Assistant School Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion was recently designated a 2022 National Athletic Trainers’ Association (NATA) Fellow. To read more visit HERE. 

Service: 

• Bini Thomas, PT, DPT, EdD, MSA – Assistant Professor was recently elected treasurer of the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) Acute Care section.  To read more visit HERE. 
• Irene Davis, PhD, PT, FAPTA, FACSM, FASB – Professor – President-Elect American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM). To learn more visit HERE. 

4. Graduation

In May 2022 we celebrated the graduation of our 2022 Professional Athletic Training students and Post-Professional Athletic Training students. We celebrated them with intimate banquet with their close family members and friends, and awarded program awards. To learn more visit: HERE.

In August 2022 we celebrated the graduation of our 2022 Doctor of Physical Therapy students. We celebrated them during our graduation celebration with close family members and friends at the USF Alumni Center, and the following day they attended USF Commencement. To learn more visit: HERE.

5. Faculty Promotions

• Rebecca Lopez, PhD, ATC, CSCS, FNATA- Assistant School Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion was promoted to the rank of Professor.
• Jeannie Stephenson, PT, DPT, PhD, NCS was promoted to the rank of Associate Professor.
• Douglas Haladay, PT, DPT, PhD, MHS – Morsani College of Medicine Associate Dean and SPTRS School Director was promoted to the rank of Professor.

6. DPT Students Accepted to Residency Programs

Upon completion of the Doctor of Physical Therapy degree, physical therapists have an option to become a Board-Certified Specialist via the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) and governed by the  American Board of Physical Therapy Specialties.

This past year the USF Health Doctor of Physical Therapy program had a record number of acceptances to residency program for the class of 2022.  This year we had seven graduating students accepted into various residency programs across the country.

To learn more visit: HERE.

7. DPT Commitment Ceremony

On April 1, 2022 we held our annual Commitment to the Profession Ceremony for the Doctor of Physical Therapy Classes of 2023 & 2024. The ceremony marks the time in which the students are welcomed into the profession by receiving their first White Coat, and they take a special Oath of Professionalism that each class creates.

To learn more visit: HERE. 

8. New Faculty Members

• Melissa Lazinski, PT, DPT, DHSc (Top Left)- Associate Professor and Interim Associate DPT Program Director – Learn more HERE. 
• Irene Davis, PhD, PT, FAPTA, FACSM, FASB  ( Top Middle)- Professor – Learn more HERE.
• Danae Delfin, PhD, LAT, ATC, CSCS (Top Right)- Assistant Professor Athletic Training Program
• Yvonne Budd, PT, DPT (Bttm Left)- Assistant Professor & Kelly Allegro, PT, DPT, NCS (Bttm Right) – Assistant Professor – Named as Co-Directors of Clinical education. Learn more HERE.

9. USF Health Research Day

Research remains an integral part of our school and academic programs, and something all of our students participate in during their academic journeys. USF Health Research Day 2022 returned to it’s normal in person format this past year, and our own Dr. Haladay served as a judge. Our DPT and Athletic Training students presented their posters as part of USF Health Research Day 2022.

To learn more visit HERE. 

10. Athletic Training Bags