Adventist University of Health Sciences' Physical Therapy Doctorate Granted Candidacy for Accreditation

ORLANDO, Fla., Dec. 16, 2015 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education has granted candidacy for accreditation to Adventist University of Health Sciences' (ADU) doctoral degree program, making this the first doctorate degree offered by the University.  ADU has now begun recruiting applicants for its inaugural Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) class that will begin in May 2016.

"It is a privilege to be the first doctoral degree program at ADU and to provide yet another example of ADU fulfilling its mission to develop leaders in healthcare," said Jennifer Collins, PT, Ed.D, MPA, Chair of ADU's Department of Physical Therapy.

ADU began developing the DPT program from the ground up with the hope that it would fill a need in the Central Florida community, according to Dr. Collins, where there is only one other physical therapist education program in the area. "This program adds an excellent health professional degree to the community, that will in three years, bring more physical therapists to the area."

The mission of the University is "Healthcare as Ministry" where a specific emphasis is placed on service learning in the community and providing whole person care to patients. The new doctoral program is dedicated to the same mission and committed to those values.

"We are proud to provide our students with a unique approach to healthcare, and with the addition of our first doctoral program, we now have the privilege to develop future physical therapists that will care for patients on a deeper level," explained David Greenlaw, D.Min., President of ADU. 

The University will be accepting up to 23 students during its first cohort, all who will be required to participate in an international experience where they will learn and experience the challenges and rewards of working with a diverse group of individuals. 

"We believe that an international experience is critical to the development of excellent, person-centered practitioners, because physical therapists are called upon to work with people from every conceivable background," added Dr. Collins.

ADU has collaborated with healthcare entities, like Florida Hospital, to give its DPT students world-class clinical opportunities and hands-on learning. Dr. Collins and her department designed the program with a focus on inter-professional education.

Dr. Collins noted, "as they learn together, students develop a respect for other professions and an appreciation for how vital a team of professionals is to maximizing the potential of the individuals they serve." 

ADU's Doctor of Physical Therapy department and the University are delighted to expand not only the degrees offered, but its impact on the community they serve.

Effective November 11, 2015, the Physical Therapy Program at Adventist University of Health Sciences has been granted Candidate for Accreditation status by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (1111 North Fairfax Street, Alexandria, VA, 22314; phone:  703-706-3245; email:  [email protected]). Candidate for Accreditation is a pre-accreditation status of affiliation with the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education that indicates that the program is progressing toward accreditation and may matriculate students in technical/professional courses. Candidate for Accreditation is not an accreditation status nor does it assure eventual accreditation.

About ADU – Adventist University of Health Sciences (ADU) is a Seventh-day Adventist institution that specializes in healthcare education.  ADU offers undergraduate and graduate programs including:  Biomedical Sciences, Diagnostic Medical Sonography, Health Sciences, Radiography, Nuclear Medicine Technology, Nursing (BSN), Nurse Anesthesia, Occupational Therapy, Healthcare Administration, Physical Therapy, and Physician Assistant. The University is associated with Florida Hospital and the Adventist Health System. 

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SOURCE Adventist University of Health Sciences