Elon DPTE History Milestones
History of Elon University (https://www.elon.edu/u/about/history/)
Elon DPTE History Milestones
· 1996
o Elon College Department of Physical Therapy (DPTE) was established within the School of Education. Elon worked in partnership with Alamance Regional Medical Center (now part of Cone Health) and received funding from the Duke Endowment to start the program. Founding chair: Dr. Elizabeth Rogers
· 1997
o Master of Physical Therapy (MPT) candidacy approved (October). The Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE) grants candidacy status for MPT program. The Summary of Action included a commendation: "The Commission wishes to express its pleasure in the presentation of the Declaration of Intent prepared by the dedicated program director and faculty. It is rare that the Commission sees satisfactory progress toward compliance being made toward all evaluative criteria at the first level of the accreditation process. You are commended for this." This was the first time in accreditation history that a new program achieved Candidate for Accreditation Status with no deficiencies.
· 1998
o Charter MPT class matriculates (January). The program was housed temporarily at Edgewood Campus.
o Move to the new McMichael Science building ground floor (August).
· 2000
o MPT receives CAPTE accreditation & charter class graduates (May 11th). The accreditation report included a rare commendation stating "the curricular plan is unusually well developed and graduates are singularly equipped to join the physical therapy profession."
· 2001
o Transition to DPT approval (December). University, CAPTE, and the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) approves the transition to the DPT degree and the curriculum.
· 2003
o Enrolled first DPT class (Class of 2005, January).
· 2004
o t-DPT program opens. Six-month program primarily for Elon MPT graduates.
· 2006
o Center for Fitness and Human Movement Studies at ARMC.
· 2008
o DPTE leaves the School of Education. Temporary academic structural reorganization.
· 2010
o DPT Vision developed. The vision included a new faculty line, scholarship funding, support for global experiences, and funds for research equipment replacement.
· 2011
o School of Health Sciences (SHS) established (April). The founding dean was Dr. Elizabeth Rogers and the school contained the DPTE and the new Department of Physician Assistant Studies (DPAS)
· 2012
o Move to the newly renovated Gerald Francis Center & matriculate the expanded class size (46; January).
o Global Learning Opportunities program launched.
GLO Coordinator: Dr. Paula DiBiasio
o Journal of Physical Therapy Research established.
Faculty Editor: Dr. Stephen Bailey
o Client and Standardized Patient established.
Program Director: Ms. Nita Skillman
· 2013
o New DPTE Chair/Program Director (June): Dr. Stephen Folger
o Research Coordinator position established: Dr. Srikant Vallabhajosula
o 2013 H.O.P.E. Clinic established (fall)
Faculty Advisors: Dr. Stephen Bailey & Dr. Daryl Lawson
o First GLO-FEST – Global Learning Opportunities Festival (December).
Presentations by PT & PA students celebrating their global engagement.
· 2016
o Accreditation reaffirmed for 10 years with no compliance reports (spring).
o Anatomical Gift Program (AGP) established.
Program Director: Ms. Dianne Person
Faculty Advisor: Dr. Janet Cope
o First PA-PT-ACC Nursing IPE Session & Mobility Lab (November)
· 2017
o New SHS Dean (June): Dr. Becky Neiduski
· 2019
o ElonRUNS established
Lead Faculty: Dr. Shefali Christopher, Dr. Mary Kay Hannah, and Dr. FJ Goodwin
o Sports Physical Therapy Residency established.
Candidacy Report: Dr. Stephen Bailey & Dr. Shefali Christopher
Residency Director: Dr. Shefali Christopher
o First SHS Global Learning and Research Forum
o First DPTE Pledge Ceremony – Initiated by the Class of 2021
· 2020
- COVID-19 Pandemic
- March-May- All classes move to online over a weekend.
- Late May-August – Blended learning (lectures online; laboratories in-person) – All faculty, staff, and students were required to wear PPE and remain in isolation pairs and lab groups.
- August-December – Modified in-person classes. Cohorts were split between two classroom or labs connected by technology. All faculty, staff and student continued to wear PPE and students stayed in isolation pairs.
- Transitioned to a telehealth model for patient-based care (H.O.P.E. Clinic, ElonRUNS and clients to class).
- Clinical Education
- DPT 704 -Canceled; Students took alternative coursework.
- DPT 805 reduced to a minimum of 12 weeks. Students took alternative coursework.
- Revised curriculum approved by Graduate Council (September)
- Elon Sports Physical Therapy Residency
- First Resident: Hannah Buckingham (Elon DPT ’19)
- Accreditation received – November 2020
- Blended graduation (December; in-person and online)
· 2021
• January -May – Modified in-person classes. Cohorts were split between two classroom or labs connected by technology. All faculty, staff and student continued to wear PPE and students stayed in isolation pairs.
• June -Dec –Returned to a single classroom model with all students wearing masks.
- January - H.O.P.E. Clinic transitioned back from a telehealth model to in person care.
- First School of Health Sciences Graduation (PA and DPT).