Physical therapists are experts in the human movement system, defined as the collection of body systems that interact to move the body or its component parts. This embodies movement from the tissue and organ level to movement of people through their local and global communities. The Department of Physical Therapy seeks to embody the American Physical Therapy Association vision of physical therapists as individuals involved in “ Transforming society by optimizing movement to improve the human experience. ” We do so by our efforts in the areas of, education, clinical care and research.
Excellence in Education: The department offers three educational programs, an entry-level Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT), a Doctor of Philosophy in Physical Therapy (PhD), and two Clinical Residency Programs.
- The DPT Program has been continuously accredited by CAPTE since 2003 and has been ranked in the top 10 percent of programs in physical therapy by U.S. News & World Report since 1995. The thousands of graduates from our program provide high quality and compassionate care across the country and around the world. Many have become leaders in clinical care, clinical research and education.
- Our PhD Program in Physical Therapy was established in 1995, and was the first PhD in Physical Therapy Program in the Southeastern U.S. The program was designed to prepare physical therapists for academic faculty positions by providing them with in depth knowledge in a specific content area, training in research methodology, and training in education at a university level. Graduates of our PhD program have gone on to academic and research positions at universities around the country and have made significant contributions to the body of evidence that supports clinical practice in physical therapy.
- The department provides advanced training in clinical specialty areas through six clinical residency programs: in pediatrics, orthopedics, sports, neurologic, geriatric, and cardiovascular and pulmonary physical therapy. Our residency faculty are leaders in the development of post-professional educational programs across the country.
Excellence in Clinical Care
- The clinical division of the Department of Physical Therapy was inaugurated in September of 2008, when UM purchased University of Miami Hospital and the Department of Physical Therapy assumed responsibility for delivering clinical physical therapy services for UHealth.
- The UMPT clinical division has grown to include many specialty programs to meet the needs of the patients seen by our highly specialized and world renowned UHealth physicians The Department has recruited and developed physical therapists with advanced credentials and specialty clinical skills. The clinical faculty and staff include physical therapists with board certification in orthopedics, cardiopulmonary, neurologic, and sports physical therapy, as well as therapists with advanced training in pelvic floor rehabilitation, vestibular rehabilitation, and oncology rehabilitation.
- In addition to clinical services provided at UMH, we now have 4 additional physical therapy satellite clinics that provide physical therapy outpatient services at locations in Dade and Broward counties. The Department also provides therapy services to the UM Athletic Department.
- The Local Global Outreach (L.A.G.O.) initiative was born in October of 2014 with a student mission trip to provide physical therapy services to an underserved community in Costa Rica, and in September 2015, faculty, residents, clinicians and students began providing physical therapy services to uninsured and underinsured patients two evenings per week at a student-run pro-bono clinic.
- DPT students also participate in the Department of Community Services (DOCS) clinics which provide critical medical screening services to underserved communities in South Florida.
Excellence in Research and Innovation
We strive to add to the body of knowledge in physical therapy and movement science through research and innovation.
- UMPT faculty researchers investigate treatment and prevention strategies for patients with a wide range of diagnoses including congestive heart failure, spinal cord injury, amputation, cognitive disorders, childhood obesity, chronic pain and athletic and orthopedic injuries. Our researchers also collaborate with investigators from other UM Schools and Departments and outside community partners. UMPT researchers have been funded internally by the Department and the University and by a wide range of outside agencies including the National Institutes of Health, Department of Defense, Department of Veteran’s Affairs, and the National Collegiate Athletic Association. UMPT Researchers conduct their activities at field sites across the university, local community and the nation as well as in several university research laboratories.
For 40 years, the Department of Physical Therapy has been training physical therapists to help in the mission to “transform society by optimizing movement to improve the human experience.” We also strive to train physical therapy educators and researchers to lead the next generation of physical therapist clinicians in fulfilling this mission. Our faculty continuously works to add to the body of knowledge in and promote the science of physical therapy across the spectrum of physical therapy care.
Neva Kirk-Sanchez, Ph.D., PT
Associate Professor and Chair
DPT Program Director
Department of Physical Therapy
University of Miami Miller School of Medicine