Our faculty model clinical and research expertise across each of the specialty areas of physical therapy practice, while facilitating students' development as movement experts who promote health through exercise.

Core Faculty

Justine Dee, PT, M.S., OCS

Areas of Expertise: Chronic pain treatment, addressing pain and functional loss in victims of torture and trauma, low back pain, lymphedema treatment

Reuben Escorpizo, PT, M.Sc., D.P.T.

Areas of Expertise: Understanding and examining disability in spinal cord injury, work rehabilitation, and arthritis

Mathew Failla, PT, Ph.D., SCS

Areas of Expertise: Sports medicine, knee injury prevention and treatment, shoulder injury prevention and treatment

Nancy Gell, PT, Ph.D., M.P.H.

Areas of Expertise: Exercise and physical activity adherence, influence of environment and technology on physical activity behavior, strategies for healthy aging

Sambit Mohapatra, PT, Ph.D.

Areas of Expertise: Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation, screening tools in mild Traumatic Brain Injury, recovery of motor functions post-stroke

Rebecca H. Ouellette-Morton. PT, M.S., D.P.T., Clinical Education Director

Areas of Expertise: Essential functions in physical therapy education, clinical education in physical therapy, strategies and functional outcomes for patients with chronic musculoskeletal conditions

Denise Peters, PT, D.P.T., Ph.D.

Areas of Expertise: Neural correlates of motor impairment and recovery post-stroke, gait rehabilitation and neuromechanics, structural neuroimaging

Elizabeth Lee Sargent, PT, Sc.D., OCS

Areas of Expertise: Utilizing thoracic spine treatment strategies for managing upper quarter pain and dysfunction, the effect of volitional preemptive abdominal contraction on active forward reach performance, the effect of screw fixation on sacroiliac joint stiffness using vibration energy color Doppler imaging

Paula A. Smith, PT, M.A.S., D.P.T.

Areas of Expertise: Analysis of structured clinical education in transition to workplace, service learning to engage student learning in Geriatrics

Barbara Ann Tschoepe, PT, D.P.T., Ph.D., Professor, Director

Areas of Expertise: Physical therapy faculty development, experiential learning in health promotion in physical therapy students, physical therapy practice and implementation of clinical practice guidelines

Karen C. Westervelt, PT, ATC, Ph.D., M.S., OCS, FAAOMPT, CMP

Areas of Expertise: Classification and treatment of low back pain, orthopedic manual therapy, post-professional physical therapist education, international collaborations in health care, novel mentoring techniques for new clinicians and clinicians in rural settings, kinesiology, biomechanics, travel study

Michelle Yargeau, PT, D.P.T., CWS

Areas of Expertise: Wound care/pressure management, neurologic disorders and function/balance

DPT Associate Faculty

• Tracy Benedict, PT, D.P.T.
• Heather Collins, PT
• Dan Farnham, PT, D.P.T., ATC
• Jennifer Green-Wilson, PT, Ed.D.
• Gary Mawe, Ph.D.
• Victor May, Ph.D.
• Parminder Padget, PT, D.P.T.
• Connie van Eeghen, DPH
• Margaret Vizzard, Ph.D.
• Sonya Worth, PT
• Heather Blackburn, PT, D.Sc., PCS

DPT Emeriti Faculty

• Samuel Feitelberg, PT, M.A., D.Sc., FAPTA
• Jean Held, PT, Ed.D.
• Sharon Henry, PT, Ph.D., ATC
• Mary Moffroid, PT, Ph.D.
• Leonie Nelson, PT, M.S., D.P.T.
• Deborah O'Rourke, PT, Ph.D.
• Nancy Zimny, PT, M.S.

The curriculum for the program per graduation year:

• Class of 2021 Curriculum (PDF)
• Class of 2020 Curriculum (PDF)
• Class of 2019 Curriculum (PDF)
• Class of 2018 Curriculum (PDF)

Additional requirements are outlined in the Doctor of Physical Therapy Program Handbook. Official course descriptions are outlined in the UVM Catalogue.

Clinical Education

The curriculum includes four clinical internship courses that comprise 36 weeks of full-time clinical education experience. Students practice in a variety of settings under the supervision of clinical instructors who are licensed physical therapists. The University of Vermont contracts with over 300 clinical sites for student internships. These clinical sites are throughout the United States. Students should expect to have to travel and are responsible for travel and living expenses during the internship courses. Students are required to demonstrate adequate immunization against certain specified diseases and must obtain professional liability insurance, health clearance and CPR certification prior to enrolling in the clinical experience.

Program Goals

The DPT program goals are derived from our mission and values to:

• Provide an educational environment in which curriculum-guiding principles are integrated with ethical and legal professional practice.
• Offer an evidence-based curriculum that prepares graduates for contemporary best practice.
• Admit highly qualified students who are willing to actively engage in their learning experience while supporting the mission and educational outcomes of the University, College, and DPT program.
• Recruit students who are committed to embrace the values of this program within their future practice environments.
• Prepare students to engage in outreach and personal life-long learning.
• Attract and support faculty who excel in teaching, research, and service.
• Encourage faculty to support the academic needs and professional formation of the DPT students.
• Prepare graduates to achieve desired educational outcomes of the program.
• Develop graduates with the knowledge, skills, and attitudes to succeed in a constantly changing health care environment.
• Develop graduates who lead and collaborate in multiple roles that can positively impact clients, patients, the profession and society.
• Inspire graduates to appreciate uniqueness and value of all individuals within diverse cultures and societies.

Graduation Requirements

A grade point average of 3.0, successful completion of all internship experiences and a comprehensive examination are required for graduation. Refer to class year curriculum sheets for credit hours required for graduation.

Graduates earn a doctoral degree in physical therapy and practice in many different settings including outpatient practices, rehabilitation facilities, acute care hospitals, long-term care facilities, school systems and home health agencies.

Many graduates obtain advanced degrees in clinical specialties, or become practice owners, clinical administrators, or academic faculty. Upon successful completion of the program, graduates are eligible to sit for the national professional licensure examination administered through the Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy. The Office of Professional Regulation in the Vermont Secretary of State's office governs licensure requirements for Vermont.

Applicants must complete the prerequisite course requirements and a baccalaureate degree in any major at UVM or a regionally accredited institution. Applicants with a baccalaureate degree from institutions outside the U.S. will also be considered.

Effective July 1, 2016 students applying to the physical therapy program must have a GPA of 3.0 or greater in their undergraduate studies. All applicants must complete the following prerequisite courses with a cumulative GPA of 3.3 or greater prior to entry into the program:

• Two semesters of anatomy/physiology
• Two semesters of college chemistry with labs
• Two semesters of physics with labs
• Two semesters of biology (not botany or zoology)
• One semester of psychology
• One semester of statistics

Tuition and Fees

Review tuition costs for the UVM Doctor of Physical Therapy Program.

1. Complete the Physical Therapy Common Application through the Physical Therapist Centralized Application Service (PTCAS). Please submit the following application materials through the PTCAS system:

   (3) Letters of Recommendation (Include at least one academic letter of recommendation.)

   Official Transcript(s) from all U.S. and Canadian schools attended. PTCAS and the UVM DPT program accept prerequisite credits from regionally accredited institutions only. For international applicants, transcripts must be translated and evaluated by an official service and sent to the CNHS Office of Student Services.

   Official Graduate Record Exam (GRE) scores. GRE Code 7708. Minimum scores of 150 Quantitative, 150 Verbal, and 4.0 Writing are preferred.

2. Complete the supplemental UVM Graduate College Application and submit the application fee. Please note: If applying to both the Doctor of Physical Therapy (D.P.T.) and Ph.D. in Neuroscience (NGP) programs, select the DPT/NGP option on the supplemental application. Please also include Official Graduate Record Exam (GRE) scores. GRE Code: 7708

    (NOTE: You do not need to upload a resume or a writing sample. Under the personal statement, please upload a PDF or Microsoft Word document that reads: "See essay on the PTCAS application.")

Application deadline: November 15 (Please note: PTCAS takes 3-4 weeks to verify your application after it has been submitted.)

INTERNATIONAL APPLICANTS: PTCAS has selected World Education Services (WES) as the preferred service for evaluating foreign transcripts. To be considered for application, foreign transcripts must be submitted to this agency for review.

Matriculation Requirements

• Completion of technical standards form
• Submission of final transcripts, if applicable

How long is the program?

The program is three years including summer semesters. There is a six-week clinical internship at the beginning of the second year and there are three ten-week clinical internships in the third year.

What about financial aid and the tuition costs for the program?

For current information about financial aid, tuition, and fees, refer to the Student Financial Services website. If you have questions about whether you are an in-state or out-of-state resident, refer to the Registrar's Residency Policy.

If you are a permanent resident of Maine or New Hampshire, you may be eligible for discounted tuition through the New England Board of Higher Education (NEBHE)'s RSP Tuition Break program. For more information please contact the Graduate College.

Will I need a car?

Yes, you will most likely need access to a car during your clinical internships. All students should expect to have at least one clinical internship out of state. Students are responsible for travel and living expenses during their internships.

How can I find out more about the program? Do you hold information sessions?

The College of Nursing and Health Sciences Office of Student Services is able to guide you during the application process and answer any of your questions. There are also advisors and current DPT students available to speak with you about the program. The Office of Admissions offers tours, which are a great way to see the campus. You may contact them to arrange a visit. Information sessions for the DPT program are held a few times a year. More information including dates and locations can be found in the prospective graduate students section of the CNHS website. These sessions - held by a faculty member in the department - are highly recommended.

How many applicants are there annually? What is average size of the class?

The College of Nursing and Health Sciences receives a large group of very competitive applications each year. The average class size is 40 students.

Do I need to have all of the prerequisite courses completed prior to applying?

You may have no more than two prerequisite courses remaining for the spring semester when you apply. The Graduate College must be notified of final grades before classes begin.

Is there a period of time that the prerequisites are no longer acceptable towards my application?

It is highly recommended that the prerequisite courses are taken no more than ten years prior to applying to the program, although it is not a requirement.

What is the minimum prerequisite GPA? May I retake any prerequisite courses to obtain a better grade?

Students applying to the program must have an overall GPA of 3.0 or greater in their studies and a cumulative GPA of 3.3 or greater in their prerequisite courses. The average overall GPA for students enrolled in the program is 3.5 with an average 3.5 for the prerequisite GPA. Through PTCAS, applicants identify the courses that they want to count toward the prerequisite GPA. So, if you retake a prerequisite course, you may select the course with the best grade that meets the requirement. The calculation for the GPA prerequisites is then based on the grades from the courses you identify.

Are observation hours required?

There is no requirement for observation hours for the application process, although it is favorable to have this type of experience.

Is an interview required for admission into the UVM DPT program?

There is no interview requirement for the application process.

Where should I send my application materials?

Official transcripts, GRE scores, and letters of recommendation should be submitted through PTCAS. The GRE Code for the University of Vermont DPT program is 7708. Refer to the PTCAS website for more information. The UVM on-line supplemental graduate application must also be completed. Please put only the names of your references on this application and not their e-mails, as it will send them another recommendation request. In the box calling for an essay, please upload a Word document or PDF stating "See essay on the PTCAS application."

Can you clarify the deadline for application?

All application materials must be submitted to PTCAS, and the UVM Graduate College application must be completed, by the deadline. Applicants are not penalized for PTCAS business processing time.

How can I find out if PTCAS has received my transcripts (or any other materials)?

PTCAS will have the information related to the status of your transcripts, GRE scores, and letters of recommendation. If you are having any questions or difficulties with PTCAS, contact their customer service line at (617) 612-2040 or ptcasinfo@ptcas.org. UVM will notify you when applications have been received.

When will I hear whether I have been admitted to the program?

You will hear from us between the end of February and the end of March.