UF Department of Physical Therapy

05/29/2026

Congratulations to recent grad Sujan Parab for receiving the Presidential Service Award through the UF Brown Center for Leadership & Service!

This award recognizes Sujan for his community service in the program, using all his free time to give back to others at the Equal Access Clinic (EAC), Love Serving Autism (LSA) and Programs for After School Success (PASS).

Sujan came to GatorPT as an international student from India in 2023 with a passion for movement, sports and healthcare. He graduated with the Class of 2026 this month, hoping to pursue a career in sports physical therapy.

“This award represents the importance of community service and reminds me why I chose this profession in the first place. I entered physical therapy because I genuinely wanted to help people, and receiving this recognition reassures me that I am making a positive impact. As a future clinician and researcher, I hope to continue serving others both inside and outside of the clinic.” - Sujan Parab

05/15/2026

Clinical Match Day!

The Class of 2028 students have all been matched to their first clinical placement.

This milestone marks a year of hard work in the classroom, and they can now look forward to applying these skills on-site next spring.

Thanks to the Emmaline, Chad and “Chop” from the Class of ‘27 for the words of encouragement!

Make us proud of there, Gators! 🐊

05/01/2026

nice coats 🥼

Congratulations to the DPT Class of 2026, you did that! It was a pleasure having you in our PT Gator family, and we wish you all success and happiness in the future. 🧡💙

Thank you to the Barbara C. White Lecturer, Dr. Skye Donovan, and to all our faculty and staff who support the program day in and day out.

A special thank you to Bob and Donna Goldstein for donating the white coats and putting a smile on so many of our students’ faces.

CO ‘26 award winners:
- Martha C. Wroe Outstanding Clinical Student Award: Mary Cooper Owens
- Clinical Instructor (CI) of the Year: Kyle Proctor

04/15/2026

Creaky joints? In need of a tune-up? We're here to help. 💪

UF PT continuously host the Gaitor Challenge and the Neuro Wellness program, two community-based projects led by our doctoral students and supervised by our faculty.

Drs. Shakeel Ahmed, Kelly Hawkins and Rachelle Studer-Byrnes guide physical therapy students through real-life, proactive and personalized fitness care for Gainesville residents who are not always able to access or workout in gyms safely and easily.

Read more about our community wellness programs here. 💁

PHHP’s Department of Physical Therapy offers options for older adults and people with neurological disorders to stay active under professional supervision.

04/10/2026

Drs. Bishop and Alappattu caught up with Gator royalty this week 👑

Chris Simms, who was a member of the first UF DPT Class of 2008, was named in the Gator100 for a 3rd time for his continued success as owner of Choice Rehab Connections. His company streamlines collaboration between therapists and home health agencies to get patients efficient and effective treatment.

The Gator100 recognizes fastest growing Gator-owned business around the world. Chris was previously recognized in 2023 and 2025.

Congratulations Chris! 🐊

You can read a little more about Chris’ journey by clicking the link in the comments section or swiping up on our story.

04/07/2026

Top 20 💪🐊

The 2026 U.S. News & World Report rankings place UF PT at No. 16 for best physical therapy programs in the nation!

Check out how did university did as a whole by clicking the link on the photo. 🔗

04/03/2026

twenty-first NMPT symposium in motion 📽️

04/01/2026

training for the present and the future 🧠

The Neuromuscular Plasticity Symposium (NMPT) is a platform for future clinicians and scientists to interact, collaborate and present their current research findings.

This year’s NMPT Symposium saw 64 poster presenters, from graduate and undergraduate programs across UF’s rehabilitation and biomedical science programs, engaging with the 230 current researchers in attendance. 🤝

Plenary talks were given by Dr. Clive Svendsen and Dr. Kerri Winters-Stone, two industry leaders in neurodegenerative, stem-cell research and oncological excercise rehabilitation, respectively. 🎙️

This symposium is sponsored by the Interdisciplinary Training in Rehabilitation and Neuromuscular Plasticity (T32 HD04373) and the Breathing Research and Therapeutics programs (T32 HL134621), funded by the NIH, along with the Department of Physical Therapy, the College of Public Health and Health Professionals, and PHHP-Brooks Research Collaboration.

03/18/2026

Want to learn more about UF DPT? Tuesday, March 24th is your day to ask any and all questions! Mark your calendar. Tell your friends. 😉

Click the link to register today. 📝

02/17/2026

Join us tomorrow, Wednesday, February 18, for our In-Person Career Fair at the HPNP Reception Hall. Meet our star-studded list of employers to learn more about their companies! 🤝

For more information, click the link in the first photo. 📲

02/10/2026

2 days away ✌️

Please join us as the UF Department of Physical Therapy hosts our Gator PT friends and alumni at the APTA Combined Sections (CSM) in Anaheim, CA! 🐊

Appetizers and refreshments will be provided as you have a chance to catch up with friends and colleagues.

When: Thursday, February 12 – 6:30-8:30 PM

Where: Hilton Anaheim, Huntington ABC, 777 W Convention Way, Anaheim, CA 92802