Tampa, Florida (Oct. 21, 2004) --  The University of South Florida gained state approval today to offer a new clinical Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) degree, the first DPT degree to be offered at a public university in the state. The School of Physical Therapy, part of USF’s College of Medicine and Health Sciences Center, was founded in 1998.      The School currently offers a master’s degree, and will now instead only offer the three-year clinical doctorate program.      “USF becomes the 105th accredited physical therapy education program in the United States to award the DPT,” said Sandy Quillen, PT, PhD, newly appointed director of USF’s School of Physical Therapy.  Three private universities in Florida offer the DPT degree.

Sandy Quillen, PT, PhD

            “This is a tremendous day for the School and College of Medicine,” said Stephen Klasko, MD, MBA, USF’s dean of the College of Medicine and vice president for Health Sciences. “It places us in a leadership position among the public programs in the state of Florida.”

            Dr. Quillen said USF’s School of Physical Therapy is poised to become a nationally prominent program. “We have superb facilities, a strong and talented core faculty and the added strength of teaching and learning with our colleagues from Medicine, Nursing and Public Health,” he said. “Students in the School of Physical Therapy also benefit from a fully integrated clinical experience across their three years of study, including experiences in the University’s Physical Therapy Center which is part of the USF Physicians Group.”

            The school has launched a recruiting campaign to attract its charter class of doctoral students, who will begin their studies in late summer of 2005. The school is prepared to enroll as many as 36 students per class in the three-year professional program.