University of Colorado Physical Therapy Program

The University of Colorado Physical Therapy Program (CU Physical Therapy or CU PT) is administered by the Department of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation (PM&R) and the University of Colorado School of Medicine. The program has a focus on research, education, and service related to physical therapy and rehabilitation science. The Residential Doctor of Physical Therapy degree (DPT) Pathway is located at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus (CU Anschutz), and the Hybrid DPT Pathway is located at the University of Colorado Colorado Springs (UCCS).

The program grants doctoral degrees in physical therapy (DPT), Rehabilitation Science (PhD), and provides a dual degree DPT-Master of Public Health (MPH) track in partnership with the Colorado School of Public Health. The program also offers physical therapy residency programs in orthopaedics, pediatrics, and faculty development.

Early history: 1947-1986
The CU Physical Therapy Program received its initial accreditation from the Council of Medical Education and Hospitals of the American Medical Association and the American Physical Therapy Association in 1947. Mary S. Lawrence served as the founding Program Director from 1947 to 1950. Under her direction, the program opened at the University of Colorado Boulder campus with six baccalaureate students who graduated 12 months later with a Certificate in Physical Therapy. During her service to the United States Army, Capt. Lawrence served the Physical Therapy Branch of the Surgeon General`s Office as a technical advisor on the educational film concerning spinal cord injury rehabilitation, Toward Independence, which received the 1949 Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Oscar award for best documentary film of the year. Capt. Lawrence went on to join Capt. Mary E. Frazee from 1953 to 1954 to lead instruction of the Army Physical Therapy Course. Ms. Lawrence retired at the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. The majority of physical therapists assigned to Army hospitals participated in the Army Physical Therapy Course between 1948 and 1961. Under the leadership of Maj. Barbara M. Robertson, Capt. Frazee and Lawrence trained physical therapy students at the Medical Field Service School in San Antonio, TX who were commissioned as second lieutenants in the Women`s Medical Specialist Corps Reserve.



The leadership of Capt. Lawrence was followed by Dorothy Hoag (1950-1972), the program’s longest serving director. Ms. Hoag initially guided students to earn a certificate in Physical Therapy and eventually advanced the program to offer a Bachelor’s degree in the profession. During the time that the Bachelor’s degree was offered, the first three years were spent in the College of Arts and Sciences on the Boulder campus. The fourth year of the degree program constituted the professional phase of the program and was completed at the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center in Denver. Subsequent Program Directors following Ms. Hoag’s retirement included James Clinkingbeard (1972-1977), Elizabeth Barnett (1978-1987), and Marcia Smith (1987-1988). This early period of the program’s history is marked by the cessation of the Certificate in Physical Therapy by 1968 and an expansion of the student cohort to 36 people by 1986.



From Boulder to Aurora: 1988-2008
Dr. Pauline Cerasoli (known as “Polly” to friends and colleagues) assumed the role of Program Director and Assistant Dean of Allied Health in 1988 and led the effort to progress to a Master of Science degree in Physical Therapy. This degree was completed over a 24-months period and was initially earned by 48 students. The last year of Dr. Cerasoli’s tenure as Director was notable for conferring the Master of Science in Physical Therapy degree to 61 graduates during the program’s 50th anniversary. Dr. Cerasoli’s time as Program Director prematurely ended due to critical injuries sustained during an attack by an unknown assailant while attending the APTA Combined Sections Meeting (CSM) in Atlanta in 1996. In honor of Dr. Pauline Cerasoli, the program initiated the Cerasoli Award for Outstanding Contributions to Physical Therapy Education in 1998. The award recognizes individuals with significant contributions toward the academic or clinical education of student physical therapists at the University of Colorado. The American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) Colorado Chapter also honored Dr. Cerasoli by offering the APTA CO Chapter Pauline Cerasoli “ACE” PT Student Award in 1993 and “ACE” PTA Award in 1996. The impact of Dr. Cerasoli’s work was nationally recognized by the APTA. The APTA Academy of Education (then called the APTA Section on Education), established the Pauline Cerasoli Lectureship in 1998. The lectureship was made possible through the Cerasoli Fund which was originally created to assist the family in providing Dr. Cerasoli’s care. However, the Cerasoli family decided to allocate the funds to the APTA to support an annual lectureship in Dr. Cerasoli’s name. Leaders, educators, and practitioners in the field of physical therapy who share the insightful, sensitive, and caring nature embodied by Dr. Cerasoli continue to be recognized through the lectureship series.

The directorship of Dr. Carolyn B. Heriza (1996-2005) and Dr. Margaret Schenkman (2005-2019) marked a period of educational and research growth of the program. The Human Performance Laboratory, a joint project between the program, the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, and University of Colorado Hospital Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, opened in 2000. Notably, the program moved to the School of Medicine and the first class of students was admitted to the Doctor of Physical Therapy program in 2004. Under the leadership of Dr. Schenkman, the Physical Therapy Program moved to the Anschutz Medical Campus in 2007 (which was acquired from the decommissioned Fitzsimons Army Medical Center in 1995). By the end of 2008, academic and research operations of all University of Colorado Denver health sciences schools and colleges relocated to the new campus, joining the affiliated University of Colorado Hospital and Children's Hospital Colorado. The graduation of the first DPT class of the PT Program also occurred during this year.

Recent history
Scientific advancement and training at the program continued with the creation of the Interdisciplinary Movement Science Laboratory (IMSL) in 2009 with the joint support of the School of Medicine, and the establishment of the Rehabilitation Sciences PhD Program in 2011. The Rehabilitation Sciences PhD Program has grown into a competitive academic unit that includes federally funded Principal Investigators and trainees who consistently garner scholarship support from the Foundation for Physical Therapy Research. The achievements of this research training program are largely due to the contributions of the former PhD Program Director, Dr. Katrina Maluf, and the current PhD Program Director and CU PT Section Director for Research & Development, Dr. Jennifer Stevens-Lapsley. Other milestones during Dr. Schenkman’s tenure include the development and implementation of the Physical Therapy Scholarship and Endowment Advisory Board, beginning the optional year-long DPT student internship, and the accreditation of the program’s first Physical Therapy Residency (in Pediatrics in partnership with JFK Partners in 2012).

Dr. Michael Harris-Love became the Program Director and Associate Dean of Physical Therapy Education upon the retirement of Dr. Schenkman in 2019 and Dr. Schenkman was granted emeritus faculty status in 2023. Dr. Harris-Love assumed the program’s first endowed faculty position through the Joanne Posner-Mayer Endowed Chair in Physical Therapy within the University of Colorado School of Medicine at the CU Anschutz Medical Campus. Dr. Harris-Love’s time as Program Director began under a period of significant transition during the COVID-19 campus shutdown at CU Anschutz in 2020 and program reaccreditation in 2021. Program growth continued with accreditation of Physical Therapy Residencies in Orthopaedics with UCHealth in 2022 and Faculty Development in 2023. During the program’s 75th anniversary year, approval was granted to establish a DPT-MPH dual degree track in partnership with the Colorado School of Public Health. Also, through a gradual effort that involved the directorship of both Dr. Schenkman and Dr. Harris-Love from 2017 through 2022, the program gained approval to provide an inter-campus, hybrid education, DPT degree pathway with the University of Colorado Colorado Springs. Principal instruction of the program curriculum for Hybrid Pathway students occurs at the Hybl Sports Medicine and Performance Center in Colorado Springs.

The Development of Clinical Education
Prior to the mid-1990s, clinical education at the CU Physical Therapy Program was managed by a single faculty member. Jan Foster was the program’s first Academic Coordinator of Clinical Education, followed by Jody Delehanty (as the Director of Clinical Education) from 1992 to 1995. Transitioning from the Bachelor of Science to Doctor of Physical Therapy degree increased the lengths of clinical education and individual experiences. The transition also introduced clinical education earlier and more frequently in the DPT curriculum. The DPT clinical education curriculum incorporated two evidence-based models of clinical education: a series of team-based Integrated clinical experiences, and an optional year-long internship. The CU Physical Therapy Program has more than 500 clinical partners in Colorado and across the United States. Additionally, the program’s location at the Anschutz Medical Campus allows for a core group of clinical partners that include the University of Colorado Hospital, Children’s Hospital Colorado, the Rocky Mountain Regional VA Medical Center, Denver Health Medical Center, and SCL (Sisters of Charity of Leavenworth) National Jewish Health. Jenny Rodriguez was appointed as the Director of Clinical Education in 1995, followed by Joseph Palmer in 2024. Dr. Rodriguez established a team approach to manage the clinical education efforts at the program in 1998, with a current leadership structure that includes an Associate Director of Clinical Education within the residential pathway at the Anschutz Medical Campus and an Assistant Director of Clinical Education within the hybrid pathway at the University of Colorado Colorado Springs.

University of Colorado Rehabilitation Sciences PhD Program
The CU Physical Therapy Program is an academic unit within the University of Colorado School of Medicine which houses the Colorado State Anatomical Board. The Colorado State Anatomical Board is an agency of the State, created by statute in 1927, which provides access to whole body donors for medical education and human anatomy instruction at institutions across the state.

Pro bono physical therapy services are provided by faculty and students at the DAWN Clinic and Stout Street Clinic.

CU Rehabilitation Science is composed of faculty, postdoctoral fellows, students and research assistants with a broad background, including physical therapy, occupational therapy, medicine, psychology, engineering, and public health, all working together to improve the lives of people who live with disabilities. The Rehabilitation Sciences program offers a DPT to PhD and an accelerated PhD track and collaborates closely with the Rocky Mountain Regional VA Medical Center. Current CU Physical Therapy degree programs, tracks, and pathways include: the DPT degree Residential Pathway at CU Anschutz and the Hybrid Pathway at UCCS; Rehabilitation Science PhD Program; the DPT-MPH dual degree track; the DPT-PhD Pathway. The Director of Rehabilitation Sciences program is Jennifer Stevens-Lapsley, PT, PhD, FAPTA.

Research labs
Research is conducted in a variety of laboratories and clinical research sites. The research areas include: clinical trials research, health services research, translational research and mechanistic research.


 * 3MAP The Muscle Morphology, Mechanics, and Performance Laboratory (3MAP Lab)
 * Concussion Lab focuses on the diagnosis, prognosis, treatment, and prevention of concussions.
 * ISML Lab promotes activity and healthy aging through movement.
 * Move Lab enhance the effectiveness of rehabilitation in older adult patient populations.
 * RESTORE Lab is committed to older adult movement optimization and quality of life.
 * SCIRL Lab focuses on the prognosis and treatment of individuals with spinal cord injury (SCI).
 * Sprout Lab serving underserved children with disabilities.

Distinctions
The Doctor of Physical Therapy Program has been ranked 11th among physical therapy schools by US News & World Report.

The Department Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation at the University of Colorado School of Medicine was ranked 5th in the 2021 Blue Ridge Institute for Medical Research list for NIH funding. CU Physical Therapy Program Professor, Dr. Jennifer Stevens-Lapsley, was recognized as the 3rd highest ranked Principal Investigator in the U.S. for federal funding within a PM&R Department.

The CU Physical Therapy Program is one of the few U.S. physical therapy programs with an endowed Chair position. The CU Anschutz Medical Campus established the Joanne Posner-Mayer Endowed Chair in Physical Therapy at the University of Colorado School of Medicine in 2019.

Over $275,000 in Doctor of Physical Therapy student scholarships are disbursed annually due to program benefactors, alumni, and support from the School of Medicine. This effort is administered by the CU Anschutz Office of Advancement, in consultation with the CU Physical Therapy Program Philanthropy & Advisory Council and the Scholarships and Awards Committee.

The American Board of Physical Therapy Residency and Fellowship Education (ABPTRFE) accredited residencies offered by the CU Physical Therapy Program are: the University of Colorado School of Medicine Physical Therapy Orthopaedic Residency in partnership with UCHealth; the University of Colorado Physical Therapy Pediatric Residency with JFK Partners at CU Anschutz; the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus Faculty Residency.

Notable alumni

 * The Levy Family: Herbert Levy, PT, was among the first group of PT Program graduates in 1948 and his son, Andy, graduated from CU PT in 1977; benefactors for the Andrew and Robyn Levy Family Endowed Fellowship in the CU Physical Therapy Program.
 * R.H. Kennan, Class of 1957, first African American graduate of the University of Colorado Physical Therapy Program.
 * Billy Van “B.V.” Clemons, Class of 1959, Honorary Member and Fellow of the American Academy of Physical Therapy (AAPT); co-founder of the AAPT; physical therapy instructor at Tuskegee University; board member for the Urban League; ret. Colonel, U.S. Army Reserves.
 * Joel Larmore, Class of 1970, Emeritus Chair of the Scholarship & Endowment Board; Chairman and CEO of RehabVisions, Inc; benefactor for the University of Colorado Physical Therapy Endowment Fund.
 * Colleen Kigin, Class of 1970, Emerita Chair and Board Member of the Scholarship & Endowment Board, and Clinical Professor at CU Physical Therapy; former Chief of Staff, Center for Integration of Medicine and Innovative Technology; previously served as APTA Vice President and Chair of the American Board of Physical Therapy Specialties; a founder of the APTA Frontiers in Science and Rehabilitation Council; Kigin delivered the 52nd Mary McMillan Lecture at the Kennedy Center in 2021.
 * Joanne Posner-Mayer, Class of 1973, recipient of the CU Physical Therapy Alumni Achievement Award; recognized with an honorary doctorate in humane letters from the University of Colorado in 2020; author of Swiss Ball Applications for Orthopedic & Sports Medicine: A Guide for Home Exercise Programs Utilizing the Swiss Ball, and benefactor for the Joanne Posner-Mayer Endowed Chair in Physical Therapy within the University of Colorado School of Medicine at the CU Anschutz Medical Campus.
 * Kenda Fuller, Class of 1979, Alumni Achievement Award recipient in 2020; co-author of Pathology: Implications for the Physical Therapist; benefactor for the University of Colorado Physical Therapy Endowment Fund.
 * David Bruton, Class of 2021, CU Physical Therapy Alumni Association Co-President and member of the Scholarship & Endowment Board; founder of Bruton’s Books; clinic owner; former NFL team captain and Super Bowl 50 winner with the Denver Broncos.
 * Additional notable alumni who have received the CU PT Alumni Achievement Award: Linda Hannen, Class of 1970; Ann Dinsmore, Class of 1973; Suzy Cornbleet, Class of 1975; Cheryl Caldwell, Class of 1976; Audrey Waldron, Class of 2013.