University of Iowa Department of Physical Therapy & Rehabilitation Science

09/25/2026

📣 📣 📣 PT Student Organization Announcement:

Our fall Physical Therapy Apparel Order is now LIVE!! Please visit the following website to get your PTSO and clinic gear! The store will be open through October 13th!

https://stores.teamelitesports.com/univ_of_iowa_physical_therapy/shop/home

08/26/2026

📣 Don't forget to register for the 2026 Mark & Mary Ann Kaufman PTRS Educational Summit! 📣

We are less than a month away from our fall events on September 18th & 19th, hope to see you soon!

For details & to register: https://pt.medicine.uiowa.edu/news-events/educational-summit

08/19/2026

Congratulations to current PhD students from Dr. Ruth Chimenti's Movement, Imaging and Rehabilitation Lab who recently were recognized for their outstanding work! The awardees include:

Zahra Amerian, PT for being awarded the P.E.O. International Peace Scholarship for the 2026–2027 academic year. She was nominated by Professor Carol Vance for the scholarship to support full-time doctoral studies in the Chimenti lab.

Timothy Fleagle, PT, DPT received an NIH NIAMS Loan Repayment Program (L30) Award for his project, “Exploring the Link Between Type 2 Diabetes and Achilles Tendinopathy Pain.”

Micah Wong, PT, DPT, RMSK was awarded the Phoebe Rhomberger Award, a 2026 Promotion of Doctoral Studies I (PODS I) Scholarship from the Foundation for Physical Therapy Research! Supported by the Phoebe Rhomberger Endowment Fund, this competitive award provides $7,500 to support doctoral research.

We are proud of these PhD students and the work they are contributing to the PT profession! Well deserved!

07/23/2026

🚨 Registration is now open for our fall events 🚨

* Friday, September 18, 2026 *

8:00 am - 12:00 pm
Mark & Mary Ann Kaufman PTRS Educational Summit

1:00 pm
PTRS Golf Outing @ Lake McBride Golf Club

5:00 pm
PTRS Departmental Social @ Lake McBride Golf Club

* Saturday, September 19th *

Health Sciences Academic Building Open House before 3 pm football game

For more details and to register for the any or all of the events above:

Breadcrumb Home News & Events Educational Summit Educational Summit Educational Summit Main navigation Educational Summit Alumni Newsletter PTRS Educational Summit Our 2026 Mark and Mary Ann Kaufman PTRS Educational Summit, "From Mechanobiology to Movement: Bridging Science, Practice, and Athletic P...

07/17/2026

Today is the end of our first week with the new DPT1 cohort, the Class of 2028! On Monday, they arrived on campus and received a warm Iowa welcome from Dr. Shields and faculty/staff. Students then explored the new Health Sciences Academic Building and campus. We look forward to the next few years with you all!

06/20/2026

A physical therapist, researcher, and longtime leader at Iowa, Richard Shields (85MA) has helped shape the future of physical therapy education and spinal cord injury research.

As chair of the physical therapy department for the last 20 years, Shields has led the program through decades of growth, helping it maintain a top five national ranking and become a benchmark for physical therapy programs across the country. His research has advanced understanding of movement, skeletal muscle, and rehabilitation for people with spinal cord injuries.

Congratulations to Richard Shields, PT, PhD, FAPTA, on receiving the Distinguished Alumni Award for Achievement.

06/08/2026

📣 Save the date:

Mark and Mary Ann Kaufman PTRS Educational Summit
Friday, September 18, 2026, 8:00 - 12:00
Held in the "New" Health Sciences Academic Building
Golf Outing at Lake MacBride Golf Club to follow

Saturday, September 19, 2026
PTRS Open House & Tailgate

For more information: https://pt.medicine.uiowa.edu/news-events/educational-summit

05/15/2026

Yesterday we celebrated our annual Reaffirmation Ceremony and pinning with the DPT Class of 2026. The newly promoted DPT3's have completed their on campus didactic studies and now embark on their three Terminal Clinical Education experiences. We wish them the very best!