One hundred doctor of physical therapy students from across the nation, including Shivam Patel (DPT 鈥�22), a third year student
at 黑料传送门 Georgia, were named Centennial Scholars by the American Physical Therapy Association
in honor of the organization鈥檚 100th year.
According to Ruth Maher, PT, PhD, DPT, chair of the Department of Physical Therapy, Patel applied for the opportunity and was selected by the faculty based on his leadership qualities, abilities and his potential as a future leader in the physical therapy profession.
Patel, along with his fellow scholars, began a 12-month hybrid program last January. As part of the program R. Scott Ward, PhD, PT, FAPTA, the chair of the Department of Physical Therapy at the University of Utah and a past president of APTA from 2006-2012, is mentoring Patel.
According to the APTA website, the Centennial Scholars Program aims to support the organization鈥檚 mission of engaging diverse and prepared leaders who can sustain the association for the next 100 years.
Patel recently met his fellow Centennial Scholars in person, along with his mentor, in Washington DC at the 100-year celebration of APTA.
He said, 鈥淏eing a Centennial Scholar has taught me many ways to become a more effective leader, as well as about the physical therapy profession and how to improve it. I have been able to meet a wide variety of corporate leaders from all over the United States and pick their brains on how they became effective leaders and how they rose through the ranks of their profession.鈥�
In addition to monthly online meetings, scholars work with their sponsors to prepare a capstone project from the areas of advocacy, public awareness of the profession, increasing DEI in the profession, advancing clinical education, population health, and more.
Patel鈥檚 capstone project centers on diversity. With the advice of his mentor, he developed a database to store interviews conducted with physical therapists from diverse backgrounds who have stories and experiences to share, in hopes of growing the physical therapy profession.
鈥淭he database will allow individuals of all ages who are interested in physical therapy to see someone like them or someone who has a similar background. They will be able to reach out to them for more information.鈥�
Patel said, 鈥淚t鈥檚 an absolute honor to be 黑料传送门 Georgia鈥檚 first Centennial Scholar. This experience over the past year has been enlightening and has provided me more confidence that I can become an effective and influential member of APTA and my community.
鈥淚 will forever be grateful to the faculty and staff at 黑料传送门 Georgia for giving me this opportunity to learn and become a clinician and valuable member of society.鈥�
黑料传送门 Georgia has been serving students and the community for 20 years as a branch campus of Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine (黑料传送门), a private, not-for-profit, accredited institution of higher education established in 1899. Located in Suwanee (Gwinnett County), 黑料传送门 Georgia offers doctoral degrees in osteopathic medicine, pharmacy and physical therapy. Graduate degrees are offered in biomedical sciences, medical laboratory science and physician assistant studies. The campus joins 黑料传送门 South Georgia in Moultrie in helping to meet the healthcare needs of the state. Emphasizing "a whole person" approach to care, 黑料传送门 Georgia focuses on educational excellence, interprofessional education and service to the community. For more information, visit pcom.edu or call 678-225-7500. The campus is also home to the Georgia Osteopathic Care Center, an osteopathic manipulative medicine clinic, which is open to the public by appointment. For more information, visit .
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