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PhD and Joint PT-PhD
in Rehabilitation Science
Background Information
The Department of Physical Therapy, School of Allied Health, University of Kansas Medical Center announces the immediate availability of two new graduate programs: (1) a Ph.D. program in Rehabilitation Science designed to prepare individuals for university teaching, research, service, and leadership positions in rehabilitation, and (2) an innovative rapid transition P.T.- Ph.D. joint degree offering for persons with B.S. degrees in health-related sciences wishing to become physical therapists and PhD-educated rehabilitation scientists. These two programs are offered in addition to its accredited, well-established professional M. S. degree program for persons wishing to become physical therapists. The University of Kansas (KU) is a Carnegie Research I institution and an eminent member of the prestigious 58-member American Association of Universities. KU ranks 28th among 147 public universities and 24th among the nation's "best-buy" universities. More than 26,000 matriculated students from every region of the world, 1,900 faculty members, and approximately 7,000 staff and support personnel engage in, support or advance a wide range of academic activities on its campuses. The Ph.D. and the PT-Ph.D. programs are located on the Medical Center Campus in Kansas City, and are among the numerous doctoral degree programs of the Graduate School. At the Medical Center, more than 800 faculty members teach and mentor approximately 2,400 students pursuing advanced training in medicine, nursing and 10 allied health disciplines. There are abundant academic support facilities within the university and the department to support the proposed program. The department of Physical Therapy has a 57-year history of excellence in physical therapy education and has graduated more than 1, 700 students, 333 of whom received the M.S. degree, and is currently ranked in U.S. News and World Report in the top 30 physical therapy programs in the United States.
Ph.D. in Rehabilitation Science
The PhD Program in Rehabilitation Science is designed to prepare suitably qualified individuals for leadership positions in research and academia. A major focus of the program is to advance the science of medical rehabilitation, and to elucidate the scientific basis for the procedures and processes used in clinical practice. Areas of research emphasis include human and animal studies designed to (1) promote an understanding of the pathophysiology of injury, disease, functional impairment, and associated disabilities, and (2) espouse the rationale for therapies designed to alleviate impaired human function and related physical and mental disabilities.
Admission Requirements: The program is open to persons with a B.S. degree or its equivalent in any of the relevant sciences. Applicants to the program do not have to be physical therapists; however, each candidate is encouraged to have a broad background in biological sciences (including anatomy, physiology, neuroscience, organic chemistry, biochemistry, microbiology, genetics and molecular biology), calculus and statistics. Other admission requirements include:
- A minimum GPA of 3.0 on a 4 point scale in the last 60 credit hours of course work.
- A satisfactory score in the Graduate Record Examination (GRE), obtained within the previous five years.
- A satisfactory score in the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), obtained within the previous two years (for international applicants only).
- Three letters of reference from persons familiar with the applicant's professional and/or academic abilities.
- A curriculum vitae detailing work history, formal education, continuing education, licensing and certification, professional organizations, honors and awards, publications, presentations, grants, etc.
- Transcripts from all colleges attended.
- A written educational plan describing the applicant's goal(s) and objective(s).
Requirements: In addition to the general requirements of the Graduate School, the basic requirements for the Ph.D. degree in Rehabilitation Science include the following:
- Successful completion of a minimum of 51 credit hours of studies, comprising 21 credit hours of core courses, 12 credit hours of foreign language or other research skills (FLORS), 12 credit hours of doctoral dissertation research, and six credit hours of cognate/elective courses.
- Demonstration of competence in the core areas of study and FLORS, by successfully completing one or more parts of a comprehensive examination that qualifies the student for candidacy for the Ph.D.
- Satisfactory completion of a dissertation based on an original research work.
- Successful oral presentation and defense of the dissertation.
It is expected that the equivalent of at least three years of full-time study will be needed to fulfil these requirements.
PT-PhD Joint Degree Program
The PT-PhD joint degree program integrates the professional M.S. degree in Physical Therapy with the Ph.D. degree in Rehabilitation Science and clinical work experience. It is designed to offer outstanding non-clinician applicants the opportunity to pursue both degrees simultaneously. This accelerated program is intended to prepare highly motivated individuals for leadership positions in research and academia. Suitably qualified students wishing to take advantage of this option must declare their desire to be considered for the joint degree during the admission process. Students accepted into the program must fulfil the requirements of each of the two degrees to receive both degrees. Credit hours obtained in the professional M.S. degree program cannot be transferred as graduate credit hours toward the requirements for the Ph.D. degree, although satisfactory performance in some of the Ph.D. courses may be recognized and credited when formulating the curriculum of the student in the professional M.S. program. It is expected that the equivalent of 4 -5 years of full-time study will be needed to fulfil the requirements for both degrees.
Faculty
Program Faculty
Perri Cagle, P.T., M.S.: Clinical Assistant Professor of Physical Therapy
Daofen Chen, P.T., Ph.D.: Assistant Professor of Physical Therapy
Chukuka Enwemeka, P.T., Ph.D., FACSM: Professor & Chairman of Physical Therapy
Stephen Figoni, R.K.T., Ph.D., FACSM: Adjunct Research Associate Professor of Physical Therapy
Heather Goist, P.T., M.S.: Clinical Assistant Professor of Surgery & Assistant Director, Sports Medicine Institute
Wen Liu, Ph.D.: Assistant Professor
Janice Loudon, P.T., Ph.D., ATC, SCS, Associate Professor of Physical Therapy
Brian McKiernan, P.T., Ph.D.: Clinical Assistant Professor of Physical Therapy
Patricia Pohl, P.T., Ph.D.: Assistant Professor of Physical Therapy
G. Kesava Reddy, Ph.D.: Research Assistant Professor of Physical Therapy
Nancy Scott, PT. B.S., GCS: Teaching Associate & Coordinator, Southeast Kansas Distance Education Program
Neena Sharma, P.T., M.S.: Teaching Associate & Associate Coordinator of Clinical Education
Irina Smirnova, Ph.D.: Research Assistant Professor
Lisa Stehno-Bittel, P.T., Ph.D.: Associate Professor of Physical Therapy & Director of Academic Affairs
Marcie Swift, P.T., M.S.: Teaching Associate
Patsy Whitney, P.T., M.S., M.A.: Clinical Assistant Professor of Physical Therapy
Core Faculty
Daofen Chen, Assistant Professor: B.S. in Biology (Shanghai Teachers University), M.S. in Neurophysiology (Shanghai Brain Research Institute), M.P.T. in Physical Therapy (Northwestern), Ph.D. in Physiology and Biophysics (University of Washington), post-doctoral fellow in Rehabilitation Medicine (Northwestern). Research Focus: Neurophysiology of cortical sensory-motor adaptive plasticity; neurobiology of cortical oscillation and synchrony in awake and behaving primates; cortical mechanism of skill acquisition and recovery from injury (stroke); functional properties of spinal interneurons and neurophysiological basis of spasticity in both humans and animal models.
Chukuka S. Enwemeka, Professor & Chairperson: B.S. in Physical Therapy (Ibadan), M.S. in Musculoskeletal Physical Therapy (Southern California), Ph.D. in Pathokinesiology (New York), post doctoral research (New York), Fellow of the American College of Sports Medicine. Research Focus: Connective tissue pathophysiology and adaptation; collagen matrix plasticity; effects of physical agents on experimental and human ulcers, experimental rabbit and rat models of tenotomy; joint contractures; ligamentous injuries.
Janice Loudon, Associate Professor: B. S. in Physical Therapy (University of Kansas Medical Center), M.S. in Exercise Physiology (Kansas), Ph.D. in Movement Science (Washington University), Board Certified Athletic Trainer, Board Certified Clinical Specialist in Sports Physical Therapy. Research Focus: Pathomechanics and injury; adolescent athletic injuries; arthritis.
Wen Liu, Assistant Professor: B.S. in Mechanical Engineering (Nanchang), M.S. in Electrical & Mechanical Engineering (Beijing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics), Ph.D. in Biomedical Engineering (Drexel), post-doctoral fellow in Biomedical Engineering (University of Calgary, Boston University). Research Focus: Effect of sensory signal on the improvement of motor control and function; analysis of postural control and gait performance for non-patient and patient populations; functional instability of the ACL-deficient knee; functional instability of the ankle joint after sprain injury; effect of internal or external spinal fixation on the mechanical instability of the spine.
Brian McKiernan, Clinical Assistant Professor: B.S. in Broadcast Journalism (Kansas), B.S. in Physical Therapy and Ph.D. in Physiology (University of Kansas Medical Center). Research Focus: Neurologic rehabilitation; brain control of movement; muscle activation patterns during physical activities; balance control.
Patricia Pohl, Assistant Professor: B.S. in Physical Education (Adelphi), M.S. in Physical Education (Queens College, City University of NY), M.S. in Physical Therapy and Ph.D. in Biokinesiology (Southern California), Fellow of the Stroke Council of the American Heart Association. Research Focus: Motor control and motor learning in older adults and individuals post stroke.
Kesava Reddy, Research Assistant Professor: B.S. in Chemistry & Biology and M.S. in Biochemistry (Gulbarga), Ph.D. in Biochemistry (Madras). Research Focus: Collagen and connective tissue biochemistry and adaptation in diabetes.
Irina Smirnova, Research Assistant Professor: M.S. in Biochemistry (Lvov State University), Ph.D. in Protein Chemistry (Ukraine Academy of Science). Research Focus: Cellular effects of diabetes on the cardiovascular system.
Lisa Stehno-Bittel, Associate Professor: B.S. in Physical Therapy (University of Kansas Medical Center), Ph.D. in Physiology (Missouri), post-doctoral fellow in Pharmacology (Mayo School of Medicine). Research Focus: Membrane and cellular physiological adaptation to disease and with physical therapy interventions.
How to Apply: Send completed application form along with your official transcripts, GRE scores, TOEFL score (for international applicants only), three letters of recommendation, and your written educational plan to the address below.
Additional Information:
The Admissions Coordinator
Ph.D. Program in Rehabilitation Science
Department of Physical Therapy
University of Kansas Medical Center
3901 Rainbow Boulevard
Kansas City, KS 66160-7601
Email: ptadmissions@kumc.edu
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