Message from the Director

Mark Bishop, PT, PhD, FAPTA

Hello and Happy Fall everyone.

As usual, it has been a big start to the Fall semester. Well, really, I am writing this in November, so I guess we are halfway through Fall. But the start was big! Class of 2028 joined us in August and have completed the first round of exams. Despite that, most still want to be PTs and are looking ahead to finals. Class of 2027 is applying their skills and preparation in simulation labs and on single day clinical visits and Class of 2026 is deep into the third full-time clinical experience and no doubt excited about the Spring. A big shout out to everyone who is helping train the next generation of Gator PTs both in classroom work and serving as a clinical instructor. Thank you all.

We also welcomed a new member to the UFDPT team this semester with Stacy Campbell joining us as the new Director of Clinical Education. Welcome Stacy.

UFDPT faculty and Gator PT alums were well recognized by their peers over the Summer for work in research, service, and teaching. Fed Pozzi, Kim Dunleavy and alum Shane Mathew received national APTA awards: Pozzi -Eugene Michels Award, Dunleavy - Lucy Blair Service Award, Mathew - Outstanding resident of the year. Meryl Alappattu was recognized with the FPTA’s Scholarly Impact on Practice Award and Barb Smith was named an Academy of Science, Engineering and Medicine of Florida 2025 Rising Star! While funding of rehabilitation research has had some travails over the past months, faculty and their collaborators continue to explore new areas of practice, developing the rehabilitation of tomorrow. 20 of our core and associated faculty also received commendations from the college for teaching this year. Congrats all on recognition for your hard work.

Gator PTs had a strong showing at the FPTA meeting with student and faculty research presentations, faculty leading educational sessions, and many alums and faculty involved in the governance of our profession at the state level as representatives, committee members, and board members. We also had a big presence at the APTA House of Delegates with 30% of the Florida delegation made up of current Gator PTs and alums. Dr. Alappattu also had an impact at House in her role on the Reference committee attempting to corral delegates as they made and revised motions to support our practice. Dr. Dunleavy continues to represent physical therapists at the Global Forum on Innovation in Health Professional Education and many others are serving in governance roles for the many facets of our profession. And it’s not just the faculty and alums.

Class of 2028 took Florida advocacy days by storm with eight hardy members heading Tallahassee this November. Students interacted with legislators and staffers discussing the potential legislation to improve physical therapist practice in Florida. UFDPT students are staying active in the REACH programs serving our Gainesville and surrounding community.

We also had PHHP Alumni Days in October where we caught up with grads from the classes from across the decades. Gator football even had a win to celebrate with us.

Look for the highlights of all these in this newsletter. I hope you take the time to read through this edition of the Gator PT and are proud to be a current Gator, alum, or friend of a Gator PT!

Happy, healthy holidays everyone and have a great New Year!

Bishop

Introducing the UF DPT Class of 2028

We are pleased to welcome 77 new DPT students to the Class of 2028. We are excited to watch these students grow into PT professionals! You can  meet many of our new students through their profiles on our Instagram (@ufphysicaltherapy) and Facebook page.

Class of 2028 Elects SPTA Officers

Welcome to our new SPTA officers. We asked them to tell us about themselves and what they hope to accomplish in their role with SPTA. 

Marcelo Manrique - President

I was born in El Salvador and grew up in Miami, FL. I received my Bachelors of Health and Human Performance at Berea College, a small school in Kentucky, where I also played 4 years of college baseball. ​​I decided to become a physical therapist during high school when I began experiencing arm pain as a young athlete dreaming of playing baseball forever. I resolved to empower others to reclaim confidence in their movement and live without fear of pain. 

I am very grateful to be SPTA president for the class of '28. We have an amazing group of future professionals who embody the qualities of being a Gator. I hope to represent our class and create an environment where everyone feels heard and seen. I want to be a bridge between students and faculty, helping us navigate challenges, celebrate achievements, and grow professionally. And lastly, create a culture of support that will last for years beyond walking across that stage.

Rebecca Yates - Vice President

Rebecca (Becca) Yates is excited to serve as the class of 2028 SPTA Vice President. She is from Fort Myers, Florida. Becca attended the University of Florida for undergrad and got her B.S. in Applied Physiology and Kinesiology. She enjoys working out, playing pickleball, farmers' markets, and hanging out with friends in her free time. 

Her goals for SPTA are to make sure that everyone in the cohort feels heard, promote cohort bonding, and make sure next year's first years feel welcomed into this amazing program. She is most excited to help plan events such as the winter banquet. 

McKayla Davison - Secretary

I’m from Panama City Beach, Florida, and I completed my undergraduate degree here at UF with a Bachelor of Science in Applied Physiology and Kinesiology. I loved my time here so much that I couldn’t imagine leaving! When I’m not studying, I’m usually spending time with friends or in a yoga class! 

As a member of SPTA, my goal is for everyone to feel genuinely represented. I want each person to feel seen and heard. Our cohort is full of incredible individuals, and I’m excited to help highlight the unique strengths that everyone brings!

Randi Baker - Treasurer

My name is Randi Baker, and I am from Melbourne, FL. I attended undergrad at Austin Peay State University and graduated with my B.S. in Kinesiology. I am a wife to my high-school sweetheart and a proud dog mom of two. I enjoy cozying up with a good book, exercising, and finding all the best local coffee shops! I have been a gator fan since birth and I am overjoyed to officially be a student at UF!

As the Class of 2028 SPTA Treasurer I want to be someone my peers can count on, whether for information, encouragement, or support. I want to do my part to advocate for our class and make this experience a little easier for everyone and truly make this cohort feel like a family! I am looking forward to assisting with race for rehab, winter banquet, and one day, our white coat ceremony.

FPTA Conference

UFDPT faculty, students, and alumni sure made an impact at the Florida Physical Therapy Association annual meeting in Orlando, September 2025. Current UFDPT faculty member, Meryl Alappattu, DPT, PhD, was awarded the Scholarly Impact on Practice award. This award recognizes a physical therapist scientist whose work has provided direct benefit to physical therapist practice in Florida. Alums, Melissa Lazinski, PT, DPT, DHSc (UFPT1999) and Abigail Wilson, PT, PhD (RSD2023, and UFDPT TA) received the Excellence in Academic Teaching and Best Research Poster awards respectively.

UFDPT faculty member Kelly Hawkins oversaw a tremendous research program at the meeting in her role as Chair of the FPTA Research Committee. UFDPT students, Brenee Cummings, Addison Tholl, and Ashley Hillman presented work completed in collaboration with Drs. Hawkins and Studer-Byrne’s related to the development of a high intensity exercise class for people with neurological conditions. Third-year student, Kyle Ratner, presented his work with Dr Ahmed. Other alumni seen presenting their clinical research were Chase Chavez (UFDPT2021) and Laura Patrick (UFDPT2011). Alumni also represented the state in the Assembly as representatives, committee members and assembly officers.

Fall Food Drive

UFDPT Community Health students held a Fall Festival Food Drive to collect non-perishable foods and household essentials. The response was larger than anticipated!  The items were divided and packaged for residents of Gainesville Housing Authority neighborhoods.Kudos to students for spreading kindness and thanks this holiday season.

Stop the Spread—Because Sharing Isn’t Always Caring

As future PTs, understanding how to prevent the spread of infection is essential. Here, the Class of 2028 learns how to use PPE for protecting patients and providers.  They are building habits to keep everyone healthy!

EAC Featured by PHHP

Our student run Equal Access Clinic was recently featured with an impressive write-up by the College of Public Health and Health Professions and the University of Florida News. The article features input from faculty and students and how their work fulfills an important need in the community.

Advocacy Days

Eight students from the class of 2028 attended the Florida Physical Therapy Association Advocacy Days in Tallahassee, FL on November 3-4, 2025. These first-year students were 'bitten by the advocacy bug' after learning about healthcare-related legislation impacting physical therapy in Florida during Professional Issues 1 this past fall. Advocacy Days provides a unique opportunity for licensed physical therapists, physical therapist assistants, and students to meet with legislators. The focus of FPTA’s 2026 legislative agenda includes expansion of direct access to physical therapy services in Florida. 

The students in attendance were:

Inbal Amit, Madison Barrett, James Jeter, Alex Lombardo, Ansley Miranda, Ysabella Muniz, Josh Rubio, Kim Nguyen

Fall 2025 Scholarships

Congratulations to our fall 2025 Scholarship Recipients!

Madison Barrett
Joan Wynne Mathews Scholarship

Avery Carrick
Goldstein Family Memorial Fellowship

Bradley Cooper
Barbara and Michael Connolly Scholarship

Brooke Volpi
Miller and Toni Couse Physical Therapy Fellowship

Race for Rehab 5K Run and Walk

UFDPT students will host the annual Race for Rehab 5K run and walk on Saturday, January 24th. This year's race will have an 80's and 90's theme so bring our your leg warmers, neon, and mullets! The race will begin at 8am at garage 14 on the UF campus.  
It's going to be totally awesome!

Mark your calendars for the 21st Annual NMPT Symposium - March 12 & 13, 2026!

New Faculty Welcome

We are excited to welcome Stacy Campbell, PT, DPT., MPH, a clinical assistant professor and director of clinical education to UFDPT! Dr. Campbell is an experienced physical therapist and academic leader with more than 20 years in clinical and educational settings. She previously served as the program director of the physical therapy assistant program at Rasmussen University and as an adjunct UF faculty member assisting in the laboratory component of Therapeutic Exercise II and facilitating Putting Families First student sessions. She has also served as a clinical instructor at the UF PT Equal Access Clinic and as a student mentor for Children on the Go. In her new role as director of clinical education, she will plan, coordinate, facilitate, administer, and monitor the clinical education component of the Doctor of Physical Therapy program.

APTA Honors and Awards

UFDPT was well represented at the APTA leadership meeting in July 2025 by current faculty Mark Bishop and Gina Musolino and alumni Christine Davidson, Melissa Lazinski, Kevin MacPherson, and Megan Harper participated as Florida delegates in the APTA House of Delegates. Meryl Alappattu also served at House on the Reference Committee providing delegates with sage advice about the motions being discussed by representatives from around the country. Gina Musolino finished the leadership meeting with a trip to capitol hill to advocate for physical therapists everywhere with members of the legislature.

UFDPT also had a standout showing at the Honors and Awards ceremony claiming 14% of available award categories. Fed Pozzi was named Eugene Michels New Investigator, which acknowledges outstanding new investigators who have demonstrated a commitment to research relevant to physical therapy. He split the award with RSD2014 grad and UFDPT TA, Rogelio Coronado, PT, PhD, FAAOMPT. Kim Dunleavy’s contributions to the APTA were found of exceptional value and impact and recognized with a Lucy Blair Service award, and Shane Matthew (UFDPT2023) was named the Outstanding Physical Therapist Resident for 2025. Jennifer Stevens-Lapsley, PT, PhD, FAPTA, while not a UFDPT or RSD student, completed her post-doctoral fellowship in our department, won two awards – Lucy Blair Service Award and the Rothstein Golden Pen Award.