University of Pittsburgh Physical Therapy

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University of Pittsburgh Physical Therapy

The official page of the University of Pittsburgh Department of Physical Therapy

This page serves as a resource for alumni, students, prospective students and physical therapists to stay current with physical therapy evidence and everything Pittsburgh!

12/21/2025

𝗗𝗿. 𝗞𝗶𝗺 𝗡𝗶𝘅𝗼𝗻-𝗖𝗮𝘃𝗲 contributed to the development and authorship of key chapters in ACAPT’s newly released Blueprint for Excellence: Essentials for a Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) Program. A resources to support excellence in DPT education and program development. Her work supported the creation of two important sections:

🔵 Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging
🟡Curricular Design and Delivery in Contemporary Doctor of Physical Therapy Education

In addition, Dr. Nixon-Cave is currently serving her second term as Director on the APTA Board of Directors. We are honored to have her leadership and expertise representing our program at the national level.

12/21/2025

𝐃𝐫. 𝐏𝐚𝐦𝐞𝐥𝐚 𝐃𝐮𝐧𝐥𝐚𝐩, 𝐃𝐫. 𝐏𝐚𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐤 𝐒𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐨, 𝐃𝐫. 𝐁𝐫𝐨𝐨𝐤𝐞 𝐊𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐭, and 𝐃𝐫. 𝐒𝐮𝐬𝐚𝐧 𝐖𝐡𝐢𝐭𝐧𝐞𝐲 collaborated with Fai Alradady et al on the study, “Perceived Sense of Direction in Persons with Dizziness and Balance Disorders,” recently published in the Journal of Vestibular Research: Equilibrium & Orientation.

Their work sheds light on how dizziness and balance disorders affect spatial orientation—an important step toward improving assessment and rehabilitation.

Learn more ⤵
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41165189/

12/20/2025

📢 𝗕𝗶𝗴 𝗡𝗲𝘄𝘀 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗣𝗶𝘁𝘁! An interdisciplinary team (including PT Interim Chair, 𝗗𝗿. 𝗦𝗮𝗿𝗮 𝗣𝗶𝘃𝗮, and PT faculty, 𝗗𝗿. 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗣𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗼𝗻) have just been awarded a nearly $20 million NIH grant to continue groundbreaking research into chronic low back pain — the world’s leading cause of disability affecting ~619 million people globally.

This five-year award will deepen our understanding of how biological, biomechanical, and behavioral factors influence pain and help tailor personalized, non-opioid treatments that truly work. 🧠💪 From clinicians to engineers and data scientists, Pitt’s collaborative team is pushing the boundaries of pain research with the goal of matching the right treatment to the right patient at the right time.

💡 This is a huge win for science, patient care, and efforts to reduce reliance on opioids, especially here in Pennsylvania.

Read more 👉 https://www.health.pitt.edu/news/interdisciplinary-pitt-team-awarded-20m-grant-continue-low-back-pain-research

12/19/2025

𝐏𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐒𝐩𝐨𝐭𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭!
A new study by Sara Peterson et al, “Feasibility and Preliminary Efficacy of Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation in a Pilot Randomized Control Trial in Individuals with Transtibial Amputations,” was recently published in the American Journal of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation.

We’re proud to share that Pitt PT Interim Chair 𝐃𝐫. 𝐒𝐚𝐫𝐚 𝐏𝐢𝐯𝐚 contributed to this important research exploring innovative rehabilitation strategies for individuals with transtibial amputations.

Check out the abstract ➡ https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41082674/

12/19/2025

We are proud to share that two graduates of our DPT program, 𝑴𝒂𝒓𝒊𝒂 𝑬𝒍𝒆𝒏𝒂 𝑳𝒖𝒏𝒂 𝑬𝒔𝒑𝒊𝒏𝒐𝒛𝒂, 𝑷𝑻, 𝑫𝑷𝑻 (Class of 2024) - Texas and 𝑪𝒂𝒓𝒐𝒍𝒊𝒏𝒂 𝑴𝒂𝒓𝒓𝒆𝒓𝒐 𝑹𝒐𝒅𝒓𝒊𝒈𝒖𝒆𝒛, 𝑷𝑻, 𝑫𝑷𝑻 (Class of 2023) - Pennsylvania, were selected and participated in the APTA Association Leadership Scholars Program 2025. This yearlong initiative is designed to cultivate emerging leaders within the profession by supporting APTA members as they prepare to guide the association toward its vision for the future. We are proud of our graduates and look forward to their future leadership and to their representing .

12/18/2025

𝐃𝐫. 𝐒𝐮𝐞 𝐖𝐡𝐢𝐭𝐧𝐞𝐲 delivered a one-hour presentation at the 100th Anniversary Meeting of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) in Washington, DC. This milestone event brought together leaders across communication sciences, and we are proud to see Dr. Whitney representing at such a significant national gathering.

12/17/2025

From your home workspace to hands-on confidence. 💻➡️👐

In Pitt’s 𝐇𝐲𝐛𝐫𝐢𝐝 𝐃𝐏𝐓, you build the foundation online, sharpen skills at home, and bring it to life during 𝒊𝒎𝒎𝒆𝒓𝒔𝒊𝒗𝒆 𝒐𝒏-𝒄𝒂𝒎𝒑𝒖𝒔 𝒍𝒂𝒃𝒔 with faculty and your cohort. Flexible learning. Real connection. Clinical readiness.

𝑹𝒆𝒂𝒅𝒚 𝒕𝒐 𝒔𝒆𝒆 𝒚𝒐𝒖𝒓𝒔𝒆𝒍𝒇 𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒆?
✅ Confirm your seat.
📩 Reach out with questions (ptinfo@shrs.pitt.edu).

12/16/2025

𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗵 𝗦𝗽𝗼𝘁𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁!
Pitt PT’s 𝗗𝗿. 𝗝𝗮𝗺𝗲𝘀 𝗜𝗿𝗿𝗴𝗮𝗻𝗴 collaborated with Ting Cong et al on the newly published study, “Risk Profile for Cyclops Syndrome Necessitating Reoperation After Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction.”

Featured in the American Journal of Sports Medicine, this important work provides new insight into postoperative risks following ACL reconstruction.

Check out the abstract ➡ https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41105526/

12/15/2025

Shout out to 𝑫𝒓. 𝑺𝒉𝒊𝒍𝒑𝒂 𝑮𝒂𝒊𝒌𝒘𝒂𝒅 who was recently invited by KLE College of Physiotherapy at KLE Academy of Higher Education & Research (KAHER) in Hubballi, Karnataka, India to deliver a webinar on Physiotherapy Management of Motion Sickness and Vestibular Rehabilitation. Fourth-year Bachelor of Physiotherapy students and faculty attended the session, which was very well received.

The Karnataka Lingayat Education Society (KLE Society), founded in 1916, oversees more than 300 institutions in education and health care and serves over 138,000 students with the support of 18,000 faculty and staff.

Special thanks were extended by the organizers to their Leadership Team and the Department of Neuro Physiotherapy for coordinating the event:
Dr. Prashant Mukkannavar, Dr. Veena Bembalagi, Dr. Manjiri Kulkarni, and moderator Dr. Shivani Patil.

Congratulations, Dr. Gaikwad! 🎉🎉🎉

12/15/2025

𝗡𝗲𝘄 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗵 𝗔𝗹𝗲𝗿𝘁!
Pitt PT’s 𝗗𝗿. 𝗝𝗮𝗻𝗲𝘁 𝗙𝗿𝗲𝗯𝘂𝗿𝗴𝗲𝗿 is first author on recently published, “Disparities in Community-Based Rehabilitation Following Stroke: Findings From the COMPASS Trial” in the Journal of the American Heart Association. She collaborated with Graduate Student Researcher, 𝗕𝗲𝘁𝗵 𝗠𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗲𝗿, Clinical Research Coordinator, 𝗞𝗿𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗻 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗲𝗹 and others.

Their work sheds light on critical gaps in post-stroke rehabilitation access and outcomes—an important step toward improving care for all stroke survivors.

Read the abstract ⤵
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41085177/

12/14/2025

🎉 Congratulations 🎉 to all of our Doctor of Physical Therapy students that graduated today!

12/13/2025

𝑻𝒊𝒔 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒔𝒆𝒂𝒔𝒐𝒏 𝒐𝒇 𝒈𝒊𝒗𝒊𝒏𝒈 🎄🎁❄️
This student-led initiative supports the future of physical therapy, with every dollar raised directly benefiting Pitt PT students and the communities they serve. Your donations will help fund student-led outreach programs, professional development opportunities, and community wellness events.

Any contribution—big or small—are greatly appreciated and will help them reach their goal!

Donate and share this post with family and friends! ⤵
https://give.pitt.edu/step-up-for-pitt-pt-class-of-2026/?a=1&utm_source=ig&utm_medium=social&utm_content=link_in_bio&fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQMMjU2MjgxMDQwNTU4AAGn453mH9rJoX21s2odwXTh9FbkB--zJMd_WjErdlf1rpd6qO_trc1nbt6IHdg_aem_E3NS85E8I7ImON9XDbqjbA

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Bridgeside Point 1, 100 Technology Drive, Suite 210
Pittsburgh, PA
15219

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+14123836630

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http://www.shrs.pitt.edu/PT/

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