Physical therapy program earns full accreditation

Monday, January 6, 2020 4:31 PM

Health Sciences, Physical Therapy

Dr. Cynthia Scott of the physical therapy program with WCU President Dr. Tommy King

William Carey University’s physical therapy program has received full accreditation from the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE).

The three-year, doctoral program includes classroom instruction, hands-on practice of techniques and clinical rotations at healthcare organizations that provide physical therapy services to patients. As with other doctoral degree programs in healthcare-related fields, accrediting agencies do not consider granting full accreditation until a program’s inaugural class has graduated.

WCU’s inaugural physical therapy class graduated in August. CAPTE awarded the program full accreditation in November.

WCU President Dr. Tommy King congratulated the Physical Therapy Department’s director, Dr. Cynthia Scott, and her staff.

“We didn’t just wake up one morning and decide to have a physical therapy program. It took five years of planning, recruiting, reports and site visits to bring us to this day. I thank our talented and dedicated faculty and students for their hard work,” King said.

Dr. Scott said John 1:16 could easily be the motto of her program: “For from his fullness, we have all received grace upon grace.”

“I have felt the gracious hand of our heavenly father from the moment Dr. King and I began to discuss a physical therapy program for William Carey University. As I met Dr. Judy Prehn and we sat in a makeshift office wondering where to begin. As we hired our first faculty members, as we set policy, as we planned curriculum, navigated accreditation standards, and selected our first class,” Scott said.

“Grace has marked this program in so many ways. Just to mention a few, the generosity of the administration and the board of trustees as we navigated uncharted territory. The miracle of acquiring the talented and experienced faculty and staff members who lead the program. The benefits of an advisory committee who were active in guiding the program and providing advice and insight. The grace extended by faculty members and students to each other.”

For more about WCU's doctoral program in physical therapy, call (601) 318-6584 or visit www.emcarey.edu/physical-therapy.

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