Congratulations to the Academy of Education Award Winners

Congratulations to the Academy of Education Award Winners!

President’s Award:

Diane U. Jette, PT, DSc, FAPTA

Pauline Cerasoli Lecturer for 2026: 

R. Scott Ward, PT, PhD, FAPTA

Award for Leadership in Education: 

Barbara Sanders, PT, PhD, FAPTA

Adopt-a-Doc Recipients:

Lindsey Kojich, PT, DPT, Board-Certified Clinical specialist in

Orthopaedic Physical Therapy

Kylie Eilders Scott, PT, DPT, EdD, OCS

Rudie Spigarelli, PT, DPT, PhD candidate

Stanford Award Winner:

Matthew Nuciforo, PT, DPT, PhD

Feitelberg Founder’s Award Winner: 

Brianna Chesser, PT, MPT, EdD

Distinguished Educator in Physical Therapist Education: 

Rebecca Edgworth Ditwiler, PT, DPT, PhD

Distinguished Educator in Physical Therapist Assistant Education: 

Justin Berry, PT, DPT, PhD

Distinguished Mentor in Residency/Fellowship Education: 

Ryan Vickers, PT, DPT, OCS, FAAOMPT

Outstanding Site Coordinator for Clinical Education: 

Richard S. Haybarger, PT, DPT

Outstanding Clinical Instructor: 

Ujjwal Shakya, DPT, DMT, SCS, FNCP

Academy Bestows Grants

The Academy of Education is pleased to announce its     2025 research grant award recipients.

Heather Knight, PT, DPT

Creighton University for her research, “Implementation of a Clinical Reasoning Blueprint for Physical Therapy Educators Through a Professional Development Series Grounded in a Knowledge Translation Framework: A Multisite Study.”

Denise Romano, MPS, PT, EdD, CHSE, CSCS

Binghamton University, for her research, “Development of a Competency-Based Assessment Data Dashboard for Physical Therapist Education: B-Competent.”

Mary Derrick-Manis, PT, DPT, PhD, OCS, FAAOMPT

University of Utah, for her research, “Analysis of Learning Environment and Outcomes in Multiple Instructional Models of DPT Education.