Funding for the CU Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) hybrid program, which is a collaboration between UCCS and CU Anschutz, was included in a federal funding package and approved by the senate and signed by the president last week.

The funding package includes $374,000 for essential equipment for the DPT program thanks to Senators Bennet and Hickenlooper. Both Senators assured us they will continue to champion Colorado projects for funding.

Senator Bennet requested the new bill also include funding for the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Museum to expand resiliency training in Colorado schools. This extra funding for the Colorado Springs community will benefit the university’s partnership with the museum and the Lyda Hill Institute for Human Resilience led by campus partner Chip Benight.

Hybrid Physical Therapy Program Director Daniel Malone shared, “This funding will support quality learning experiences for our incoming cohort of hybrid students. This funding will be used to purchase clinical and educational equipment that supports evidenced based practice allowing these future physical therapists to provide quality care similar to our college partners downstairs in the Common Spirit Sports Medicine training space and clinic within the Hybl Sports Medicine and Performance Center.”

Associate Dean and Professor Michael Harris-Love commented, ”The new bill further supports the decision of UCCS and CU Anschutz to establish our unique intercampus educational partnership. The majority of the incoming hybrid students are residents of Colorado, so we anticipate that our graduates will help to meet the physical therapy needs of southern Colorado and other regions within the state.”

Health Sciences Department Chair Jackie Berning said, “This additional funding will help students succeed in our new hybrid DPT Program; giving students the ability to work with professional physical therapy equipment. For students working with the new professional equipment, they gain research experience and practice their physical therapy skills.” She continued, “We will have state-of the-art equipment in the new Hybl Sports Medicine and Performance Center for our growing healthcare degree programs.”

“The healthcare workforce needs physical therapists,” added Dean and Professor Kevin Laudner. “Many professionals are retiring from their careers in healthcare workforce, while at the same time, our growing population continues to age. We need healthcare services, like physical therapy, to meet the needs of our growing communities.”

The University of Colorado Physical Therapy Program recently moved from 13 to 11 on the 2024 U.S. News & World Report list of “Best Physical Therapy Programs,” which includes data from 245 programs.

About Helen and Arthur E. Johnson Beth-El College of Nursing and Health Sciences

The Helen and Arthur E. Johnson Beth-El College of Nursing and Health Sciences has trained and educated the region’s health professionals and human performance professionals for over 118 years, and in 2022, celebrated 25 years with the University of Colorado Colorado Springs (UCCS). At Johnson Beth-El, students are trained to meet the needs of a rapidly changing health care landscape by providing transformative, high-quality, and compassionate care.

The Helen and Arthur E. Johnson Beth-El College of Nursing and Health Sciences has trained and educated the region’s health professionals and human performance professionals for over 120 years, and in 2022, celebrated 25 years with the University of Colorado Colorado Springs (UCCS). Students are trained to meet the needs of a rapidly changing health care landscape by providing transformative, high-quality, and compassionate care.

About University of Colorado School of Medicine

The University of Colorado School of Medicine offers comprehensive, lifelong, interdisciplinary learning for health care professionals. With state-of-the art laboratories for discovery and innovation, a commitment to decreasing health disparities and increasing health equity, and faculty who provide world-class clinical care at Children’s Hospital Colorado and UCHealth University of Colorado Hospital, the CU School of Medicine is transforming the health care landscape. Learn more at medschool.cuanschutz.edu.