PT welcomes largest class ever

The Department of Physical Therapy was pleased to welcome 52 new students to the Doctor of Physical Therapy Program (DPT) in fall 2009­an increase from fewer than 37 students in past years. In anticipation of the larger class, the department renovated a wing of the College of Medicine East Tower. When classes started at the end of August, students were welcomed by a new spaces, including a lecture theatre, a large practical lab, a seminar room and changing rooms.

The increase was driven by the demand for physical therapists. According to the Administration on Aging, the population of Americans age 65 or older will increase from 35 million in 2000 to 40 million in 2010, and then to 55 million in 2020. Consequently, the number of people with a disability requiring physical therapy services is on the rise. The demand for physical therapy services has already led to a shortage of therapists in the workforce. A recent survey conducted by the UIC College of Applied Health Sciences found that 10 percent of available posts for physical therapist cannot be filled in the Chicago area.