ATLANTA – Mercer University Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) Class of 2022 graduate Dr. Michelle Dennis was named a recipient of this year’s American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) Minority Scholarship Award

The Minority Scholarship Award recognizes physical therapy students in their final year of an accredited program.

As part of her application, Dr. Dennis wrote, “Exploring movement equity from within the profession and within communities is personal and humbling as I am impacting the lives of people who have historically been underserved, the people who look like my family, neighbors and loved ones. My future work will explore health equity models and how movement equity could be a more visible and distinct pillar of health initiatives to positively change community health statuses.”

Dr. Dennis was notified of the award on May 11 in a letter from APTA President Roger Herr, PT, MPA, who congratulated her and invited her to be recognized at a ceremony and reception on Aug. 14 in Washington, D.C., during APTA’s Leadership Congress.

“This scholarship is especially fitting for Dr. Dennis. She was a driving force in diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives in Mercer’s Doctor of Physical Therapy Program and in the Georgia chapter of APTA, was recognized as an APTA Centennial Scholar, engaged in community service at Good Samaritan Health Center in downtown Atlanta and conducted research on physical therapy deserts in an underserved community,” said Dr. Jeannette Anderson, chair of the Department of Physical Therapy. “We are proud of her work and this recognition of her many important contributions. I’m confident that her future efforts will improve the health of local communities.”

Founded in 1921, APTA is a U.S-based individual membership professional organization representing more than 100,000 member physical therapists, physical therapist assistants and students of physical therapy.

About the College of Health Professions

Mercer University’s College of Health Professions is composed of six disciplines: physical therapy, physician assistant studies, public health, clinical psychology, athletic training, and kinesiology. The College offers a doctoral-level physical therapy program; master’s-level physician assistant program; bachelor’s-, master’s-, and doctoral-level public health programs, doctoral-level program in clinical psychology, master’s-level athletic training program, and bachelor’s-level kinesiology program. The Department of Physical Therapy also offers residencies in orthopaedic, neurologic and cardiovascular/pulmonary physical therapy; a fellowship in orthopaedic manual physical therapy; and an onsite clinic. Each program is housed in a department that provides students with comprehensive didactic courses taught by an extraordinary faculty and extensive clinical experience enhanced by outstanding service-learning opportunities. For more information, visit chp.mercer.edu.