Program Overview

New Transitional Doctorate of Physical Therapy Program

The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio is offering a new Transitional Doctorate of Physical Therapy degree program.

Program Overview

Physical therapists seeking to update their credentials to the nationally recommended Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) degree can earn the degree through this program. The American Physical Therapy Association published its Vision 2020 statement in 2000, setting a new goal for the profession that the entry-level degree should be a doctorate in physical therapy. Currently, more than 90 percent of physical therapy programs in the U.S. are offering the DPT degree.

Program Leadership

The program will be led by Catherine Ortega, Ed.D., PT, ATC, OCS, chair of the Department of Physical Therapy. According to Dr. Ortega, the goal of the Vision 2020 statement was to make the entry-level degree a doctorate in physical therapy, and now most physical therapy programs in the U.S. are offering the DPT degree.

Program Context

The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, also called UT Health San Antonio, is a leading academic health center with a mission to make lives better through excellence in advanced academics, life-saving research, and comprehensive clinical care including health, dental, and cancer services.