Faculty Development Scholarship Award

The Dimensions of Diversity Fund would allow for scholarship awards to faculty with identities and experiences representing diverse populations, in addition to those of racial or ethnic minority groups. The scholarship is awarded to qualified faculty pursuing a post-professional doctoral degree.

Scholarship recipients receive an award of $5,000 to be applied to the program’s tuition.

Submission requirements for the Dimensions of Diversity Faculty Development Scholarship Award include:

1. A personal essay outlining professional goals, along with plans to contribute to the profession and minority services. The essay must include a response to the four questions listed in the application.

2. Curriculum vitae to include but not be limited to: education and honors; continuing education courses; licensure and certification; employment (and titles of positions held); consultative and advisory activities; membership in scientific, professional, and honorary societies (and positions held); minority community activities/services; scientific and professional presentations; presentations at continuing education seminars/workshops; publications; published abstracts; grant activities; and other pertinent information.

3. A completed application form.

4. Three completed reference forms (forms provided in application document):

• • Reference Form 1: completed by the PT program director.
  • Reference Form 2: completed by the Doctoral Faculty Advisor of the Dissertation Committee.
  • Reference Form 3: completed by a resource who can verify contributions to the minority community.

5. Plan of study for attaining the graduate degree, signed by the applicant’s faculty advisor. When appropriate, include dates of the comprehensive examination; admission to candidacy; approval of overview of research project; and defense of thesis, dissertation, or equivalent requirement (form provided in application document).

Eligibility Criteria

Nominees for this award must:

1. The applicant must be a U.S. citizen or legal permanent resident and identify at least two of the following criteria:

• • Be a first-generation college student.
  • Be a member of an underrepresented or marginalized group (including, but not limited, to underrepresented racial populations, women, LGBTQIA+ low-income, and individuals with disabilities).
  • Have overcome personal, social and/or physical obstacles pursuing an education and/or be from a living environment or academic setting that may have hindered educational pursuits.
  • Have demonstrated a commitment to diversity and inclusion, and/or leadership in working with underrepresented groups, through employment, community service, or other involvement.

2. The applicant must be a physical therapist or physical therapist assistant, who at the time the award is presented must complete all requirements (e.g., coursework, dissertation, capstone, etc.) for the degree within three years of the award. If the awardee does not meet this requirement, the amount of the scholarship award must be repaid.

3. The degree must be conferred after Jan. 1, 2024.

4. The candidate must possess a license to practice physical therapy in a U.S. jurisdiction or have met all the requirements for licensure in a U.S. jurisdiction.

5. The applicant must demonstrate continuous progress toward the completion of his or her post-professional doctoral program in a timely fashion.

6. The applicant must demonstrate commitment to community services and activities.

7. The applicant must demonstrate a commitment to further the physical therapy profession through teaching and research.

Criteria for Selection

• Demonstrated evidence of contributions to an underserved community or the physical therapy profession and services
• Academic excellence.
• Dedication and service to the profession and association.

A strong application should demonstrate the following:

• Honors and awards received.
• Demonstrated leadership (association, professional, or other, including offices held, etc.).
• Mentoring.
• Commitment to excellence in education, physical therapy research, and scholarly activities (e.g., publications, presentations).
• Contributions to underserved populations.
• Any additional activities related to professional or community service.
• Essay that demonstrates self-reflection, passion, ability to organize thoughts, and authenticity.
• Letters of support that are positive, cite specific examples of professional accomplishments, and provide additional information on depth, scope, and quality in a convincing manner.

PT Student and PTA Student Awards

This is an annual award offered to physical therapist students and physical therapist assistant students belonging to a minoritized and marginalized group by the Physical Therapy Fund, a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization supported by the American Physical Therapy Association. 

Student nominees must complete all degree requirements (clinical and didactic) and/or be eligible to graduate between Sept. 1, 2023 and Dec. 31, 2024. 

Eligibility Requirements

1. The applicant must be a U.S. citizen or legal permanent resident and meet at least two of the following criteria:

• • Be a first-generation college student.
  • Be a member of an underrepresented or marginalized group (including, but not limited to, underrepresented racial populations, women, LGBTQIA+, low-income, and individuals with disabilities).
  • Have overcome personal, social and/or physical obstacles pursuing an education and/or be from a living environment or academic setting that may have hindered educational pursuits.
  • Have demonstrated a commitment to diversity and inclusion, and/or leadership in working with underrepresented groups, through employment, community service, or other involvement.

2. In the year this award is to be given (2024), the student must be enrolled in the second or final academic year of an accredited or developing professional physical therapist education program. The student must complete all degree requirements (clinical and didactic) and/or be eligible to graduate between Sept. 1, 2023, and Dec. 31, 2024.

3. The student must show evidence of contributions and services in the areas of diversity, equity, and inclusion, and high scholastic achievement.

4. The student must possess potential for superior achievements in the profession of physical therapy, as well as professional excellence as a physical therapist.

Criteria for Selection

• Demonstrated evidence of contributions to an underserved community or the physical therapy profession and services, with an emphasis on contributions made while enrolled in the physical therapy education program.
• Potential to contribute to the profession of physical therapy as demonstrated by: honors and awards; past and present physical therapy related activities; demonstrated leadership (e.g., offices held); clarity of written communication and ability to articulate realistic goals and plans; clinical performance; critical thinking abilities; and community service.
• Scholastic achievement and community engagement.

A strong application should demonstrate the following:

Honors and awards received:

• Academic honors, awards, scholarships, societies, etc.
• Nonacademic honors, awards, scholarships, societies, etc.

Community service:

• Volunteer community service not required by program.
• Volunteer community service required by program.
• Professional service activities (APTA activities, meetings, committees, etc.).
• Other service activities (e.g., within university).

Presentations and publications.

Volunteer non-PT activities.

Past and present activities not identified elsewhere.

Strong student essay.

Strong GPA.

Letters of support that are positive, cite specific examples of professional accomplishments, and provide additional information on depth, scope, and quality in a convincing manner.

Submission requirements for the Dimensions of Diversity Scholarship Award for Student Physical Therapists and Student Physical Therapist Assistants:

1. A completed application

2. A personal essay no longer than 600 words outlining professional goals and minority service (beyond what is required by the academic program). Essay should be uploaded and attached to the nomination upon submission.

The essay must include a response to the following three questions:

• Why are your contributions to underrepresented and underserved populations important?
• How have your activities and contributions impacted the communities you serve?
• How have your experiences and contributions impacted you personally?

3. Three completed reference forms

• • Reference Form 1: completed by the physical therapy program resource.
  • Reference Form 2: completed by a physical therapist clinician.
  • Reference Form 3: completed by a community activities’ referral.

4. One unofficial transcript in PDF format detailing all physical therapy coursework completed to date to accompany the original application materials. If the applicant’s transcript is not based on a grading scale of 1-4, a written explanation of that scale’s equivalence to a 1-4 grading scale must be provided.

What Recipients Receive

Awards will be awarded based on the following:

• Each Faculty Development Scholarship awardee will receive an award and a monetary award of $5,000.
• Each student physical therapist awardee will receive an award and a monetary award of $5,000.
• Each student physical therapist assistant awardee will receive an award and a monetary award of $3,000.

Awards will be presented by APTA's Board of Directors at an APTA national event with monetary awards mailed prior to the event. An official announcement will appear in an association publication.

Submit a Nomination

The nominations call for the Honors and Awards program is open Sept. 1- Dec. 1. Nominations must be submitted through our online portal by Dec. 1; late submissions will not be considered. Selected recipients and their nominators will be notified in May.

Additional Resources

For questions regarding the nomination process or the award, please contact honorsandawards@apta.org.