Foundation awards $180,000 in doctoral scholarships.

The Foundation for Physical Therapy Board of Trustees announced that it has awarded 15 Promotion of Doctoral Studies (PODS) scholarships totaling $180,000 as part of the 2004 Doctoral Opportunities for Clinicians and Scholars (DOCS) program. "The Foundation for Physical Therapy is honored to support this year's scholarship recipients," Foundation President Nancy T White, PT, MS, OCS, said. "The generosity of Foundation supporters will assist these physical therapists as they pursue research careers to advance our profession."

PODS I scholarships of $7,500 each are awarded to physical therapists who have completed at least 2 full semesters or 3 full quarters of their coursework toward a doctorate. Recipients of the 2004 PODS I scholarships are:

Sam Gombatto, PT, MS, Washington University in St Louis

Minna Hung, PT, MS, Washington University in St Louis

Wendy J Hurd, PT, MS, University of Delaware 

Donovan J Lott, PT, MS, Washington University in St Louis

Richard B Souza, PT, MPT, University of Southern California 

John D Willson, PT, MSPT, University of Delaware

Gombatto also is the recipient of the Barnes Leahy Scholarship, available to physical therapists to fund postprofessional doctoral studies in neurology. The recipient is selected from current applicants who are awarded a PODS I scholarship. This scholarship is generously funded by the Neurology Section Endowment Fund.

PODS II scholarships are for physical therapists who have been formally admitted to doctoral candidacy. The 2004 recipients of $15,000 PODS II scholarships are:

Almas Dossa PT, MSPT, MPH, CCS, Brandeis University

Mark Kevin Garrison, PT, MS, Marquette University

Jill C Heathcock, PT, MPT, University of Delaware

Allison S Hyngstrom, PT, MS, Northwestern University

Michele A Lobo, PT, MPT, University of Delaware

Laura C Schmitt, PT, MPT, University of Delaware

Laura E Thorp, PT, MPT, Rush University

Vicki M Tysseling-Mattiace, PT, MPT, Northwestern University

Joanne M Wagner, PT, MS, ATC, Washington University in St Louis

Hyngstrom also is the recipient of the Viva J Erickson Scholarship, available to physical therapists to fund postprofessional doctoral studies to prepare for academic leadership of physical therapist education programs. The recipient is selected from current applicants who are awarded a PODS I or PODS II scholarship.

The DOCS program is open to fulltime or part-time students. Guidelines and applications for the PODS scholarships for 2005 will be available on the Foundation's Web site in Fall 2004 and are due by January 15, 2005.