Foundation awards $187,500 for DOCS Scholarships and Fellowship. (Scholarships, Fellowships, and Grants).

The Foundation for Physical Therapy Board of Trustees awarded $187,500 toward 14 scholarships and 1 fellowship through the 2002 Doctoral Opportunities for Clinicians and Scholars (DOCS) program.

"The Foundation for Physical Therapy is proud and excited to honor and support this year's fellowship and scholarship recipients," Foundation President Jayne L Snyder, PT, MA, said. "The generosity of Foundation supporters will assist these physical therapists as they pursue research in physical therapy."

Kathy Shipp, PT, MHS, PhD, Duke University Medical Center, is the recipient of the 2002 New Investigator Fellowship Training Initiative (NIFTI) fellowship. Dr Shipp's research investigates the question, "Does using a four-wheeled walker, and moving the body so the back does not bend or twist, help reduce pain and help the person return to normal daily activities after an older person with fragile bones has a back fracture?" NIFTI finances postdoctoral research for physical therapists who have completed their doctoral education within the past 5 years. The amount of the fellowship is $30,000.

The Promotion of Doctoral Studies scholarships (PODS I and PODS II) support physical therapists who have completed 1 full year of doctoral coursework and wish to continue or physical therapists who have entered the postcandidacy phase of postprofessional doctoral studies.

The $7,500 PODS I scholarships were awarded to selected physical therapists who have completed at least 2 full semesters or 3 full quarters of their coursework toward a doctorate. Recipients of the 2002 PODS I scholarships are:

Jennifer Braswell, PT, MS
University of Miami

Tiffany Frimel, PT,
University of Florida

Mark Garrison, PT, MS
Marquette University

Jill Heathcock, PT, MPT
University of Delaware

Michele Lobo, PT, MPT
University of Delaware

Jeanne Lojovich, PT
University of Minnesota

Ryan Mizner, PT, MPT
University of Delaware

In addition to receiving the PODS I scholarship, Braswell is also the recipient of the Patricia 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. The APTA Neurology Section generously sponsors this scholarship.

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

The $15,000 PODS II scholarships are awarded to physical therapists who are formally admitted to doctoral candidacy. The 2002 recipients of the PODS II scholarships are:

Valerie Kelly, PT
Washington University-St Louis

Laura Frey Law, PT
University of Iowa

Michael Lewek, PT
University of Delaware

Susanne Morton, PT
Washington University-St Louis

Dorian Rose, PT, MS
University of Southern California

Samuel Ward, PT
University of Southern California

Glenn Williams, PT, SCS
University of Delaware

In addition to receiving the PODS II scholarship, Ms Rose is also the recipient of the Marylou Barnes scholarship, available to physical therapists to finance postprofessional doctoral studies in neurology. The recipient is selected from current applicants who are awarded a PODS II scholarship. The APTA Neurology Section generously sponsors this scholarship.

The DOCS program is open to full-time or part-time students. Applications and guidelines for the 2003 DOCS program will be available in June and are due by January 15, 2003. Please contact the Foundation for an application.