HARRISBURG, PA — In May, faculty members from the Harrisburg University of Science and Technology (HU) Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT)* program represented HU at the 2025 World Physiotherapy Congress in Tokyo, Japan. Organized by World Physiotherapy, a global organization representing over 600,000 physical therapists worldwide, the biennial congress brings together clinicians, educators, and researchers from more than 100 countries to explore advancements in physical therapy practice, education, and policy.
HU’s Dr. Tonya Miller, PT, DPT, Ph.D., Associate Professor Academic and Program Lead Doctor of Physical Therapy, and Dr. Francois Prizinski, PT, DPT, OCS, Assistant Professor of Physical Therapy, were the faculty members in attendance. To learn more about the research they presented at the World Physiotherapy Congress, continue reading.
Dr. Francois Prizinski and Dr. Tonya Miller presented their research poster, The Impact of Relationship Building Through a Structured Coaching Program for Mentors and Mentees within a DPT Post-Professional Residency Program. This poster was based on a recent publication by Dr. Prizinski and Dr. Miller. They continue to build on this work as they evaluate key competencies of physical therapists.
Dr. Tonya Miller presented A Global Perspective on Providing Physiotherapy Care for People Experiencing Homelessness. Dr. Miller co-presented this topic with an international panel of researchers: Joanna Dawes (United Kingdom), Julie Broderick (Ireland), and Salony Raskar (India). In this presentation, they addressed the variations of global homelessness and access to physiotherapy, and the role of physical activity and health promotions in addressing the needs of individuals experiencing homelessness.
Dr. Tonya Miller also presented an e-poster entitled, EMPOWER: Educating Movement and Physical Activity Opportunities for Women Experiencing Residency Insecurity. This research stems from a student-led project in which Dr. Miller collaborated with two area shelters (Shalom House and Bethesda Mission) to provide a health promotion project focused on empowering women through physical activity.
“It was great to catch up with friends of Harrisburg University’s DPT program, and wonderful to run into past American Physical Therapy Association President, Roger Herr, and APTA Director Kelley Kubota!” – Dr. Miller
Through their presentations, Dr. Miller and Dr. Prizinski contributed meaningful research to international discussions in physical therapy. Their involvement highlights the growing research footprint of Harrisburg University’s Doctor of Physical Therapy program. Harrisburg University proudly recognizes Dr. Miller and Dr. Prizinski for their outstanding contributions and representation on the world stage!
ABOUT HARRISBURG UNIVERSITY
Harrisburg University was recently recognized by US News & World Report as one of the nation’s most innovative colleges. HU is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education and is a private, nonprofit university offering bachelor’s and graduate degree programs in science, technology, engineering, mathematics, nursing, and other health science fields. For additional information about HU’s affordable, demand-driven undergraduate and graduate programs, please call 717.901.5146 or email Connect@HarrisburgU.edu. Stay updated by following Harrisburg University on LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, and X (Twitter).
MEDIA CONTACT
Do you have questions about this story? Interested in lining up an interview? Please reach out to Dan Wilhelm, Communications Manager for Harrisburg University of Science and Technology, with all media inquiries.
* Graduation from a physical therapist education program accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education, 3030 Potomac Ave., Suite 100, Alexandria, Virginia 22305-3085; phone; 703-706-3245; accreditation@apta.org is necessary for eligibility to sit for the licensure examination, which is required in all states. Candidacy is considered to be an accredited status, as such the credits and degree earned from a program with Candidacy status are considered, by CAPTE, to be from an accredited program. Therefore, students in the charter (first) class should be eligible to take the licensure exam even if CAPTE withholds accreditation at the end of the candidacy period. That said, it is up to each state licensing agency, not CAPTE, to determine who is eligible for licensure. Information on licensing requirements should be directed to the Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy (FSBPT; www.fsbpt.org) or specific state boards (a list of state boards and contact information is available on FSBPT’s website. Harrisburg University is seeking accreditation of a new physical therapist education program from CAPTE. The program is planning to submit an Application for Candidacy, which is the formal application required in the pre-accreditation stage, on May 1, 2025. Submission of this document does not assure that the program will be granted Candidate for Accreditation status. Achievement of Candidate for Accreditation status is required prior to implementation of the professional phase of the program; therefore, no students may be enrolled in professional courses until Candidate for Accreditation status has been achieved. Further, though achievement of Candidate for Accreditation status signifies satisfactory progress toward accreditation, it does not assure that the program will be granted accreditation. CAPTE accreditation site visit Summer 2028; inaugural cohort graduation December 2028; first licensure examination date available to graduates January 2029; and CAPTE accreditation decision expected in Fall 2028.
# # #
