The University of Rochester is developing a Doctor of Physical Therapy program as part of a broader expansion of its health sciences education and research offerings. 

The program, which is being developed by the newly renamed University of Rochester School of Nursing & Health Sciences, is pursuing accreditation from the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education.  

The school anticipates accepting applications in summer 2027, with the first cohort, expected to begin in summer 2028 and will accommodate up to 50 students.  

The proposed 2½-year, full-time, in-person physical therapy program would prepare students in an environment that connects education, research and clinical care. Students will have opportunities to gain clinical experience in areas including cardiopulmonary care, oncology, pediatrics and orthopedics.   

The physical therapy program is part of a broader expansion of the school’s academic portfolio into high-demand health professions. 

The University of Rochester Board of Trustees approved the planned program along with a new name for the School of Nursing, positioning the school to expand beyond its traditional nursing focus while maintaining its nursing programs and mission. 

“The future of health depends on leaders who can connect what they learn, what they discover and how care is delivered,” said Lisa Kitko, dean of the School of Nursing & Health Sciences and vice president of the University of Rochester Medical Center. “The health sciences expand what we can accomplish, together.”  

Kitko said workforce demand, community needs and student interest were among the factors behind the decision to broaden the school’s offerings. 

The program also is designed around the increasingly collaborative nature of health care, in which patients and families may receive care across hospitals, outpatient clinics, rehabilitation facilities, homes and community settings. 

Kitko said the school plans to incorporate interdisciplinary opportunities where possible, bringing students from different health professions together as part of their education. 

“That only makes the learning experience better and results in better practitioners,” she said. 

The School of Nursing & Health Sciences already has an interdisciplinary foundation through its PhD in Nursing & Health Science program, she added, which for more than two decades has brought together scholars from varied academic backgrounds to conduct cross-disciplinary research and address complex health care challenges. 

The new physical therapy program builds on that approach while expanding the school’s reach into another area of health care with significant workforce demand. 

The university has already hired faculty for the program, including its inaugural director, and is recruiting nationally for additional faculty positions. 

The expansion also will require additional physical space for the School of Nursing & Health Sciences. Details of that expansion are still being finalized, Kitko said. 

The developing physical therapy program is not the only new offering planned by the school. A Doctor of Nursing Practice in Nurse Anesthesia program is slated to begin in summer 2027. 

The expanded identity also provides a framework for future academic programs and research initiatives, she said.  

Sarah Mangelsdorf, URochester president, noted that the university has a long tradition of bringing education, research and clinical care together in ways that improve lives. 

“This new name recognizes the school’s extraordinary leadership in nursing while positioning it to grow thoughtfully across the health sciences,” she said.  

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