Congresswoman Foxx tours Department of Physical Therapy
U.S. Rep. Virginia Foxx got a first-hand look at Winston-Salem State University’s (WSSU) Department of Physical Therapy, one of the signature programs of the School of Health Sciences, during a tour on Wednesday, Aug. 29.
During the visit, Foxx, chairwoman of the House Committee on Education and the Workforce, met with faculty and students in the F.L. Atkins Building and saw patient demonstrations. She also traveled nearby to the Community Care Center of Forsyth County to meet with faculty and students who work in the physical therapy clinic.
Each year, Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) students and faculty provide more than $100,000 in free PT services at the Community Care Center, the largest free clinic in North Carolina.
The meeting was at the request of DPT students Sam Lucier, Stefan Jones and Jonathan McHone, who met with Foxx earlier this year at her office in Washington, D.C.
During the visit, Foxx talked about her experience with physical therapists and discussed the importance of quality health care in the region.
“We are honored to have Congresswoman Foxx visit the School of Health Sciences, said Dr. Peggy Valentine, dean of SOHS. “This was a great opportunity for her to see up close the impact our faculty and students are having here in the communities around the university.”
WSSU has one of only seven DPT programs located at a historically Black college or university (HBCU). The program ranks in the top 15 nationally for value, according to the website Fitbux.
For the past two years, WSSU DPT graduates have had a 100 percent pass rate on their required licensure exams.
The U.S. Department of Labor forecasts a 26 percent growth in PTs over the next decade (2016-26), well above the national average, and a median salary of $86,850.
WSSU Department of Physical Therapy Firsts
- 2010: First doctoral program at WSSU.
- 2015: First early assurance program at an HBCU. The program allows WSSU undergraduates who meet criteria to enter the DPT program with one semester remaining in their undergraduate education.
- 2017: First North Carolina-based university to offer a transitional Doctor of Physical Therapy (tDPT) program marketed to international students.
Foxx’s 5th District spans 11 counties in Northwest North Carolina, including Winston-Salem.
WSSU’s School of Health Sciences is an ethnically diverse school that embraces health equity in education, research and service. Signature programs include clinical doctoral degrees in nursing and physical therapy, a master's in occupational therapy, and a bridge to the Ph.D. in nursing with Duke University.
About Winston-Salem State University
Winston-Salem State University fosters the creative thinking, analytical problem-solving, and depth of character needed to transform the world. Rooted in liberal education, WSSU’s curriculum prepares students to be thought leaders who have the skills and knowledge needed to develop innovative solutions to complex problems. Founded in 1892, WSSU is a historically Black constituent institution of the University of North Carolina with a rich tradition of contributing to the social, cultural, intellectual, and economic growth of North Carolina, the region and beyond. Guided by the motto, “Enter to Learn, Depart to Serve,” WSSU develops leaders who advance social justice by serving the world with compassion and commitment.
