Sept. 18, 2025 — Leaders from the University of Memphis cut the ribbon for the newly renovated J.R. Hyde Hall on the Lambuth Campus, which will soon house the University’s new Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) program.
“The ribbon-cutting ceremony marks a historic milestone for the DPT program, reflecting continued growth in enrollment and healthcare education on the Lambuth Campus,” said DPT Program Director Dr. Jacque Bradford. “This program is designed to address the critical need for physical therapists in the Jackson community and across rural West Tennessee.”
The UofM’s DPT program complements West Tennessee’s only other physical therapy program at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center in Memphis, providing an additional access point for students in the Memphis and Jackson areas. Aspiring physical therapy students in the Mid-South can continue their educational journey without having to leave West Tennessee, thanks to articulation agreements given to qualifying students from UofM, LeMoyne Owen College, Lane College and Union University.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau and the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Tennessee ranks among the lowest in the nation for the number of physical therapists per 100,000 residents, just 59. Only Texas (56), Oklahoma (55) and Alabama (52) rank lower. The UofM’s DPT program helps address this shortage by creating a pathway for students in underserved and rural areas to enter the profession.
Bradford notes that the program has already surpassed their target number of applications. The inaugural class, which is expected to begin in fall 2026, is capped at 40 students.
In May, the University received $1.6 million from the Tennessee Higher Education Commission (THEC) to expand access to education and career opportunities. Part of that funding supports efforts to introduce West Tennessee high school students to physical therapy careers through internships, dual enrollment and certification programs.
The University of Memphis is seeking accreditation of a new physical therapist education program from the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE). The program plans to apply for Candidacy in November 2025. Submission of this document does not ensure 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 ensure that the program will be granted accreditation.
Media Contact:
Parker King, Assistant Director
University Media and Public Relations
University of Memphis
tpking1@memphis.edu
(O) 901.678.4822
