News and Events

The Division of Physical Therapy congratulates Jessica Santucci, DPT, and Peter Sprague, PT, DPT, for their outstanding contributions to education, mentorship and student success. Each faculty member continues to make a meaningful impact through their dedication to teaching, innovation and practice to prepare future physical therapists.

Santucci was honored for her innovative leadership and expanding role within anatomy education, including the development of a new interprofessional anatomy curriculum that will bring together MD, PA and DPT students. Sprague was celebrated for his excellence in teaching within the Doctor of Physical Therapy program, where he is consistently recognized by students and colleagues for his outstanding instruction and mentorship. Both faculty members were recognized at the 2026 Educator Appreciation Day.

Emory’s World Health Organization Collaborating Center for Rehabilitation (USA-478) celebrates its third year of advancing global collaboration to support countries in prioritizing rehabilitation within national health systems. Through a strong international partnership, center director and DPT faculty member Sara Pullen, DPT, MPH, CHES, and coordinator Gina Bell, MPH, DHSc, co-authored Rehabilitation for the First Level of Care with Canada’s WHO Collaborating Centre for Rehabilitation and Musculoskeletal Health (CAN-124). This collaborative guidebook reflects a shared commitment to strengthening rehabilitation capacity in low- and middle-income countries by equipping providers with practical strategies to deliver and prioritize essential equipment and assistive products using simple, low-cost solutions.

Grounded in the World Health Organization Package of Interventions for Rehabilitation (PIR), these jointly developed resources identify the equipment needed to address the most pressing rehabilitation needs across the Americas. By aligning global expertise with regional priorities, the guidebook provides ministries, health planners and advocacy and nongovernmental organizations with actionable tools to inform planning, budgeting and integration of rehabilitation services at the first level of care - demonstrating the powerful impact of collaboration on advancing accessible, equitable health systems.

Last week, the Carlos welcomed 60 Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) students to the museum as a part of their orientation. 

In a program led by museum educators and Sarah Blanton, professor in the Division of Physical Therapy, Emory School of Medicine, and Editor-in-Chief, Journal Humanities in Rehabilitation Medicine, students participated in activities that took place in the permanent collection galleries and special exhibition Compassion: What Moves You?, which served an an introduction to the inclusion of humanities in healthcare, which can foster better relationships with colleagues and future patients. Since this was part of their orientation, the activities also encouraged team building and an opportunity to get to know one another!  

One of only two museum-physical therapy collaborations nationally, the Emory DPT program and Carlos collaboration helps support an arts and humanities course thread that will be part of the DPT program’s current curricular transformation.  

Quotes from Friday's participants: 

• I think this is a fantastic addition to DPT orientation! It brings us into a completely different setting while we are still getting to know each other, which can make it easier in a way for others to open up.
• Expanding my thinking will provide me with better context as a provider.
• It's important to critically think and reflect on observations. It's also valuable to listen to my peers because they can bring another perspective to light, which can support my own ideas or contradict and force me to see a different angle of something.

Sarah Blanton has been named an Allied Health Professional of the Year by the Atlanta Business Chronicle. She was honored for her work in transformative patient care as a physical therapist. Blanton has been a leader in rehabilitation medicine and patient care for over 30 years and is also the founding editor of the Journal of Humanities in Rehabilitation that demonstrates the value of the humanities throughout health professions.