Assistant Professor Nicole Dawson of the Doctor of Physical Therapy Program received the Margaret L. Moore Award for Outstanding New Academic Faculty Member from the American Physical Therapy Association on June 28 at the APTA’s national conference in Orlando.
The prestigious recognition is bestowed upon a physical therapist or individual who demonstrates distinct expertise and knowledge through scholarly activities, teaching excellence and commitment to the physical therapy profession. Fewer than 30 individuals out of the association’s more than 45,000 members have been chosen for this honor since its inception in 1990.
Dawson’s professional interests lie in the field of geriatric physical therapy, and she was recognized in 2017 by the Academy of Geriatric Physical Therapy with its Distinguished Educator Award. She is extremely active in physical therapy research as evidenced by her multiple peer-reviewed publications in different geriatric-related journals and more than 39 state and national publications.
Dawson also serves as an active member on several APTA section and chapter committees and groups, and she was recently elected as the founding chair of the Florida Physical Therapy Associations’ Geriatric Special Interest Group.
“Nicki is a lifelong educator, not just for physical therapy students, but for physical therapy professionals as well,” said Morris Beato, clinical assistant professor at UCF. “She is most deserving of this award for her work not just in educating physical therapy students but as well as current therapy professionals, future physical therapy specialists, patients, older adults and other health care professionals in the different roles of a physical therapist as movement specialist.”
