Clinical Associate Professor Laurie Neely has been appointed as the new chair of UCF’s top-ranked Division of Physical Therapy (DPT).
Neely, a board-certified neurological physical therapist, has more than a decade of clinical experience in the acute care setting and has served with the program since 2018, most recently as the assistant program director and director of clinical education for the School of Kinesiology and Rehabilitation Sciences. As the assistant program director, she led the program through reaccreditation by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE). She also serves as the Dean’s Fellow for Interprofessional Education.
“Division Chair Neely is a strong leader whose dedication to excellence in clinical education, interprofessional collaboration and student success has already left a lasting mark,” said Matthew Theriot, dean of the College of Health Professions and Sciences. “Her deep experience and innovative spirit make her well-positioned to lead our nationally recognized program into its next chapter.”
Before joining UCF, Neely served as an adjunct faculty member at Old Dominion University and as the director of clinical education at the University of Maryland School of Medicine’s Department of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Science. Her research interests focus on interprofessional education and collaborative patient care, contemporary issues in professional and clinical education, and management of medically complex patients.
“Division Chair Neely’s exceptional leadership in clinical education, interprofessional collaboration, and student mentorship has already made a profound impact on our program,” says School of Kinesiology and Rehabilitation Sciences Director Jeff Stout. “Her expertise and vision will undoubtedly propel our nationally recognized DPT program to new heights, benefiting our students, faculty, and the broader community.”
In 2024, Neely was initiated into the National Academies of Practice as a Distinguished Scholar Fellow for her excellence and dedication in furthering interprofessional practice, scholarship and policy.
Neely has been involved locally, nationally, and internationally with interprofessional education and clinical education directives. She played a key role on an interprofessional team of UCF faculty who received a grant from the U.S. Health Resources and Services Administration to create an evidence-based virtual curriculum that aims to reduce burnout among healthcare professionals and students.
In 2022, she was awarded the Katherine Harris Educator Award by the American Physical Therapy Association’s Academy of Acute Care Physical Therapy, a national recognition for demonstrating excellence in acute care physical therapy education.
Neely has served on the Examination Development Committee for the National Physical Therapy Examination at the Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy where she was inducted into their Academy of Advanced Item Writers. She previously represented the southeast region on American Council of Academic Physical Therapy’s (ACAPT) Advocacy Committee and is now an appointed member of ACAPT’s Education Research Committee.
“Having served as a director of clinical education for over 10 years, I am very excited about this new opportunity,” said Neely. “It will allow me to continue my commitment to excellence in physical therapy education through mentorship, research, collaboration and leadership.”
The DPT program launched its first doctoral cohort in 2010 and has advanced with each new year. During the 2023-2024 school year, the program’s first-time National Physical Therapy Examination (NPTE) pass rate was 97.4% and the overall NPTE pass rate was 100%. More than three dozen DPT students graduate each year, and the graduating class of 2024 had a 100% employment rate.
“The students in the DPT program are truly exceptional and the faculty and staff are committed to excellence and advancing our profession,” said Neely. “I look forward to working with them to continue to elevate the program, educate the next generation of physical therapists, and serve the Central Florida community.”
Neely succeeds Professor Bill Hanney who served as the division chair for the past three years. Neely’s appointment is effective on Aug. 8.
