SoPT Faculty Completes National Fellowship in Higher Education Leadership

Chad Jackson, PT, DPT, EdD, associate professor and Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) program director at the UIW School of Physical Therapy, completed the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) Fellowship in Higher Education Leadership.  To qualify for the fellowship, applicants must be APTA members who are licensed, registered, certified or licensure-eligible in the United States. They must also be aspiring or current leaders in a physical therapist, physical therapist assistant, or residency/fellowship education program. Jackson has been an active APTA member since 1998, when he was a DPT student.

“I was proud to represent UIW in this program,” said Jackson. “The UIW DPT faculty and I strive for our program to be a leader in physical therapy (PT) education. Developing career-long relationships and collaborations allows UIW to be represented and seen as a respected program that desires to move the profession forward.”

The year-long program aims to provide participants with the skills and resources needed to be an innovative and influential leader in higher education. Through the program, Jackson and his fellowship colleagues completed nine online modules and implemented a personal leadership plan. The program culminated with an institution-based leadership project. He also participated in virtual mentorship sessions and ongoing mentorship with physical therapy program directors and higher education leaders.

“Through this program, I gained a greater respect of the boundaries of one’s knowledge and abilities and the need to develop relationships throughout one’s institution and beyond,” added Jackson. “As a program director, we won’t always have the best answers, but we have the tools to lead with wisdom.”