Historically Black Winston-Salem State University in North Carolina has partnered with Novant Health to create the first physical therapy residence program based at a HBCU. The new 12-month program will focus on neurologic care, which is physical therapy treatment for patients who have movement problems due to problems with the nervous system. Currently, only four neurological physical therapy residency programs exist in North Carolina, and there are less than 50 in the United States.
Participants in the new residency program will work alongside neurologic care mentors at Novant facilities in Winston-Salem. They will also take courses and give guest lectures to students in WSSU’s department of physical therapy. Additionally, they will be required to develop a health equity solution to improve patient care in the program’s free community clinics. After completing the residency, participants will be able to take the Neurologic Certified Specialist examination.
“This unique physical therapy neurologic residency program combines the stellar academic resources of Winston-Salem State University with the clinical expertise of Novant Health,” said Peggy Valentine, dean of the School of Health Sciences at the university. “We are thrilled to offer this new program, which will help raise the level of patient care in the Piedmont Triad and also continue WSSU’s focus of addressing health equity to improve the care in the communities around the university.”
Dr. Valentine holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Howard University in Washington, D.C. She earned an educational doctorate at Virginia Tech.
