Program History

The Army-Baylor University Doctoral Fellowship in Orthopaedic Manual Physical Therapy began as a residency program in July 1995. Army Physical Therapy leadership recognized the need for specialized manual therapy training tailored to the unique operational demands, environments, and resources encountered by military physical therapists.

Under the leadership of Dr. Gail Deyle, COL (Ret), and with support from the Commander of Brooke Army Medical Center (BAMC) and the leadership at the U.S. Army Medical Center of Excellence (formerly the Army Medical Department Center and School), a program was developed emphasizing evidence-based interventions over high-volume care models. From its inception, the program featured a rigorous and diversified curriculum that included one-on-one mentorship, focused tutorials, intensive clinical practice, and opportunities for teaching and scholarly presentation.

The inaugural cohort consisted of three active-duty Army physical therapists, selected through a competitive board process and graduated in December 1996. The program was among the first to complete formal recognition by the American Academy of Orthopaedic Manual Physical Therapists (AAOMPT) in 1997 and achieved credentialing by the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) in 1999.

In December 2000, the program graduated its first joint-service class, which included one officer each from the Army, Navy, Air Force, and U.S. Public Health Service. A milestone was reached on May 5, 2001, when the Baylor University Board of Regents unanimously approved the conferral of the Doctor of Science in Physical Therapy (DScPT) degree to qualified program graduates.

The program transitioned from residency to clinical fellowship status and was re-accredited by the APTA in 2004, 2009, and 2015. Most recently, in March 2020, the program was accredited by the Accreditation Council on Orthopaedic Manual Physical Therapy Education (ACOMPTE) as a fellowship program. Its name was updated to reflect its standing as both a credentialed clinical fellowship and a doctoral-level educational program.