Message from the Outgoing Chair

Dear Readers, 

As always, I hope this message finds you and your loved ones in good health and high spirits. As I reflect on my time as Chair of the NYU Physical Therapy Department, I am filled with gratitude. It has been a privilege to serve alongside such committed and outstanding faculty, staff, students, alumni, and clinical partners. Each of you has contributed to making this department a place of excellence, innovation, and community, and for that, I am deeply thankful.

Over the years, we have achieved remarkable milestones together. Whether in the classroom, clinic, or research lab, our collective efforts have advanced the profession while staying true to our commitment to students and the patients they will one day serve. Through it all, what has inspired me most is the unwavering passion and resilience of this community—especially in the face of challenges that have tested us all. 

Each success we have celebrated together is not just a statistic, but a testament to the resilience, collaboration, and heart of the people within this department. Together, we have:

• Advanced our curriculum to align with the highest standards of excellence in physical therapy education
• Expanded our research footprint, securing funding and producing work that shapes the future of the profession
• Completed the process with the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE) in 2002, 2012, and 2023, which reflects our unwavering commitment to academic rigor and professional excellence.

We also honor the invaluable legacy of our retired faculty, whose groundbreaking contributions have shaped our department and the field as a whole. This includes revered educators and leaders like Arthur J. Nelson, Eileen Nathanson, Andrew McDonough, Ann Goerdt, and Tsega Mehreteab. Their tireless work and commitment to excellence remain the cornerstone of our program.

As I step down from my role as Chair, I am filled with immense pride in what we have built together and I am confident in the department's future. Entrusting the leadership of the department to Dr. Smita Rao is both an honor and a source of great fulfillment. Smita’s expertise, vision, and warmth will not only strengthen our program, but also enrich the lives of the students, faculty, and community she serves. Smita brings not only deep expertise and vision, but also a genuine warmth and collaborative spirit. I know she will lead the department with care, creativity, and dedication, and that she will continue to nurture the strong community we have built together.

The strength of this community assures me that the next chapter will bring even greater opportunities for growth and impact. It has been one of the greatest honors of my professional life to serve as Chair, and I carry forward memories of this journey with deep appreciation and joy.

Warm regards,

Wen K. Ling, PT, PhD
Associate Professor