Welcome!
I am delighted to join the Indiana University Department of Physical Therapy as Chair at such an exciting time in the department's development. I will use this space to highlight for our website visitors the reasons that I chose to join this department.
The Department of Physical Therapy, housed in a School of Health & Rehabilitation Sciences within a research-intensive academic health science campus, is in a unique position to meet the goals of the Physical Therapy profession. As doctoring professionals, Physical Therapists need to be prepared to use evidence to base their clinical decisions in order to be critical thinkers and provide optimal care for patients and clients.
The IUPUI campus fosters collaborations among practitioners and scientists representing internationally recognized areas of expertise. The department is able to capitalize on relationships with colleagues on the IUPUI campus and in the greater Indianapolis area to collaborate on clinical and research endeavors that will continue to enrich the department's students and faculty.
The Indiana University Department of Physical Therapy will graduate its first class with a Doctorate in Physical Therapy at the end of this academic year. This is the first year that all three classes of students are enrolled in the doctoral degree program. Students come to us with outstanding preparation and a history of academic success. They are bright and energetic and embody the characteristics of a caring, doctoring professional that will help them succeed as practicing Physical Therapists.
New faculty members with exceptional post-doctoral experiences have joined the department. They are prepared to establish new research labs to contribute to the science of Physical Therapy. Students will benefit from experiences with ongoing research and the department will benefit from increased recognition of our research programs.
The new faculty members join long-term faculty who are dedicated to the department and the profession. They are experts in their areas of practice and excel at educating new generations of Physical Therapists.
As these new developments are unfolding for the department, we are at historic levels of generous giving from alumni and friends. This represents the fact that the department is successfully growing and continuing to provide excellent education of Physical Therapists. The demonstrated commitment and support of alumni and friends reinforces to me the strengths of the Indiana University Department of Physical Therapy.
I invite visitors to explore our department's website to see for themselves why I am excited to have joined the team.
Lisa Riolo, PhD, PT, NCS
Department Chair and Professor
Coleman Hall 326B
1140 W. Michigan St.
Indianapolis, IN 46202-5119
Phone: 317.278.1875
lriolo@iupui.edu