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UNT Health Fort Worth welcomed its inaugural cohort of students to a groundbreaking hybrid Doctor of Physical Therapy program last week, marking a pivotal moment for the university and for physical therapy education in Texas.

The ribbon-cutting ceremony, held in the Interdisciplinary Research and Education Building, drew students, faculty and staff to celebrate the launch of the state’s second hybrid DPT program at a public institution. UNT Health Interim President Dr. Kirk Calhoun, College of Health Professions Dean Glenn Forister, PhD and Department of Physical Therapy Chair Michael Furtado, DPT, EdD, addressed the crowd, heralding the program as a bold step toward meeting Texas’ growing health care needs.

“This is not just the opening of doors, but the beginning of futures reshaped, lives empowered and a community strengthened through education,” Furtado said. “With the launch of this innovative hybrid physical therapy program, we’re not only expanding access; we’re advancing how, where and for whom this profession is taught, learned and lived.”

The hybrid DPT program, approved by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education in December, blends online coursework with immersive in-person training. Students will spend six weeks in synchronous and asynchronous online learning before traveling to campus for seven to 10 days of hands-on instruction. The 33-month curriculum mirrors UNT Health’s traditional DPT program, ensuring graduates are clinically prepared, professionally grounded and committed to evidence-based care.

UNT Health expects the hybrid format to produce outcomes comparable to its residential program, which has graduated nearly 600 physical therapists over the past 12 years and boasts a 100% employment rate for its alumni.

Designed to address Texas’ critical shortage of physical therapists, the program opens doors to a broader and more diverse pool of students, including those from rural and underrepresented communities. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Texas employs about 17,170 physical therapists, but current demand exceeds supply by more than 1,000 practitioners. Employment in the field is projected to grow 15% nationwide by 2032, driven by an aging population and rising rates of chronic conditions.

“This truly innovative pathway will not only fill an important shortage in the North Texas health care workforce, but it also solidifies UNT Health as a leader and innovator in health care education,” Forister said. “We are so proud of and thankful for everyone who contributed to making this dream a reality.”

The initiative also positions UNT Health as the first UNT System institution to offer academic programming across campuses. Hybrid DPT students will complete on-campus sessions at either UNT Health in Fort Worth or UNT Frisco—an expansion reflecting the university’s commitment to collaboration and academic excellence across the system.

Nationally, physical therapy education faces a dual challenge: faculty shortages and limitations in clinical training capacity. Accreditation standards require that at least half of a program’s faculty hold academic doctorates, even as clinical sites struggle to accommodate increasing numbers of students due to practitioner shortages.

UNT Health’s hybrid model—with its blend of online and face-to-face learning—seeks to mitigate these constraints while expanding access. The program’s low student-faculty ratio, interdisciplinary approach and broad clinical network—spanning local, national and international sites—aim to give graduates a well-rounded education for a fast-growing, rewarding profession.

For the 30 students in the inaugural cohort, last week’s event signified more than a ceremonial launch. It marked the beginning of a rigorous journey designed to prepare them for a career in a field that continues to evolve.

“We cannot wait to see all the lives that will be impacted by this program,” Furtado said.

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