Applications open for third Auburn physical therapy cohort

“This is an exciting time for our physical therapy program,” said Harsimran Baweja, director of physical therapy. “When these new students join us next summer, we will be training nearly 100 future physical therapists who will be exceptionally qualified to serve the population of Alabama and beyond.”

Those wanting to apply should go to the School of Kinesiology’s Physical Therapy website and click the prospective students button. All information about application requirements, including prerequisites, recommendation letters, personal statements, clinical observation hours and more, is available on the website, along with a video that walks applicants through the process. Application help sessions will be held online July 9, Aug. 19 and Sept. 10, and in person in the Kinesiology Building Aug. 18 and Sept. 9. Information on attending those sessions is available online.

This summer, students in the first physical therapy cohort are completing clinical rotations throughout Alabama, as well as in Georgia and Florida. Clinical rotations serve as their official entry into the profession after a year of learning in the classroom, and the students marked the milestone with a White Coat Ceremony in June.

Beginning in August, the physical therapy program will welcome two new faculty members: Alia Alghwiri as an associate professor and Akla Bishnoi as an assistant professor.

“We are looking forward to welcoming Drs. Alghwiri and Bishnoi to our program,” Baweja said. “They will bring unique experiences and perspectives to our students, and they are not only qualified for these roles, but they are aligned with our vision to create a gold standard in physical therapy education. We are assembling a faculty team who care deeply about reaching, scholarship and doing right by students.”