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Portland

Physical Therapy student selected to be part of a national leadership scholars program

Head shot photo of PT student Eric Norman
Physical therapy student Eric Norman

Eric Norman (D.P.T., ’22) has been chosen to be part of the American Physical Therapy Association’s (APTA) Centennial Scholars Program.

APTA is a national professional organization representing more than 100,000 physical therapists, physical therapist assistants, and students of physical therapy.

Norman will be part of a 12-month program designed to build a cadre of future association leaders to support APTA’s quest for a diverse and prepared leadership pool.

“The idea behind the program is for the scholars to complete capstone projects that will help drive the profession forward for the next 100 years,” Norman explained. “Along with completing the projects, each scholar will have conference calls every month on leadership development. We will meet with our mentors to discuss how we can develop better as leaders, while also gaining advice on completing our capstone projects.”

One hundred physical therapists, physical therapist assistants, and students will take part in the program. Norman was nominated for the program by members of UNE’s Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) program.

“There were only 100 spots available for this position, yet there are more than 30,000 DPT and PTA students along with thousands of other professionals within the APTA,” Norman stated. “When you put it in that scope, it makes me feel very grateful that I was nominated by the UNE DPT program.

My time in the program has given me so many opportunities to network and improve myself as a professional.”

Norman’s mentor will be Pamela Levangie, D.P.T., president of the Academy of Education within APTA. This September the scholars will be meeting in Washington D.C. for a conference during APTA’s Centennial Gala.

“I hope the experience I gain from this program will give me a better understanding of leadership and assist me and my future coworkers in providing better care to our future patients,” Norman said.

About the University of New England

The University of New England is Maine’s largest independent university, with two beautiful coastal campuses in Maine, a one-of-a-kind study abroad campus in Tangier, Morocco, and an array of flexible, accredited online degrees. In an uncommonly welcoming and supportive community, we offer hands-on learning, empowering students to make a positive impact in a world full of challenges. The state’s top provider of health professionals, we are home to Maine’s only medical college, Maine’s only dental college, a variety of other interprofessionally aligned health care degree programs, as well as nationally recognized programs for marine science degrees, natural and social sciences degrees, arts and humanities degrees, and business degrees.