Is a Doctor of Physical Therapy Degree Worth It? If you’re dreaming about helping patients restore their mobility and quality of life, and you’re exploring what it would take to become a physical therapist, you may be wondering, “Is a degree in physical therapy worth it?” The answer to this question depends, of course, on your personal career goals. Some people choose to become physical therapist assistants because only a two-year associate degree is required. It’s true that pursuing a doctorate takes time and effort; however, there are countless advantages to earning a Doctor of Physical Therapy degree. To that end, let’s look at some of the factors that make a Doctor in Physical Therapy (DPT) degree the best first step on an exceptional career Read more
Amy Kennedy, MS, OTD, OTR/L is a Doctoral Coordinator and Assistant Professor at the University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences (USAHS) on the San Marcos, CA campus, where she teaches in the residential program for occupational therapy. She has been an occupational therapist for more than 20 years.
She graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Biology in 1998 from Augustana College in Illinois and a Master of Science in Occupational Therapy in 1999 from Washington University in St. Louis. In 2015, she graduated from A.T. Still University with her Doctor of Occupational Therapy, with an emphasis on prevention and population health.
Dr. Kennedy’s clinical experience includes working across the continuum of care and across the lifespan focusing on occupational performance in neurological populations such as stroke, traumatic and acquired brain injury, Parkinson disease and dementia. In addition, Dr. Kennedy has experience in clinical management as a director of rehab in skilled nursing.
She has served in academia as contributing faculty and an assistant professor since 2011 at the master’s and doctoral levels. Her research and scholarship interests include educational methodology for development of critical thinking skills, healthcare outcome measurement tools and prevention of intimate partner violence. She joined USAHS in 2019.
