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
Dr. Matthew Daugherty is an associate professor in the Department of Physical Therapy and a former program administrator. He has been a licensed, practicing physical and occupational therapist since 2007.
He received his Manual Therapy Certification in 2009 and completed his American Academy of Orthopaedic Manual Physical Therapists (AAOMPT) fellowship in 2010. In 2012, he became an Orthopaedic Certified Specialist through the American Board of Physical Therapy Specialties (ABPTS). He is an active member of the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA), the Florida Physical Therapy Association (FPTA), the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy, the AAOMPT, and the ABPTS Specialization Academy of Content Experts (SACE). He has served as a state delegate for the APTA, the district chair of the FPTA, and is part of the APTA’s Grassroots Advocacy Network.
Dr. Daugherty has presented his research at the both AAOMPT and AOTA national conferences, the APTA Combined Sections Meeting, and FPTA conferences. He has published in both the physical therapy and business realms and is also the author of numerous book chapters. He completed his Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) at Walden University in 2018.
