ACAPT’s Awards & Recognition Committee has three unique awards for physical therapist educators: Emerging Educator Award, Innovation Award, and Friend of PT Award. These awards celebrate individuals who embody academic excellence and have made significant, lasting contributions to the advancement of the profession.
Congratulations to the 2026 ACAPT Award winners!
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Emerging Educator Award
Emily J. Hawkins, PT, DPT, Ph.D.; Clinical Assistant Professor and Director of Clinical Education, Old Dominion University
Dr. Emily J. Hawkins, PT, DPT, Ph.D. is a standout early-career educator who has quickly become a leading voice in physical therapy education. Since joining the faculty, she has built a robust professional profile centered on preparing students to be adaptive, reflective, and socially responsive clinicians. Her accomplishments include:
National Leadership in Social Determinants of Health (SDOH): Dr. Hawkins served as the Vice-Chair for the ACAPT Task Force to Develop a Systems Approach to Social Determinants of Health in Physical Therapy Curriculum. In this role, she managed multiple teams to create foundational educational resources, including a glossary and annotated bibliography, to support the integration of SDOH content into DPT programs nationwide
Innovative Teaching and Remediation: She is recognized for her creative instructional design, such as using the film Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story to help students connect with the lived experience of disability.
Scholarly Impact: Dr. Hawkins has distinguished herself as an educator-scholar, co-authoring several chapters for the textbook Psychosocial Aspects of Rehabilitation: Enhancing Outcomes Through Compassionate Practice.
Sustained Professional Service: She demonstrates a deep commitment to service, currently serving as the President of APTA Virginia. Additionally, as Treasurer for the Mid-Atlantic Consortium of Physical Therapy Clinical Education (MAC), she recently spearheaded a comprehensive governance overhaul to ensure the organization's long-term operational clarity and sustainability.
Dr. Hawkins is a "forward-thinking" leader who meets the high demands of her roles with "enthusiasm and grace," making her an ideal recipient and a model for the future of the profession.
Friend of PT Award
Samantha Mundell, M.Ed.; Manager, Academic Support Services for the Division of Physical Therapy, University of Central Florida
Samantha Mundell, M.Ed. is a dedicated leader who has spent over 16 years advancing physical therapy education. Often described as "the glue that holds the program together," she has become an indispensable asset through her visionary leadership in admissions and her unwavering commitment to student success.
Her key accomplishments include:
Admissions Leadership and Diversity: As the chair of the DPT admissions committee, Samantha manages the entire recruitment and selection process for hundreds of applicants annually. She is a champion for holistic admissions, continuously collecting and presenting data to ensure the program admits a diverse student body capable of successful completion.
National Scholarly Impact: Despite being administrative staff rather than faculty, Samantha is exceptionally active in scholarly research. She has delivered six peer-reviewed national presentations over the last decade at major conferences like the Educational Leadership Conference (ELC) and the Combined Sections Meeting (CSM), focusing on improving the effectiveness and equity of admissions practices.
Holistic Student Support: Recognizing that students face challenges beyond academics, Samantha developed a five-module integrated orientation program. This "Lunch & Learn" series provides critical support on topics such as financial literacy, study strategies, mental health, and professionalism, strategically timed to align with when students are most likely to encounter these hurdles.
Clinical Education Excellence: She serves as a vital link between the program and its 400+ clinical partners, ensuring seamless onboarding and communication for student internships.
By tirelessly working to remove barriers to student success and sharing her evidence-based innovations with the broader academic community, she has made a profound impact on the future of the physical therapy profession. Samantha embodies the spirit of this award through her collaborative leadership and her relentless pursuit of excellence in the academic enterprise.
Innovation Award
Jed Droge, PT, DPT, OCS, ATC, CSCS; Assistant Professor, Department of Physical Therapy, University of South Dakota
Dr. Jed Droge is a visionary educator whose clinical background and passion for innovation have transformed physical therapy education. Since joining the faculty in 2022, he has distinguished himself by leveraging technology and collaboration to enhance student learning and departmental culture. His key accomplishments include:
Pioneering AI in Education: Dr. Droge leads the integration of AI into the curriculum. He developed a generative AI-powered virtual patient that allows students to practice clinical interview skills and identify "red flags" in a safe, interactive environment.
Technological Innovation: He has modernized the classroom by securing grants for Smart Boards and Apple TVs, allowing for real-time video analysis of gait and goniometry.
Interprofessional Service-Learning: Dr. Droge spearheaded a recurring service-learning initiative at a local farm show, where PT, OT, and medical students collaborate to provide vascular risk screenings. This work on Ankle-Brachial Index (ABI) screening resulted in multiple peer-reviewed publications and an instructional video used by clinicians worldwide.
Revitalizing Traditional Courses: He completely rebuilt the program's modalities course—traditionally viewed as routine—into a student favorite by creating interactive lab manuals and standardized "knowledge check" cards focused on clinical decision-making.
His commitment to students is reflected in his exemplary course evaluations, which consistently place him in the top 10% of instructors. Ultimately, Dr. Droge embodies the spirit of this award because he views innovation not as a goal in itself, but as a vital tool to prepare the next generation of physical therapists for excellence in clinical practice.