One Vision, Many Paths: Advancing the Culture of Scholarly Inquiry Across Physical Therapy Education will introduce the inclusive, aspirational vision statement developed by ACAPT’s Institute for Scholarly Inquiry (ISI) to improve research culture within physical therapy programs. Attendees will learn how this vision was crafted through collaborative, cross-institutional efforts and will explore how it can be implemented across various types of environments—from research-intensive to teaching-focused institutions. The session will also preview a program assessment approach for assessing program research/scholarship culture designed to help programs identify high-impact areas to elevate scholarly culture. This series originated from an educational session presented at the ELC 2025 conference.
Structured as a five-part series, Session 1 will provide an overview of the vision statement and the assessment guide, their development and their intended impact. Sessions 2–5 will feature case examples illustrating how programs are operationalizing the vision and the assessment tool across different contexts, including:
Session 1: Introduction and Overview of the vision statement and the assessment guide
Session 2: Emerging Research Intensive Programs - Strategies and resources to foster transition to more research-intensive culture.
Session 3: Teaching-Focused Programs - Creative strategies to foster scholarship within mission and resource constraints
Session 4: Hybrid Programs - Unique challenges and innovative approaches to building research culture within non-traditional educational models
Session 5: Research Intensive Programs - Culture, infrastructure, and examples of alignment with the vision
Impact and Significance:
Improving the research culture in physical therapy education is essential for advancing the science, visibility, and long-term impact of the profession. This session invites academic leaders to engage with a shared, aspirational vision for research culture and consider how it can be meaningfully adapted to their unique institutional contexts. By highlighting real-world examples, facilitating reflection, and previewing forthcoming ACAPT resources, the session empowers participants to initiate thoughtful, mission-aligned conversations about scholarship. This work supports the development of faculty scholarship, enriches educational environments, and positions physical therapy programs to make sustained contributions to evidence-based practice and healthcare innovation.
We're excited to bring you this important course, running from April 6 to July 15. View the course page for more details and registration.