Jenkins named chairman of physical therapy

Dr. Walter Jenkins

GREENVILLE, N.C. —   A veteran faculty member and physical therapy consultant to East Carolina University’s athletic program has been named chair of the Department of Physical Therapy in the College of Allied Health Sciences.

Dr. Walter Jenkins’ appointment became effective Nov. 1. He had served as interim department chair twice, and most recently since Jan. 1.

“He possesses the personal attributes, professional experience and leadership needed to further advance the department’s reputation as an outstanding and nationally recognized program in the scholarship of teaching, research, service, engagement and clinical practice,” said Dr. Stephen Thomas, dean of the College of Allied Health Sciences. “We are indeed fortunate to have him in this key leadership role.”

Jenkins has been a tenured associate professor and associate chair of physical therapy since 2003. He came to ECU in 1995 as a clinical associate professor. His research focus is in the epidemiology and prevention of athletic injury. He also has continued to be clinically active by serving as a physical therapy consultant to the university athletic program.

Before joining ECU, he served as coordinator of sports physical therapy at the Kansas University Medical Center’s Sports Medicine Institute, where he was an assistant professor in orthopaedic surgery and physical therapy. Previously, he taught at the University of Indianapolis and Purdue University, and has been a director of several outpatient physical therapy clinics.

Jenkins received his bachelor of physical education degree from Purdue University in 1977, and a master of science in physical education from West Virginia University in 1979. He was awarded a master of science in physical therapy in 1982, and a doctor of health sciences degree in 2003 from the University of Indianapolis.

Jenkins is course chairman and former vice president of the American Physical Therapy Association’s Sports Physical Therapy Section annual team concept meeting. He also has served on several committees with the National Athletic Trainers Association.

ECU physical therapy is a three-year, 106-semester-hour doctoral program that includes 32 weeks of clinical education. The highly competitive program only accepts 30 students each year. For more information, go to http://www.ecu.edu/ah.