Greetings,

I hope this message finds everyone doing well. Once again, I am pleased to update everyone with some very positive news.

As you will see from this newsletter, the department continues to grow in many directions. Our clinic services continue to mature. We are training more students and colleagues and making more presentations at national and international meetings each year. The clinic and staff also continue to receive the recognition they so justly deserve.

The academic faculty continues to write exciting and innovative grants that are being funded by Federal agencies. Even during this very difficult time for securing NIH funding, I am very pleased to note that we have recently been told that the faculty have been awarded funding for four new major projects. This is great news and helps build on the already strong funding base that we have in place.

I am also very pleased to note that the faculty has once again grown. Dr. Gregory Hicks joined our faculty as an Assistant Professor this past February. Many of you know Greg. He has his undergraduate and MPT degrees from the University of Delaware. Greg worked in the area for several years before going on for his PhD at the University of Pittsburg. He then completed a post-doc at the NIA and worked at the University of Maryland for several years. Greg is a great addition to our faculty and we hope everyone gets to meet him soon.

I would also like to extend an invitation for you to join us for our 9 th annual homecoming celebration. We decided not to have a tent this year, but Tara Manal will host a reception at her home before the game. Details will follow. As always this will be a great opportunity for our alumni to meet our current DPT students, faculty, and staff.

Finally, I would like to thank the many alumni and friends who have provided financial support to the department over the past year.  Your continued support of the department is certainly appreciated.

Best wishes for a happy and healthy year.

Stuart A. Binder-Macleod, PT, PhD, FAPTA
Edward L. Ratledge Professor and Chair