Briar Cliff University DPT Students Win National APTA Advocacy Challenge

January 21, 2025

Briar Cliff University’s Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) program has been named the winner of the 2024 Student Advocacy Challenge by the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA), a prestigious national recognition for student engagement and leadership in advocacy efforts.

This achievement places Briar Cliff University at the forefront of student advocacy, surpassing competition from 335 PT programs and 415 PTA programs nationwide. Unlike other competitions that measure participation percentages, the Student Advocacy Challenge is based on the number of advocacy activities completed, making this victory even more impressive given the university’s smaller program size. Prior to this year, Mercer University had won the challenge for three consecutive years.

As winners of the challenge, Briar Cliff’s DPT students will receive a commencement-style speech from an APTA leader or board member of their choosing, an article about their achievement on APTA’s website this spring, and well-earned national recognition for their leadership in student advocacy.

This success would not have been possible without the dedication of Briar Cliff’s DPT students, especially Tayler Wolfs (2nd year), Ashley German (3rd year), and Megan Driesen (Class of 2024), who led the effort with passion and determination. While faculty members provided guidance and led by example, it was the students who took ownership of the challenge and drove the program to victory. As part of their efforts in the Student Advocacy Challenge, Briar Cliff’s DPT students participated in the APTA’s Flash Action Strategy challenge in September, which the students were also recognized by the APTA for winning with 100% participation. Other advocacy activities for the Student Advocacy Challenge included writing federal legislators on issues impacting the profession of physical therapy and the patients they serve, participating in APTA-Iowa’s Legislative Day in Des Moines, and assisting with the implementation of a Student Advocacy Dinner for federal and state officials in Des Moines.  

“We are incredibly proud of our students for this achievement,” said Dr. Patrick Cross, Program Director and Professor for the Briar Cliff University Doctor of Physical Therapy Program. “Their dedication to advocacy and leadership in the field of physical therapy sets them apart, and this recognition is a testament to their hard work and commitment to making a difference.”

For more information about Briar Cliff University’s Doctor of Physical Therapy program and its commitment to student leadership and advocacy, visit briarcliff.com/dpt

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