ODU Physical Therapy Program

Thank you to everyone who came to our DPT Information Session this morning. It was great meeting you and we hope we answered all of your questions.
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ODU DPT students, faculty, and therapists had an incredible day yesterday volunteering for They Will Surf Again Virginia Beach 🌊💙

We’re proud to come together each year to support an organization that helps people with disabilities experience the joy of adaptive surfing.
Life Rolls On ODU College of Health Sciences ODU The Graduate School Old Dominion University

Congratulations to our third 2026 40 under 40 awardee! Dr.Michelle Rauzi is doing great things at the University of Colorado!
👏👏👏

Meet Dr. Michelle Rauzi, '15, a physical therapist and researcher dedicated to advancing rehabilitation science and improving healthcare for Veterans.

A proud Monarch, Dr. Rauzi earned her Doctor of Physical Therapy from Old Dominion University and has built a career focused on enhancing physical rehabilitation, chronic pain management, and the use of digital health technologies to improve patient care. Her research is helping create innovative solutions that expand access to quality rehabilitation services for Veterans and older adults.

Through her commitment to research, innovation, and service, Dr. Rauzi is making a meaningful impact on the future of healthcare.

📖 Learn more about Dr. Rauzi: www.odualumni.org/40under40_2026_mrauzi
Congratulations, Dr. Rauzi!

Did you like seeing our DPT students clinical experiences in our “Day in a Life” IG takeovers last week? Do you want to become a physical therapist and join one of the best healthcare professions? We have the event for you!

➡️ODU DPT Information Session & Open House
🗓️ Saturday August 15, 2026
❇️RSVP using the QR code or link in our bio

We can’t wait to meet you and answer your questions!


ODU College of Health Sciences

✨ Clinical Takeovers are here! ✨

Starting tomorrow and continuing through next week, our third-year DPT students will be taking over our stories to give you a behind-the-scenes look at life on clinical rotations!

You’ll get a glimpse into a variety of settings, from inpatient hospitals to outpatient clinics and see what a day in the life of a student physical therapist looks like.

Have questions about clinicals, PT school, or a specific setting? Drop them in the comments below, and we’ll do our best to answer them during the takeovers! 👇

🚌📚✏️📓 5th Annual Pediatric Back-to-School Event (ODU Community Care)

ODU Nurse Practitioner faculty and students providing school health physicals and sports physicals for kids from our community

DPT students, Shelbie and Mason, provided physical therapy screenings and encouraged physical activity, exercise, and play.

AT, OT, SLP and other professions there providing no-cost services to help kids have healthy and bright school years!

Congratulations to another outstanding alum, Dr. Matkins, being honored as ODU’s 40 Under 40 in 2026! We are so proud of her work in helping to develop the pediatric physical therapy program and SIBS shop at FWCRT. 👏👏👏
We are lucky to have her working at ODU!

Meet Danielle Matkins, ’16, ’20, a pediatric physical therapist dedicated to helping children reach their full potential through compassionate care, education, and inclusion.

A two-time Monarch, Danielle serves as a Pediatric Physical Therapist at the Faschini Wallach Center for Restorative Therapies at Old Dominion University and teaches future healthcare professionals as an adjunct faculty member at both ODU and Norfolk State University.

She also founded ODU Sibshops, creating a supportive space where siblings of children with disabilities can connect, build friendships, and have fun together.

Through her commitment to pediatric care, education, and community engagement, Danielle is making a lasting impact on children and families across Hampton Roads.

📖 Learn more about Danielle: www.odualumni.org/40under40_2026_dmatkins

Congratulations, Danielle!

🤞Sending good vibes to our amazing first year DPT students who are finishing up their 6 credit gross anatomy class today with their written and practical exams. 🧠 🩻📌
They’ve been working hard for the last seven weeks both in the cadaver lab and PT lab learning patient care skills. 🩺🩼
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Ok rising DPT3s, did you get the the correct answer to the below question? Hint- clinical sciences and the lab in Special Populations- the one that we had a guest patient and clinical come in? 🤓🤔

🚨 ANSWER BELOW 🚨
𝗣𝗧 𝗤𝘂𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗪𝗲𝗲𝗸! 📚
Check out PT Final Exam and let us help you 𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙘𝙝 𝙨𝙪𝙘𝙘𝙚𝙨𝙨 🚀


1. A Babinski sign is often a feature of an upper motor neuron disorder and would not be the best test to perform given this patient’s presentation.
2. Lasègue’s sign is most often used to assist in the diagnosis of a lumbar disc herniation and would not be the best test to perform given this patient’s presentation.
3. Schober’s test is often used to assist in a diagnosis of sciatica and would not be the best test to perform given this patient’s presentation.
4. CORRECT ANSWER- As this patient describes feelings of fatigue, heaviness in the limbs, the PT likely suspects secondary lymphedema given the patient’s medical history and notable bilateral pitting edema. A Stemmer’s sign is often helpful in providing additional evidence for this diagnosis.

💯 Let us help you, link in bio.

ODU and VCU students working together over the summer! Some are wrapping up clinicals, while the rest of us are halfway through. It’s been fun learning together, good luck to everyone finishing up, and here’s to a strong second half!