The George Washington University (GW) School of Medicine and Health Sciences (SMHS) celebrated the accomplishments of 48 members of the Physical Therapy (PT) Class of 2026 during the annual Doctor of Physical Therapy Awards Ceremony on May 15. Graduates, along with their families, friends, faculty, and staff, gathered to recognize academic achievement, leadership, service, and clinical excellence while reflecting on the collective accomplishments of the GW physical therapy community.
Marisa Birkmeier, DHSc ’22, DPT, PT, associate professor of health, human function, and rehabilitation sciences and director of the GW Physical Therapy Program, welcomed attendees and praised the graduating class for their readiness to become leaders and advocates within the profession and their communities.
“You’re joining a profession that strives to transform society by optimizing movement to improve the human experience,” Birkmeier told the graduates. Drawing on the knowledge, skills, and experiences gained over the past three years, she said, graduates now possess “the tools to do small and big acts of kindness in new and different ways to improve the human experience.”
Andrew Artenstein, MD, MBA, interim vice president for health affairs and dean of SMHS, congratulated the graduates and their families, emphasizing the essential role physical therapists play in patient care.
“As someone who has taken care of patients for 40 years, I want to absolutely affirm the importance of our physical therapists and our other team members in the entire clinical team,” Artenstein said.
Delivering the afternoon’s invited remarks, Marcia A. Firmani, PhD, MSPH, interim associate dean of health sciences, chair of the Department of Biomedical Laboratory Sciences, and director of clinical microbiology and clinical embryology, reflected on the rigorous curriculum the students completed and the impact they have already made through their clinical education experiences.
“Over the past 34 weeks of full-time clinical education, you’ve cared for patients across the lifespan,” Firmani said. “These moments matter deeply to patients and families. Patients may not always remember every exercise prescription or treatment technique that you provide, but they will remember how you made them feel during some of the most difficult moments of their lives.”
The ceremony also recognized students inducted into prestigious national honor societies. Karen Schlumpf, EdD ’24, MPH ’00, assistant professor of clinical research and leadership, recognized nine members of the class who were inducted into the Alpha Eta National Honor Society for Health Science Professionals. Jon Umlauf, DPT, DSC, MHPE, associate professor of health, human function, and rehabilitation sciences, recognized this year’s inductee into the American Council of Academic Physical Therapy’s Delta Phi Tau National Honor Society, which honors students who demonstrate excellence, integrity, professionalism, leadership, and service.
Faculty members then presented the program’s annual awards honoring excellence among alumni, clinical partners, faculty, and students.
The Outstanding Alumni Award was presented to Nora Arnold, DPT ’18, program director of the Johns Hopkins Hospital Pelvic and Women’s Health Physical Therapy Residency and adjunct instructor at GW SMHS. A board-certified women’s health clinical specialist, Arnold was recognized for her contributions to pelvic health physical therapy, including research focused on equitable access to care, trauma-informed practice, LGBTQ+ inclusive treatment for sexual dysfunction, and gender-affirming pelvic health services.
Matt Garber, DSc, MPT, associate director of the PT program, director of clinical education, and associate professor of health, human function, and rehabilitation sciences, presented the Outstanding Clinical Education Site Award to Mary Washington Hospital and site coordinator Brittany DeWolf. Garber also thanked the program’s extensive network of clinical educators and partners, noting that GW DPT students complete 34 weeks of full-time clinical placements in addition to integrated clinical experiences throughout the curriculum.
The Outstanding Clinical Instructor Award was presented to Cheryl Johnson of Inova Fairfax Hospital.
MedStar Adaptive Sports and Rehabilitation received the Engage Impactful Community Partner Award, which recognizes organizations that have built sustained and reciprocal partnerships with the program.
The inaugural Outstanding Adjunct Faculty Award was presented to Jolene Walsh, MA, adjunct instructor of health, human function, and rehabilitation sciences.
Student awards recognizing leadership, service, academic excellence, and clinical excellence were presented to Jaskeerat Ahluwalia, Amanda Allen, Morgan Bowings, Samantha Earle, Anna Gratalo, Emma Hardy, Teagan Hedman, William Higuchi, Clara Honigberg, Olivia Milliner, Akansha Pandey, Brendan Powers, Wei Qian Lim, Emily Radovic, and Matthew Zielezienski.
The highest student honor presented on the day was the Jean Johnson Award for Leadership, Excellence, and Quality, named for the former senior associate dean of health sciences and founding dean of the GW School of Nursing. The award recognizes exceptional achievement in academics, clinical practice, program service, and community engagement. This year’s recipient was William Higuchi.
The graduating class also continued a longstanding tradition by dedicating its class gift to the PT White Coat Initiative. Since 2015, graduating students have donated funds to provide white coats for incoming physical therapy students. Each coat includes a handwritten note from a graduating student tucked into the pocket, offering encouragement and support to the next generation of GW physical therapists.
The final award of the day was the Margaret Plack Award for Faculty Excellence, presented to Dhinakar Jayaseelan, DPT ’10, DHSc ’23, co-academic director of the orthopaedic residency program, associate director of student affairs in the PT program, and associate professor of health, human function, and rehabilitation sciences.
Class President Taylor Coleman delivered the student charge, encouraging her classmates to carry forward the values they developed during their time at GW.
“As we take the time to once again reflect on our journey here at GW, we can dream about our futures and we can think about what tomorrow may hold,” Coleman said. “Don’t let this moment slip away; your tomorrow could very well begin today.”
Closing the ceremony, Ellen Costello, PhD, PT, professor and chair of the Department of Health, Human Function, and Rehabilitation Sciences, reflected on the graduates’ growth and resilience throughout the program.
“Graduation is a time of great excitement as you prepare to step into the next phase of your professional life,” Costello said. “Your ability to adapt to an ever-changing world is a powerful reflection of the professional that you have become. We’re so proud of the growth, maturity, and strength you’ve demonstrated during your tenure here at GW.”
