Assistant or Associate Professor in Physical Therapy

Job Title
Assistant or Associate Professor in Physical Therapy


Requisition Number
FE04626


Working Title

Department Name
7N640:Physical Therapy


Work Location
Lexington, KY


Type of Position
Faculty


Position Time Status
Full-Time


Tenure Track Status
Non-Tenure Track


Required Education

Doctor of physical therapy degree.





Required Related Experience

Expertise in public health and rural health care needs.

Experience in clinical mentorship of DPT students.

Current or prior teaching experience of DPT students in a CAPTE accredited institution.





Required License/Registration/Certification

Current licensure in physical therapy in Kentucky or eligibility.



Job Summary

The Department of Physical Therapy (PT), College of Health Sciences (CHS) at the University of Kentucky (UK), is seeking a full-time, 11month, non-tenure eligible faculty member at rank determined by qualifications in the Clinical Title Series, to begin employment at the UK campus at the Center for Excellence in Rural Health in Hazard, KY campus by January 1, 2026.



The UK physical therapy program has been educating physical therapists since 1967. The program offers a Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) degree on two campus locations which includes the Lexington campus and the Center of Excellence in Rural Health (CERH) in Hazard, Kentucky. Both campuses afford opportunities for close interaction with faculty, serving local communities, conducting research, and engaging in clinical practice. The CAPTE-accredited program has cohorts of 48 students on the Lexington campus and 18 students on the CERH campus. This position will be in-person and primarily located on-site on the CERH campus.



The UK DPT faculty is comprised of numerous physical therapists with post professional doctoral training who are involved in clinical, bench, and educational research, as well as clinical faculty involved in delivery of patient care services. The PT faculty are national experts devoted to teaching, research, clinical practice, and service. Due to our additional presence in the CHS Rehabilitation and Health Sciences PhD Program , research laboratories, and UK Healthcare system, our research portfolio is diverse and places a high value on translational and interdisciplinary science. Comprehensively, the Department of Physical Therapy strives to develop practitioners who are knowledgeable, ethical, independent, adaptable, reflective, and service oriented.



The ideal candidate will have a strong background in clinical practice, clinical instruction, teaching, scholarship and/or research, and professional service.



Primary duties of this position include teaching of clinical skills in the practice of physical therapy in the relevant content areas of expertise, building and maintaining strong relationships with internal and external constituents, contributing to research and scholarship, and mentoring students and faculty in the Doctor of Physical Therapy program. There may also be opportunity to assume a role in clinical practice within UK HealthCare or affiliated organizations. Approximate distribution of effort will be 70-80% teaching, 10-20% service (possibly including clinical service), and 5-10% scholarly activity. Administrative effort may be added based on skills and department needs.

About the Physical Therapy Program

The Physical Therapy program at UK has been educating physical therapists since 1967. Our program is conducted at the Lexington, Kentucky campus and at the Center of Excellence in Rural Health in Hazard, Kentucky. The qualified candidate will join an outstanding academic faculty devoted to teaching, research, clinical practice, and service. Our faculty is comprised of numerous physical therapists with post professional doctoral training who are involved in clinical, bench, and educational research, and clinical faculty involved in delivery of patient care services. Our research portfolio is diverse and places a high value on translational and interdisciplinary science.



The qualified candidate will have access to several significant resources including the College’s state-of-the-art teaching and research facilities, widespread UK Healthcare facilities, and other partners within the academic medical center. The Department of Physical Therapy strives to develop practitioners who are knowledgeable, ethical, independent, adaptable, reflective, and service oriented. For more information, please visit https://chs.uky.edu/physical-therapy/our-program.

The University of Kentucky and College of Health Sciences are dedicated to creating an environment where students, faculty and staff collaborate openly and treat one another with respect. We bring together many people into one community as we work toward our shared goal of advancing Kentucky through education, research, service and care.



Candidates should apply online with a curriculum vita and a letter of interest outlining how your clinical experience and expertise will enhance or synergize with those of the college and the Department of Physical Therapy and our clinical partners. Questions should be directed to the search committee chair, Ryan McGuire, College of Health Sciences, Department of Physical Therapy, Wethington Building, 900 S. Limestone Street, Lexington, KY 40536-0200, or email at rpmcgu0@uky.edu.

Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled. Visit the University’s website and see for yourself what makes UK the perfect place to work, which includes a comprehensive benefits package (https://hr.uky.edu/employment/our-benefits).


Internal employee being considered.



Skills / Knowledge / Abilities

Strong background in clinical practice, clinical instruction, teaching, scholarship and/or research, and professional service.



Does this position have supervisory responsibilities?
No


Preferred Education/Experience

Experience in scholarly activity with physical therapy students.

Experience in clinical laboratory instruction in a CAPTE accredited institution.

Record of research and scholarly work.

Record of peer-reviewed professional presentations and publications.





Deadline to Apply
09/19/2025


Open Until Filled
No


Our University Community

We value the well-being of each of our employees and are dedicated to creating a healthy place for everyone to work, learn and live. In the interest of maintaining a safe and healthy environment for our students, employees, patients and visitors, the University of Kentucky is a Tobacco & Drug Free campus.

The University follows both the federal and state Constitutions as well as all applicable federal and state laws on nondiscrimination. The University provides equal opportunities for qualified persons in all aspects of institutional operations and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, ethnic origin, religion, creed, age, physical or mental disability, veteran status, uniformed service, political belief, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, marital status, genetic information or social or economic status or whether the person is a smoker or nonsmoker, as long as the person complies with University regulation concerning smoking.

Any candidate offered a position may be required to pass pre-employment screenings as mandated by University of Kentucky Human Resources. These screenings may include a national background check and/or drug screen.