Jessah Doctor, a third-year DPT student, presented his poster, “Examining the Perceptions and Understanding of Physical Therapy Among Individuals Who Are African American or Black: A Qualitative Study” at the Health Equity Symposium. This event brings together researchers, students, and community members to share work aimed at addressing health disparities and advancing equitable care. His research emphasizes the importance of understanding diverse perspectives and lived experiences to help inform more inclusive and effective physical therapy practices.

On February 12, 2026, Dr. Colón-Semenza attended the APTA Combined Sections Meeting where she received an award for Excellence in Advancing Belonging and Culture in Physical Therapy Research from the Academy of Research.

On February 14, 2026, Paria Darbandsari attended the APTA Combined Sections Meeting where she presented her award winning poster on the Effect of Telerehabilitation in Parkinson Disease: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. 

On October 18th, 2025 Dr.Colón-Semenza and the Movement for Life Lab had the pleasure of attending the annual Parkinson’s Foundation Moving day in New Britain, CT. For the uninitiated, Moving day is a fundraising walk that gathers individuals and families from various communities in support of those living with Parkinson’s disease.

The Movement for Life Lab conducted fall risk screening for individuals that visited the event. The fall risk screening is a brief three item questionnaire that asks the participant about their twelve month history of falls, episodes of freezing gait, and assessment of their gait speed. Our role in the lab is to set up and carry out a 10 meter walk test to gather their gait speed data. Using this these factors, the assessment is able to predict if the partcipant is a high, moderate or low risk of falls.

This year was a wonderful turnout and we hope to see you and all our exercise class members at the next one!

Earlier this year, the University of Connecticut’s Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) program celebrated a major milestone with its annual White Coat Ceremony for the

 Class of 2026. This meaningful tradition, widely observed across medical and health professions, marks the transition from classroom learning to hands-on clinical practice. It’s a moment that symbolizes both responsibility and readiness. When students officially don the white coat they are taking a significant step toward becoming licensed clinicians.

Among those honored was our very own Jessah Doctor, who proudly represented our community as part of the cohort. Jessah stood alongside faculty mentor Dr. Colón-Semenza, a reminder of the strong support system that helps shape the next generation of physical therapists.

As Jessah and his classmates begin their clinical journeys, we celebrate their dedication and look forward to the positive impact they will make in the world of rehabilitation and patient care. Congratulations to the UConn DPT Class of 2026!