What do most people get wrong about physical therapy education—and what’s really happening behind the scenes as we prepare the next generation of clinicians? Dr. Evan Papa pulls back the curtain to reveal what most people don’t realize about PT education, from perfectionism to posture to patient outcomes.

Dr. Evan Papa is an Associate Professor in the Department of Rehabilitation Sciences at Tufts University and the founding director of Tufts DPT Seattle. With a background in biomechanics, neurology, and education, his research spans Parkinson’s disease, postural control, falls, and the psychology of perfectionism in DPT students. Previously, he served as Chair of Physical & Occupational Therapy at Idaho State University, where he helped shape programs that continue to influence PT education today.

—

Dr. Evan shares:

▫️ Why postural control is more critical than most clinicians realize.

▫️ How perfectionism shapes—and sometimes sabotages—student success.

▫️ What Parkinson’s research is teaching us about movement and rehab.

▫️ How JEDI initiatives are influencing the future of physical therapy.

—

⏱ Timestamps:

00:00 – Intro

04:20 – Why postural control is at the heart of patient outcomes

13:05 – Lessons from Parkinson’s research

21:45 – Perfectionism in DPT students: help or harm?

33:00 – JEDI initiatives and the changing face of PT education

45:15 – What most people don’t realize about PT education

55:00 – Evan’s advice on staying relevant

—

Follow Dr. Evan Papa:

🌐 Faculty Profile – https://facultyprofiles.tufts.edu/evan-papa

📸 Instagram – @tuftsdpt

🐦 X – @papaevanPT

—

The Staying Relevant Podcast:

🔴 Subscribe on YouTube

💪 Learn more about the AMT Certification

—

Sponsor — The AMT Certification

This episode is brought to you by the Advanced Movement Therapist (AMT) System — the neuro-centred certification that helps clinicians and performance coaches solve the root cause of pain and accelerate client results.

👉 Start your training: amtcertified.ca