By Steven Higbie, DPT
Red dirt, deep squats, and Rwandan smiles. These are just some of the memories for 5 Duke DPT alumni (Dylan Elliot, ’15; Chelsea Wolfe, ’15; Kaitlyn Schlueter, ’16; Kim Kurtz, ’16; Steven Higbie, ’16) who recently traveled to Kigali, Rwanda, for 2 weeks with the Kefa Project.
The Kefa Project serves to transform the lives of the most vulnerable Rwandan children through participation in sports, education, vocational training, and discipleship. While in Kigali, the DPT team partnered with director, Brian Beckman, and his staff of coaches to implement injury prevention and management within the project. Hundreds of athletes were screened via the Functional Movement Screen to identify ububabare (pain) and faulty movement patterns. Each team was given a set of tailored corrective exercises to prevent future injury while individuals with pain were treated on-site.
During their time in Kigali, the DPT team was also involved in teaching coaches and injury prevention specialists concepts including return to play criteria and acute pain management. The team also spent 2 days training physiotherapists at the Rwandan Football Federation (FERWAFA), covering rehabilitation standards such as fracture identification, concussion management, and joint mobilizations.
The trainings provided by the team will serve to enhance injury management in Rwanda, where access to medical care is limited and missing games equates to vulnerable children losing the opportunity to experience life transformation. Duke DPT is hopeful to continue their relationship with the Kefa Project as they join together in seeing injuries prevented and lives redeemed in Rwanda.
Carol-Ann Nelson, PT, DPT (Duke DPT Class of 2013), Founder and Executive Director of 
We are honored and delighted to announce that Steven Z. George, PT, PhD, has joined Duke Orthopaedics as Professor and Vice Chair of Clinical Research and Director of Musculoskeletal Research for the Duke Clinical Research Institute. Steve trained at West Virginia University (BS in Physical Therapy), the University of Pittsburgh (MS in Orthopedic Physical Therapy and PhD in Rehabilitation Science) and the University of Florida (Post-Doctoral Fellowship in Pain Research and Rehabilitation Outcomes). Steve worked clinically in the beginning of his career, but has focused on research over the past 15 years. Steve is an active member of the American Physical Therapy Association, American Pain Society, and International Association for the Study of Pain; often attending annual conferences and serving on committees. 
We are excited to announce that Chad E. Cook, PT, PhD, MBA, FAAOMPT, was chosen as the keynote speaker at the 
