Yiliu Cao, PT, DPT, MPH
About Me
Where did you attend physical therapy school?
Northwestern University
What are your long-term career goals?
I want to become a well-rounded clinician, prepared to manage complex orthopedic cases with my expertise and compassion. Beyond clinical practice, I aim to contribute to the field through research that integrates physical therapy and public health, with the goal of enhancing the efficiency of rehabilitation care delivery and optimizing patient outcomes of physical therapy care.
Do you have any favorite hobbies, sports, or creative outlets?
I enjoy swimming, running, and biking, separately or together. I also enjoy going to theaters to watch a variety of performances. I have also been exploring crochet.
Reflections on the Duke program
What drew you to this residency/fellowship program specifically?
I was drawn to this program because of Duke’s unique 6-month inpatient rotation (4-day IP + 1-day OP) combined with practical and didactic courses. I believe this structure will enable me to grasp a holistic view of patient progress, allowing me to appreciate the long-term impacts of surgical and conservative interventions while emphasizing continuity of rehabilitation care.
What are you looking forward to the most about this upcoming year?
I’m excited to work with the diverse patient population of Duke Health across the healthcare continuum while growing as a clinician. I’m also looking forward to exploring North Carolina because this will be my first time living on the East Coast!
