The University of Colorado Physical Therapy Alumni Association is proud to recognize Melissa Tran, PT, DPT, MPH, PhD(c), a member of the University of Colorado Physical Therapy Program Class of 2022, as the recipient of the 2026 Rising Star Award. The award honors recent graduates who demonstrate emerging innovation, creativity, and excellence in clinical care, research, education, service, and professional leadership. Through her commitment to advancing rehabilitation for older adults and her growing impact as a clinician-scientist, Dr. Tran exemplifies these qualities.

Before pursuing physical therapy, Dr. Tran worked in medical device research and earned a Master of Public Health degree. Her interest in rehabilitation research drew her to CU's DPT program, but it was the culture she encountered that ultimately made the decision easy. "I chose CU because I wanted to be surrounded by a community of experts who were genuinely curious about their students, sought meaningful connection, and cared about patients as people, not just cases," she said.

Like many students in the Class of 2022, Dr. Tran's education was shaped by the COVID-19 pandemic. One memory stands out from her transition from virtual learning to direct patient care: performing manual muscle testing with a classmate during an early hospital experience. "We were painfully thorough and unmistakably green, but we got through it," she recalled. "It was funny, but it's also such a perfect snapshot of those early clinical experiences, terrifying and exciting at the same time."

Since graduation, Dr. Tran has balanced clinical practice in skilled nursing facilities with PhD training. Working with patients and clinicians in facilities across Colorado and the United States has shaped her passion for improving care for medically complex older adults. "I am passionate about advancing care for medically complex older adults, particularly in skilled nursing settings, where so much of a patient's recovery or decline can actually happen," she said. "I believe this complexity is exactly where PT can have the most impact."

Her research has focused on improving rehabilitation outcomes in post-acute care, while collaborations with clinicians, geriatricians, biostatisticians, and other health professionals have broadened her perspective. She has presented her work at national conferences, including the American Physical Therapy Association Combined Sections Meeting and the American Geriatrics Society, and continues to give back to the CU program through student engagement and mentorship opportunities.

Looking ahead, Dr. Tran hopes to complete her PhD and move into an academic research role focused on closing the gap between research and clinical practice in skilled nursing care. She also hopes to mentor future clinicians and contribute to policies that improve outcomes for patients and providers alike.

Receiving the Rising Star Award is meaningful validation as she continues that journey. "This award means a lot. It recognizes the early work I've put into pursuing this path, at a stage in my career where that path can still feel uncertain and slow-moving. Geriatric rehabilitation research doesn't always get the same spotlight as other areas of PT, so having this work recognized affirms that the population I care about, and the questions I'm trying to answer, actually matter. It signals to me that I'm on my way to making the impact I've dreamed of making, and it gives me real momentum to keep pushing through the harder parts of this work, the slow stretches where it's easy to wonder if any of it is landing. Coming from a program and community that shaped who I am as both a clinician and a researcher, this recognition feels like encouragement to keep going."

Dr. Tran credits her success to the mentors, colleagues, family members, and CU community who have supported her along the way. As she continues balancing research, clinical practice, mentorship, and new parenthood, she is already helping shape the future of geriatric rehabilitation. The University of Colorado Physical Therapy Alumni Association is proud to recognize Melissa Tran as its 2026 Rising Star Award recipient and looks forward to her continued contributions to the profession.