The CU Physical Therapy Program congratulates Lara Canham PT, DPT, OCS, on her recent appointment as Recruitment and Admissions Coordinator and Co-Chair of the Recruitment and Admissions Committee. The CU Physical Therapy Program Admissions Team holds the mission of “admitting qualified students who reflect a diversity of backgrounds and experiences with values that align with the values of the CU Physical Therapy Program and those of the American Physical Therapy Association.”

As Coordinator, Dr. Canham will be tasked with providing oversight and guidance for the primary recruitment and admissions activities at CU PT. In her role as Co-Chair, she will be leading the Admissions Team regarding changes in prerequisites and requirements, elimination of the GRE, GPA considerations, use of non-cognitive metrics, decisions regarding invitations to interview, and ultimately, offers of admissions. Dr. Canham will manage and train a large team for the holistic review process and interviews. Her responsibilities also include communication with the Physical Therapist Centralized Application Service (PTCAS) regarding the CU DPT applicant pool, evaluation of PTCAS applicant data, and making recommendations to the Scholarship Committee regarding incoming student scholarships.

Dr. Canham earned her Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) degree from the University of Colorado in 2011, and joined the CU Physical Therapy faculty in 2015, starting as an admissions advisor where she met with and counseled prospective students. Throughout her time with the Admissions Team, she has thoroughly explored the research related to holistic admissions within healthcare. Dr. Canham has spoken on behalf of CU and the CU DPT holistic admissions processes at several national conferences since 2018, and produced publications related to holistic admissions. She has developed and implemented a holistic admissions process, rubric, and standardized interview questions, starting in 2016, and consulted with over 20 other DPT programs around the country on implementing their own holistic review processes. This vast well of experience makes Dr. Canham well-qualified to assume the role of Chair of Admissions, which she took over upon Dr. Mary Jane Rapport’s retirement earlier this year.

“If our profession has a goal of increasing diversity within our workforce, then that must start at admissions. I am honored to lead this charge at CU as what our admissions committee does now will have a lasting impact on the future forever. This will positively change the lives of not only our students, but also our patients and our local/global communities,” says Dr. Canham.

CU Physical Therapy Program Director Dr. Michael Harris-Love says of Dr. Canham, “Dr. Canham is arguably the faculty member who has had the most influence on our increasing number of applicants from under-represented or marginalized groups. Her efforts will continue to help our program meet its mission and contribute to a physical therapy workforce that is prepared to address today’s most pressing health challenges.”