It doesn’t matter where Liana Wooten, PhD, DPT, ends up, she will proudly wear her George Washington (GW) University School of Medicine and Health Sciences (SMHS) Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) gear. For the past three years, Wooten has taught a variety of courses in the DPT program, including Applied Physiology, Clinical Medicine and Pharmacology, and various clinical conference classes. She has also provided immense help to the clinical education team throughout her time at GW. While it was a very tough decision, Wooten has decided to leave GW and the Washington, D.C., Metro area at the end of the year.
GW provided Wooten with her first core faculty position, and she feels honored to have the opportunity to work with the SMHS faculty and staff. “The DPT faculty is composed of an amazing group of very accomplished and motivated leaders in the field,” said Wooten. “I’ve learned so much over the past few years, and I can truly say this has been an invaluable experience.”
Wooten has made a positive impact on students’ education through her dedication to teaching. During the 2020-21 academic year, the first-year DPT students nominated Wooten for the Golden Apple Award in light of her teaching excellence and contributions to SMHS. Wooten added that she’s excited to see where her former students’ careers take them, and she “will be following along as one of their biggest supporters.”
Starting in January 2022, Wooten will begin serving as an assistant professor at Tufts University’s DPT program in Phoenix, Arizona. The sister to the Tufts University DPT program in Boston, Phoenix offers a hybrid DPT program with in-person, lab immersions. Her teaching responsibilities will include leading the Human Anatomy course, with various secondary teaching responsibilities in courses such as Physiology, the Clinical Population Health series, Evidence Based Practice, and Cardiopulmonary Practice. Wooten will also be involved in scholarship opportunities, research, community service, and administrative roles.
When asked about her most memorable moment at GW, Wooten recalled the day she went to campus after defending her PhD dissertation. She described the “very warm,” congratulatory reception she received from all students and faculty. “They left me notes and gifts that meant so much to me, I still appreciate it very much to this day,” Wooten said.