ECU physical therapy ranks first in North Carolina
By Ronnie Woodward
East Carolina University’s Doctor of Physical Therapy program is a state leader, supported by National Physical Therapy Exam scores and the most recent published data from the Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy.
ECU ranks No. 1 in North Carolina with a 98.3% first-time NPTE pass rate, based on the 2024 and 2025 graduating classes. The program’s Class of 2026 physical therapy students also recently earned a 96.8% first-time pass rate and a mean scaled score of 712.1, nearly 44 points above the US average.
“Coming into this role as department chair, I’m continually impressed by what I’m learning about our department,” Dr. Shana Harrington said. “A 96.8% first-time pass rate, a score nearly 44 points above the national average and being the most affordable DPT program in North Carolina shows our students get real value alongside real outcomes. I’m honored to help build on that legacy.”
Harrington joined ECU as Department of Physical Therapy chair in June after previously directing the Doctor of Physical Therapy program at the University of South Carolina. She has 25 years of experience as a physical therapist, along with volunteering as an international medical classifier for World Para Swimming and Paratriathlon and serving as vice president of American Physical Therapy Association Oncology, and has been DPT faculty for more than 17 years.
Graduate Rivenburgh marks milestone
Welcoming Dr. Richard “RJ” Rivenburgh as the first resident in August 2025 of the ECU Health Neurological Physical Therapy Residency program to celebrating him a year later as the first to complete the program served as an impactful milestone for him, and a milestone for ECU physical therapy.
Rivenburgh is a 2025 ECU doctoral graduate in physical therapy. Samantha Morgan, a 2026 graduate also from ECU DPT, has since joined as the program’s current resident. Dr. Amy Wedge is program coordinator and Dr. Carolyn Wancyzk is program director.
ECU physical therapy faculty representatives and alumni attended Rivenburgh’s celebration.
“I’m incredibly proud to be the first to complete the ECU Health Neurological Physical Therapy Residency program,” Rivenburgh said. “Having gone through the ECU DPT program, it has been especially meaningful to give back to the community that prepared me for my career. I’ll be continuing my career as a neurologic physical therapist at ECU Health outpatient.”
Wedge noted that students have multiple learning experiences at ECU Health embedded throughout the curriculum, and that neurological residents assist with ECU DPT neurologic rehabilitation labs and share their clinical expertise and experiences with students. This provides residents with supervised teaching experience and creates a mutually beneficial relationship between the residency program and the university, further strengthening the clinical-academic partnership and providing numerous meaningful opportunities and significant impact.
ECU has gained a reputation as one of the best values in physical therapy education in the nation. Students learn from accomplished faculty with expertise spanning pediatrics, neurology, orthopedics, sports medicine and geriatrics. Students develop skills and knowledge to be clinically competent, highly professional practitioners who serve the needs of people in the region and across the state.
