By Michaela Zeno, staff
March 25, 2025
As the latest recipient of the Northwestern University Sports Division 1 Fellowship, Zac Ormond G’23 will benefit from “a training ground and model for the specialized practice of sports physical therapy at the division I collegiate athletics level in the 21st century.”
A graduate of Elon University’s Doctor of Physical Therapy program who has spent the past year on campus working with varsity athletes as a post-doctoral resident will grow his list of professional accolades through a premiere collegiate sports fellowship.
Zac Ormond G’23 has been selected for the Northwestern University Sports Division 1 Fellowship. His work begins this summer and offers opportunities to provide patient care to collegiate athletes, experience clinical mentoring with board-certified specialists, conduct research in athletic performance labs and work with sports medicine physicians.
Northwestern University describes the fellowship as “a training ground and model for the specialized practice of sports physical therapy at the Division I collegiate athletics level in the 21st century.
“Our goal is to foster an ability-driven, outcomes-based professional culture committed to the integration of science-based clinical reasoning and clinical care, and to lifelong learning and research.”
According to Elon University physical therapy faculty, Ormond, an assistant professor in the School of Health Sciences, is the first graduate of the DPT program named to a national fellowship for sports physical therapy.
“What makes Zac an excellent resident is that he has an intrinsic desire to learn, improve and provide the best care for his patients,” said Assistant Professor Jack Magill, Ormond’s colleague and mentor. “We are incredibly proud of him.”
Ormond’s interest in physical therapy originated from a middle school ankle injury suffered while playing soccer. Working with a physical therapist inspired the Durham native to make it a career.
He attended UNC Wilmington to study exercise science and Spanish before applying to Elon University’s DPT program. As a student, Ormond chaired the Student Diversity Committee in the School of Health Sciences. His committee work led to honors at the 30th annual Phillips Perry Black Excellence Awards.
Following graduation, Ormond worked at UNC’s outpatient clinic where he was able to see sports and orthopedic patients. He was there for six months before starting the sports post-doctoral residency at Elon.
“Since he began the residency, he has continued to hone his clinical skills with our athletes while he conducts research and teaches current students in Elon’s DPT program,” said Professor Charity Johansson, chair of the Department of Physical Therapy Education. “The students really appreciate his insight, his ability to relate to them.”
Ormond said the upcoming fellowship will allow him to do what he is doing at Elon at an even higher level – and it moves him closer to one day working as a rehab coordinator for a Division I college.
He also is aware that he is among the relatively few Black Americans who serve as physical therapists and the importance that holds in inspiring others to consider joining the profession. African Americans – both men and women – comprise less than 5% of practicing therapists in the United States.
“A legacy for me would be bringing others along the way, especially those minoritized populations that don’t necessarily have somebody to look up to,” Ormond said. “Letting others that don’t necessarily have a chance succeed be given that chance and opportunity – that’s inclusive excellence.”
Alumni Awards & Recognitions Faculty & Staff
Elon Alumni Inclusive Excellence at Elon Physical Therapy School of Health Sciences
People in this article:
Jack Magill
Assistant Professor of Physical Therapy Education
Charity Johansson
Professor of Physical Therapy Education and Department Chair/Program Director for the Department of Physical Therapy Education
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Elon DPT graduate selected for prestigious sports fellowship program – Today at Elon
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