MUSC Announces New Program to Address Therapist Shortage in South Carolina

MUSC Launches New Program to Allay Shortage of Physical, Occupational Therapists in South Carolina

CHARLESTON, S.C. – The Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) is making a significant move to help alleviate the acute shortage of physical and occupational therapists in South Carolina. In an effort to meet the overwhelming demand for therapy services across the state, MUSC has rolled out comprehensive changes to its existing program and launched a new hybrid curriculum.

Prevention, Mental Health, and Aging Population Blamed for Demand Surge

According to details disclosed by the university, up to 16 of the 46 counties in South Carolina have less than ten practicing physical therapists. An array of factors including pandemic-induced occupational exits, a burgeoning baby boomer population, and a growing focus on prevention and mental health care have driven the demand far beyond the available number of therapists. Dr. Megan Donaldson, the Department Chair for Rehabilitation Sciences at the College of Health Professions, pointed to these factors as the main reasons behind the current discrepancy between the demand and availability of physical and occupational therapists.

MUSC’s New Hybrid Programs

In response to the situation, MUSC has created hybrid versions of their established Doctor of Physical Therapy and Occupational Therapy programs. Relying on her extensive experience in crafting innovative professional programs, Dr. Donaldson, who is at the helm of these hybrid programs, stated her belief in their capacity to make a significant impact. The new hybrid programs are not only slated to provide a solution to the persisting therapist shortage, but they are also designed to extend educational opportunities beyond South Carolina by allowing prospective students across the nation to receive their education from MUSC. The hybrid programs can be completed a semester earlier than the regular programs and therefore, promise to be less expensive.

Increasing Accessibility to Education

Giving particular focus to students in remote communities, nontraditional students, and those changing careers or battling family commitments, these new programs aim to increase inclusivity by providing broader access to their education. Dr. Donaldson expressed her hopes for these hybrid programs in terms of growing a larger, more diverse, more representative workforce to meet community demands.

Striking Parity Between Residential and Hybrid Programs

Dr. Donaldson accentuated the importance of offering equal experiences to residential and hybrid students, explaining that all students will receive the same MUSC education, regardless of their preferred format. She stressed the teams’ collective responsibility in making sure all students feel integrated and a part of the wider vision.

Demonstrated Success of Similar Programs

Dr. Donaldson’s previous tenure at Tufts University, Boston, Massachusetts, where she founded a similar hybrid Doctor of Physical Therapy program, exhibits a testament to the potential of such programs. The Tufts program registered impressive participation from diverse and underrepresented backgrounds, first-generation college students, and individuals in their 40s and 50s.

Launching in 2025

While the new hybrid physical and occupational therapy programs are expected to launch officially in August 2025, enrollment for both hybrid and residential programs is open now. The hybrid program will admit up to 80 students, and the residential program will have a cap of 75 students. More information on the programs and enrollment process can be accessed here.