The Schneider Foundation through PNC Charitable Trusts has awarded $50,000 for Trine University’s new doctoral program in physical therapy, making it the first gift for Trine’s first doctoral program.

The grant will help Trine establish a professional doctorate in physical therapy program at Trine’s regional campus in Fort Wayne, where students are receiving both undergraduate and graduate degrees. Trine is partnering with Parkview Health System and the program will be located on the Randallia campus. Clinical partnerships will include Parkview and Lutheran locations, as well as smaller hospitals in the region.

To educate students, the professional doctorate program will bring together leaders in biomedical engineering, rehabilitative science, physical therapy and orthopedics to engage in multidisciplinary approaches to enhance the capability of the human body to recover and rehabilitate from orthopedic surgery and traumatic orthopedic injury.

“Trine is eager to address the nation’s need for higher educated physical therapists and is grateful for the grant from PNC Charitable Trusts,” said Trine president Earl D. Brooks II, Ph.D. “The Midwest is home to only 24 percent of doctoral programs in physical therapy, so this is certain to fill a need for physical therapy professionals seeking a higher degree.”

Trine plans to enroll the first cohort of students in fall 2014.

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts a 39 percent growth from 2010 to 2020 for physical therapists, which is much faster than the average for all occupations. Physical therapists typically need a doctorate degree in physical therapy, according to the bureau.