Matthew A. Nuciforo, PT, DPT, PhD, OCS, FAAOMPT

Dr. Nuciforo serves as Chairperson and Program Director for the Department of Physical Therapy and Associate Dean of Admissions and Enrollment in the College of Health Professions. Dr. Nuciforo is a Board Certified Orthopedic Clinical Specialist through the American Board of Physical Therapy Specialties, and a Fellow of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Manual Physical Therapists. His teaching emphasis is in musculoskeletal system / orthopedics and manual therapy. As a recognized leader and researcher in physical therapy admissions, Dr. Nuciforo previously served as Chair of the American Council on Academic Physical Therapy (ACAPT) Admissions Task Force and is currently serving a 3-year term to the ACAPT National Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Commission. The Commission is charged with establishing anti-racist and anti-bias policies, programming, and effective initiatives to support member institutions with efforts to increase the representation of racial and ethnic minority students and faculty.

Research Interests

• Faculty social construction of merit in the admissions process to physical therapist education programs
• Social determinants of learning and related admissions merit criteria which address underrepresentation within the profession

Selected Publications and Presentations

• Nuciforo MA. Admission Merit within the Social Field of Physical Therapist Education. American Physical Therapy Association; Combined Sections Meeting. Boston, MA; February 2024.
• Nuciforo MA. On Merit and Equity in Admission to US Physical Therapist Education Programs: A Qualitative Analysis of Faculty Habitus. J Phys Ther Educ. Published online March 7, 2024.
• Nuciforo MA, Sloan A, Cavato D, Delaney W, Hdija S, Ramirez Y, Rourke K, Turner L. The Graduate Record Examination and Underrepresented Minority Applicants to a Doctor of Physical Therapy Program. American Physical Therapy Association; Educational Leadership Conference. Atlanta, GA; October 2021.
• Nuciforo MA, Bryant K, Fortney A, Granquist, Y, Heslop A, Huang P, Lundell, E. Holistic Review in Physical Therapist Education Program Admissions. American Physical Therapy Association; Chicago, IL; 2019
• Nuciforo MA. Minority Applicants to Physical Therapy Education Programs 2010-2012. Phys Ther. 2015; 95(1):39-50.
• Nuciforo MA, Litvinsky Y, Rheault W. Variables Predictive of Admission to U.S. Physical Therapy Education Programs J Phys Ther Educ. 2014;28(3):112-119.

Link to Complete List of Publications

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/myncbi/matthew.nuciforo.1/bibliography/public/

Education

• Doctor of Philosophy
  Marquette University, Milwaukee, WI
  Educational Policy and Leadership
• Doctor of Physical Therapy
  University of Indianapolis, Indianapolis, Indiana
• Master of Physical Therapy
  Marquette University, Milwaukee, WI
• Bachelor of Arts
  Marquette University, Milwaukee, WI
  Pre-Physical Therapy, Criminology and Law

Certification

• American Board of Physical Therapy Specialties (ABPTS) Clinical Specialist in Orthopedic Physical Therapy
• Fellow, American Academy of Orthopaedic Manual Physical Therapists

Honors and Awards

• Rosalind Franklin Award for Excellence in Service to the University
  Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science
  May 2022
• College of Health Professions Outstanding Faculty Colleague Award
  Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science
  September 2020
• College of Health Professions Award for Excellence in Service
  Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science
  April 2013

Professional Society Membership

• American Council of Academic Physical Therapy (ACAPT)
• ACAPT National Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Commissioner
• American Academy of Orthopaedic Manual Physical Therapists (AAOMPT)
• American Physical Therapy Association (APTA)
  • Academy of Education, APTA
  • Academy of Orthopedic Physical Therapy, APTA