Anthony Delitto, PhD, PT

Anthony Delitto, PhD, PT, is dean of the School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences (SHRS) and professor in its Department of Physical Therapy. He received his bachelor’s in physical therapy from SUNY Buffalo and his MHS in physical therapy and PhD from Washington University in St. Louis. He is active in the Sections on Orthopedics and Education and is past president of the Section on Research for the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA).

Dr. Delitto has authored or coauthored more than 100 peer-reviewed research papers. He actively treats patients with painful musculoskeletal disorders, and his current research focuses on implementing classification and treatment effectiveness studies into quality improvement initiatives. He is also conducting trials in exercise interventions for Parkinson's disease patients. He was awarded one of the first large pragmatic trials from the Patient Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI), a multi-site, $13-million grant (the TARGET study) to investigate innovative ways to reduce the transition of acute low back pain. The study partners physical therapists with primary care providers to deliver psychologically informed physical therapy to patients with acute low back pain who are at risk for persistent pain.

Dr. Delitto’s numerous awards include: the Golden Pen Award, APTA, 1992; Steven J. Rose Award for Excellence in Research, APTA Section on Orthopaedics, 1993, 1994, 1996, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2015; Marian Williams Award for Research in Physical Therapy, APTA, 1997; and being named a Catherine Worthingham Fellow of the APTA, 2000.