Rehab Essentials is honored to celebrate LSU Health Shreveport’s expansion of hybrid physical therapy education to Lafayette, a milestone that strengthens Louisiana’s healthcare workforce and widens access to high quality graduate education across the state. This collaboration reflects the shared commitment of LSU Health Shreveport, Ochsner Lafayette General, the Louisiana Department of Health, and our team at Rehab Essentials to design sustainable pathways for students to learn, train, and remain rooted in their communities while preparing for meaningful clinical careers.
The enTandem DPTSM model brings academic design, faculty support, accreditation alignment, and long term operational partnership together in one unified framework. We are grateful for the leadership across all institutions who guided this effort and built the foundation for long term student and community impact.
Below is the full announcement:
LSUHS Expands Physical Therapy Education to Lafayette to Strengthen Louisiana’s Healthcare Workforce
By Mark Klein | December 4, 2025
Lafayette, La. – Responding to Louisiana’s growing demand for skilled healthcare professionals, LSU Health Shreveport’s School of Health Professions and Sciences has announced approval to launch a hybrid Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) program in Lafayette, the first of its kind in Louisiana.
Developed in partnership with Ochsner Lafayette General, the Louisiana Department of Health (LDH) through its Healthcare Education Reinvestment Opportunity (HERO) Fund, and Rehab Essentials, the strategic resource for licensure-track health programs, this innovative program expands access to physical therapy education in Southwest Louisiana and addresses critical workforce needs across the state.
The Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE) recently granted approval to LSU Health Shreveport’s Department of Physical Therapy, authorizing the university to begin admissions for its first class of students, who will start in May 2026.
Through this collaboration, LSU Health Shreveport DPT hybrid program – Lafayette joins a select group of universities implementing the enTandem DPT℠ model, a comprehensive framework that extends far beyond curriculum. enTandem DPT℠ integrates academic design, hybrid faculty development, accreditation alignment, and long-term operational support.
“This is a historic moment for LSU Health Shreveport and for the state of Louisiana,” Sharon Dunn, PT, PhD.
“This is a historic moment for LSU Health Shreveport and for the state of Louisiana,” said Sharon Dunn, PT, PhD, Dean of the School of Health Professions and Sciences. “By bringing our Doctor of Physical Therapy program to Lafayette, we are expanding opportunity for students, strengthening our partnerships in the region, and addressing the healthcare workforce needs of our communities. This program embodies our mission to educate compassionate, skilled practitioners who improve quality of life across Louisiana.”
“We are proud to be part of this collaboration that connects LSU Health Shreveport’s academic excellence with the clinical expertise of Ochsner Lafayette General and the support of the Louisiana Department of Health,” said Daniel Flowers, PT, PhD, Chair of the Department of Physical Therapy. “The hybrid format allows students to remain in their home communities while receiving the same high-quality education and mentorship that defines our program.”
“Ochsner Lafayette General is proud to support this program and the students who will learn and train here in Acadiana,” said Patrick Gandy, Chief Executive Officer of Ochsner Lafayette General. “Partnering with LSU Health Shreveport expands opportunity for physical therapy education and helps support our hospitals, clinics and communities in growing the skilled therapists they need. We are grateful to be part of this effort to strengthen care across our region.”
“This partnership provides a national example of academic healthcare institutions working together to address the clinical workforce development challenges of today,” said Leonardo Seoane, MD, FACP, Executive Vice President and Chief Academic Officer for Ochsner Health. “By focusing on faculty development and clinical internships, LSU Health Shreveport and Ochsner Health are creating sustainable pathways for students to become the healthcare professionals Louisiana needs most.”
“Through the innovative HERO fund utilizing public-private partnerships, the Department set out to reduce barriers to healthcare programs that create pipelines into high-demand health careers for Louisiana students. This program is a great example of that goal,” said LDH Secretary Bruce Greenstein. “Improving access to training for our students now improves access to care for all Louisiana residents, and I’m thankful for the hard work of LSU Health Shreveport and Ochsner Lafayette General.”
“Our collaboration with LSU Health Shreveport will expand opportunities for students and meet the needs of Louisiana’s communities,” said Jennifer M. Gamboa, PT, DPT, OCS, Chief Operating Officer at Rehab Essentials. “Rehab Essentials enTandem DPT℠ is designed to help universities grow and scale responsibly while preserving academic ownership. We are proud to welcome LSUHS into the community of enTandem DPT℠ universities as our first public institutional partner, as we work together to broaden access, support faculty, and prepare the next generation of physical therapists.”
“The strength of Rehab Essentials enTandem DPT℠ is how it reimagines the student learning experience,” said Mary T. Blackinton, PT, EdD, Director of the Rehab Essentials enTandem DPT℠ program. “Through a hybrid design that blends online foundational content with in-person engagement, students focus on active learning, problem-solving, and clinical reasoning. Our faculty coaching ensures LSUHS educators are fully supported, so students in Lafayette will benefit from a program that is flexible, evidence-informed, and rooted in LSU Health Shreveport’s academic standards and culture.”
The hybrid model combines online coursework with hands-on clinical education through partnerships with healthcare providers like Ochsner Lafayette General, allowing students to train close to home while gaining the expertise and experience needed to serve patients statewide.
The Rehab Essentials enTandem DPT℠ model is designed not only to accelerate program launch, but also to sustain excellence—creating clear pathways from classroom to clinical practice and employment. This collaboration allows LSU Health Shreveport to expand its reach in Louisiana while advancing student success and strengthening the healthcare workforce its communities rely on.
For more information, contact Michelle Nelson