The University of North Florida (UNF) and Brooks Rehabilitation have announced a partnership aimed at expanding UNF’s Doctor of Physical Therapy program within the Brooks College of Health. The initiative is supported by a three-year financial commitment from Brooks Rehabilitation, intended to help meet the increasing need for qualified physical therapists in the region.
During the 2025 Convocation ceremony, UNF President Moez Limayem revealed that this contribution will allow the university to double its annual physical therapy class size from 30 to 60 students starting in fall 2026. The funding will be used to hire two new full-time faculty members, with UNF planning to maintain these positions and add two more in 2027.
A key element of the donation is the creation of the Brooks Rehabilitation Immersive Fellowship. This fellowship will provide $20,000 scholarships to 15 Florida-based physical therapy students over three years during their final year in the program.
“Brooks Rehabilitation has a long-standing partnership with UNF to ensure nurses and therapists receive the best education possible. The Brooks College of Health is even named after our founder, J. Brooks Brown, MD,” said Doug Baer, President & CEO of Brooks Rehabilitation. “Continuous learning is a key value at Brooks. We believe in the importance of investing in the next generation of physical therapists and strengthening the partnership with UNF to advance patient care in the community.”
The collaboration also includes opportunities for joint research projects between Brooks researchers and UNF faculty and students, as well as direct engagement between industry leaders and student cohorts.
“We are incredibly grateful to Brooks Rehabilitation for their support and generosity,” Limayem said. “This gift will enable UNF to double the size of our highly ranked physical therapy program in just one year and significantly enhance our ability to educate and empower the next generation of healthcare professionals. Brooks Rehabilitation’s commitment to UNF and our students is truly inspiring, and we are honored to continue this outstanding partnership.”
