The Distinguished Physical Therapy Alumnus Award is given each year at the Department of Physical Therapy Education's Commencement Exercises in December. The faculty of the Department of Physical Therapy select a graduate of the program who has made significant contributions to the professon and have brought honor to the department and Elon. The inaugural recipient of the award in 2010 was Rafael F. Escamilla, Ph.D., P.T., C.S.C.S., F.A.C.S.M.
Escamilla received his master of physical therapy degree from Elon in 2002 and went on to serve as a professor at California State University, Sacramento, for several years. He pursued a rigorous program of research that established him as an expert in the biomechanics of the shoulder, elbow and knee joints, catching the attention of renowned sports medicine practitioner, James Andrews. Andrews asked Escamilla to join The Andrews Institute, a world-class orthopedics and sports medicine center, in 2007. Escamilla now seres as director of research at the center, located in Gulf Breeze, Fla. He lives with his wife, Jill, and their daughters, Isabella and Gabrielle.
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