Rehabilitation Sciences Clinical and Community Advancement Ceremony and Honoring Dr. Lynn Jeffries

Oklahoma City & Tulsa – March 13, 2025 – The University of Oklahoma College of Allied Health Department of Rehabilitation Sciences proudly hosted their Clinical and Community Advancement Ceremony on Thursday, March 13, 2025, at 6:00 p.m. The event took place simultaneously at Nicholson Tower on the University of Oklahoma Health campus in Oklahoma City and Perkins Auditorium on the OU-Tulsa Schusterman Center campus.

Celebrating the Next Generation of Healthcare Professionals
This prestigious ceremony honored the achievements and advancement of more than 95 students in the fields of Occupational Therapy (OT) and Physical Therapy (PT). These students, hailing from various cities across Oklahoma and beyond, will play a crucial role in shaping the future of rehabilitation sciences.

“Each student being coated,” Interim Department Chair, Joshua Williams, PT, DPT, MS, OCS, SCS, CSCS, explains, “is completing their first year of intensive classroom training and are entering clinical and community settings for their first clinical rotations or fieldwork. We celebrate this formative transition in training by being coated.”

Honoring the Legacy of Dr. Lynn Jeffries
The event also included the presentation of the inaugural Dr. Lynn Jeffries Alumni Excellence Award. “We are beginning a new tradition this year” said Dr. Williams, “the presentation of an Alumni Excellence Award. From this point forward this award will be presented to an outstanding OT or PT graduate of the University of Oklahoma who has demonstrated outstanding contributions to the profession, served as a role model for excellence, and has inspired the next generation of rehabilitation professionals… Furthermore, from this point forward and the award will be called the Lynn Jefferies Alumni Excellence Award.”

Over her 28-year career, Dr. Jeffries has made an indelible impact through teaching, research, and leadership. A distinguished expert in pediatric physical therapy, she has designed curricula, mentored students, and played a pivotal role in clinical education.
Her research contributions include securing over $5.5 million in grant funding, authoring 43 peer-reviewed publications and eight book chapters, and earning prestigious National and International accolades such as the 2020 Toby Long Award for excellence in pediatric physical therapy research. Her dedication to the profession has also been recognized with the 2024 APTA Humanitarian Award and the esteemed Regents Professorship.

Beyond her academic and research accomplishments, Dr. Jeffries has held key leadership roles, including Vice Chair of the Department of Rehabilitation Sciences and Chair of the Faculty Senate, where she influenced policies that continue to benefit students and professionals alike.

Looking Ahead
The Clinical and Community Advancement Ceremony is a testament to the Department of Rehabilitation Sciences' commitment to academic excellence and the development of future healthcare leaders. As students step into their clinical roles, they carry forward the legacy of educators like Dr. Jeffries, whose impact will continue to shape rehabilitation sciences for years to come.

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