Rachel Herbeck, D.P.T., Physical Therapist and Site Coordinator for Clinical Education, was recently named a recipient of the 2022 Dorn Long Outstanding Clinical Educator Award from the Texas Consortium for Physical Therapy Clinical Education.

Based on recommendations from students and academic faculty, nine clinical instructors for Doctor of Physical Therapy students in Texas received the award this year. Each of the 15 schools that make up the Texas Consortium may nominate up to four candidates yearly.

“It’s such an honor to have been recognized along with many other fantastic clinicians and educators,” said Dr. Herbeck.

As the site coordinator for William P. Clements Jr. University Hospital, Dr. Herbeck coordinates the physical therapy students who rotate through the hospital from different therapy schools across the state. She also assists with recruiting and training other clinical instructors.

“Rachel is to be commended for the way she orients students and paces student progression based on individual student needs,” said Julie DeVahl, D.P.T., Associate Professor in the School of Health Professions and Director of Clinical Education in the Department of Physical Therapy. “She has a knack for developing clinical reasoning skills and instilling confidence in students.”

“I love helping physical therapy students develop their critical thinking skill set and apply it to the complex acute care environment while understanding how integral the interdisciplinary team is for our patients,” said Dr. Herbeck, who joined UTSW eight years ago.

The Dorn Long Award is the only award given to outstanding clinical educators in physical therapy in Texas, said Steven Spivey, D.P.T., Clinical Associate Professor and Director of Clinical Education in the Department of Physical Therapy at Texas State University and coordinator of the Dorn Long Awards for the Texas Consortium.

Dr. DeVahl received the Dorn Long Award in 1996 while working for another clinic in the metroplex, and two other current UTSW physical therapists received the award while working at Zale Lipshy Pavilion – Clements University Hospital: Snow Adams, PT, in 2004 and Mary Tanner, PT, D.P.T., in 2014.

October is National Physical Therapy Month. We celebrate Dr. Herbeck and all her colleagues at UT Southwestern.