Bhupinder Singh
Bhupinder Singh
NORTH MANCHESTER – Bhupinder Singh has been named founding program director of the Department of Physical Therapy at Manchester University. He begins March 1.

As part of its Charting the Future initiative, Lilly Endowment Inc. this fall selected Manchester for a $1 million grant to help launch a Doctor of Physical Therapy program. The grant allowed Manchester to move forward with hiring a director, faculty and staff in order to pursue accreditation. The program start date depends on when accreditation is approved, according to a news release from Manchester University.

“We are excited to take this next step in establishing Manchester’s signature program in the rehabilitation sciences,” said President Dave McFadden. “Dr. Singh is a perfect fit for Manchester, and he is the right person to lead this program. He has a track record of interdisciplinary collaboration and building service into the student experience – both hallmarks of health science education at Manchester.”

Singh comes to Manchester from the Department of Physical Therapy at California State University, Fresno. He completed his doctoral work in physical therapy and rehabilitation sciences at the Carver School of Medicine at the University of Iowa.

“I am excited to work with the outstanding faculty and future motivated students of Manchester University,” he said. “Manchester’s commitment to service, integrity and excellence coincide with the values of physical therapy profession and will become the underpinnings of this signature doctor of physical therapy program. The region will benefit from the advent of this program, and I am thrilled to work with a strong team to serve the community of northeast Indiana.”

During his time at Fresno State, Singh received the Fresno State Outstanding Advisor Award, Exceptional Levels of Service to Students Award and the Promising New Faculty Award, according to the release.

He founded and is director of the Fresno State Gait Analysis Movement Evaluation lab. In addition to studying the effect of obesity on physical activity, the lab hosts research collaborations and has received grant funding from several external agencies including the National Science Foundation.

Singh also launched the Fresno State Amputee Clinic, connecting underserved Fresno-area amputees with physical therapists, doctors and prosthetics experts.

The proposed program at Manchester will focus on interprofessional collaborations as a routine part of students’ education. Manchester already has clinical rotation partnerships with health care providers in the region through its pharmacy program. There will also be opportunities for student research and service.