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Emily French, a second-year University of North Georgia (Â鶹ÊÓƵ) Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) student, has been selected as an American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) Centennial Scholar.

She is one of two scholars from the APTA's research section and one of 100 total APTA Centennial Scholars. Coinciding with APTA's 100th anniversary in 2021, the are part of one-time, yearlong program to help build a cadre of future APTA leaders at the component and national levels to support the organization's collective quest for a diverse and prepared leadership pool.

French wants to focus on equitable healthcare as a Centennial Scholar while working alongside a mentor.

"I want to use my research to see how we can decrease the inequities in access to health care, especially in physical therapy," French said.

She earned her Master of Public Health at Mercer University before coming to Â鶹ÊÓƵ, where she also serves as a graduate assistant in the office of President Bonita Jacobs. She appreciates the way public health and physical therapy perspectives "go together really well."

"I'm really proud of her," said Dr. Susan Klappa, department head of physical therapy at Â鶹ÊÓƵ. "It's very impressive that we have a student who's been chosen to go through this process and do something creative with research."