Laura Plummer, dean of the School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences announced that Keshrie Naidoo has been appointed Chair of Physical Therapy after serving as interim chair while the national search took place. 

Dr. Naidoo completed her professional preparation in physical therapy as an undergraduate at the University of Cape Town in South Africa. She finished her MS, with an orthopaedic specialization and transitional DPT at the MGH Institute and received her EdD from Johns Hopkins University with a specialization in Entrepreneurial Leadership in Education.

Dr. Naidoo is a Distinguished Teaching Associate Professor of PT in the School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences. She has served as the Director of the Academic Curriculum for the Doctor of Physical Therapy Program, Director of the Clinical Residency in Orthopaedic PT, and Interim Chair of PT. She is recognized for her innovation in developing a social justice and health equity thread in the PT Department’s integrated curriculum. She has led a Connecting Physical therapy, Social Justice and Health Equity conference for alumni and clinical faculty for the past two years. Additionally, Dr. Naidoo recently served as Chair of the Culture of Belonging Task Force for the American Council of Academic Physical Therapy National Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Commission which is dedicated to increasing enrollment, retention, and graduation of physical therapy students from racial and ethnic minoritized backgrounds.  

Dr. Naidoo’s research focuses on educational equity, belonging, mentoring, and social justice and health equity, topics on which she has presented and published extensively. She has received three educator influencer awards from the Physical Therapy Leadership Institute for her presentations and was honored as the 2022 IHP New Investigator. Dr. Naidoo is also the Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Physical Therapy Education, the premier journal in this space. Additionally, she was recently appointed to the Department of Developmental Services Self-Determination Advisory Board for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

“During her presentation and interviews, Dr. Naidoo demonstrated her understanding of the challenges and opportunities in physical therapist education and provided a thoughtful path forward for innovation, entrepreneurship and growth,” said Plummer. “I am confident that her expertise in curriculum design, leadership, and her commitment to social justice will support the PT Department in its vision and mission. Please join me in congratulating her.”