When Madeline Moss ’26 (DPT) presents her research to physical therapy leaders from across the country, she isn’t just representing herself–she’s contributing to conversations shaping the future of rehabilitation care.
Moss was recently named one of just 15 students nationwide—selected from more than 400 applicants—to receive the American Physical Therapy Association’s (APTA) Catherine Worthingham Fellows CSM 2026 student scholarship, recognizing both academic excellence and impactful research.
Years earlier, a high school running injury first introduced Moss to the profession she’s now advancing.
“I went to physical therapy for a stress fracture and was fascinated by the profession,” reflected Moss. “My physical therapist was extremely encouraging and supportive during this difficult time and I found myself wanting to help others in the same way that my physical therapist helped me.”
That early experience ultimately led Moss to pursue her Doctor of Physical Therapy degree at the University of Indianapolis’s Krannert School of Physical Therapy. On her interview day, Moss was able to see for herself what makes UIndy so special: its people.
“What really stood out to me was the supportive relationships among faculty and students,” shared Moss. “They really emphasized the importance of students’ overall health and understanding that while being a student is important, you also have a life outside of PT school that needs to be prioritized as well. I didn’t feel like just a number here. It truly seemed like everyone had each other’s best interests in mind and wanted to see me succeed.”
Over the course of her three years in the DPT program, Moss has gained valuable real-world skills through clinical experiences, built strong professional networks with expert faculty, and developed as a scholar. The program’s emphasis on evidence-based practices motivated Moss to conduct research on Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation (NMES)–a therapeutic technique that uses electrical impulses to stimulate muscle contraction to assist in strengthening muscles– which helped her earn the APTA scholarship.
“Being named a scholarship recipient made me feel like all the hard work that I’ve been putting into this degree program was recognized and highly valued,” recalled Moss.
Moss’s research compared two NMES waveforms to better understand how treatment specificity influences rehabilitation outcomes.
Central to Moss’s research experience and development was her collaboration with faculty mentor Dr. James Bellew, professor in the Krannert School of Physical Therapy.
“Dr. Bellew is an incredibly encouraging professor and has been a great mentor throughout this program,” reflected Moss. “He has a special ability to explain complex concepts in a way that’s relatable and easier to understand. His passion for his research has definitely translated over to his teaching of these topics, and it was great to get to apply the concepts that he had previously taught us in our courses to the research study that we worked on together.”
“My role was to guide and facilitate the natural talents Madeline has,” said Dr. Bellew. “By providing the initial framework for her research project and some early guidance, Madeline was able to apply her focus and perseverance to diligently and efficiently complete the research study.
“The peer-review process leading to selection of studies for presentation at the national meeting is rigorous, with very few studies in electrophysiology accepted each year. The acceptance of Madeline’s project shows the value of her work and its potential impact on the standards of future clinical care.”
In February, Moss traveled to Anaheim, California, to attend the APTA Combined Sections Meeting —the largest physical therapy conference in the country, attended by more than 15,000 physical therapy professionals—where she was recognized alongside fellow scholarship recipients and presented her research, “Fatigue Response to NMES Waveforms in Endurance-Trained vs. Untrained Subjects.”
“Attending CSM was a great experience,” said Moss. “It felt like such a supportive environment since everyone around me was in the physical therapy profession and all there to continue learning more about the profession. This was also a nice opportunity to network and learn about various opportunities that I could pursue upon graduation.”
“This experience has been influential in that I’m more eager to stay involved in the APTA organization upon graduating. Attending CSM has made me even more appreciative of the importance of advocacy in the profession and has motivated me to stay more involved in this community moving forward.”
As she prepares to graduate in May, when she will officially become Dr. Madeline Moss, she credits the UIndy DPT program with preparing her to succeed in the field and deliver the same support and care she received as a high school athlete.
“The UIndy DPT program has supported my growth as a future physical therapist in countless ways,” said Moss. “This program has provided me with the tools that I need to grow and succeed through its holistic approach to teaching. The professors constantly promote the mindset that we each deserve to be here and will work with us to help us succeed. Through knowledge in the classroom, practicing our skills on volunteer patients from the community, providing networking opportunities with local companies, and now even offering assistance with navigating our next steps after graduation, this program has been amazing in preparing us as students for our future careers.”
With national recognition already marking the start of her career, Moss leaves UIndy prepared not only to treat patients, but to contribute to the evolving future of physical therapy—offering the same encouragement and evidence-based care that first inspired her journey.