College of Graduate Studies

Camron Bartley

Miami, Florida

College:

College of Health Professions and Sciences

Degree Program:

Physical Therapy DPT

Research Focus:

Exercise and pain reduction

Camron Bartley has always enjoyed connecting with others. His unique ability to cultivate meaningful relationships with people from all walks of life inspired him to pursue a career that would allow him to use his interpersonal skills. Now, he is pursuing a career in physical therapy, aiming to develop lasting bonds with patients under his care.

Bartley earned a bachelor's degree in Physical Therapy from the University of Florida in 2021 before coming to UCF to pursue a PhD in Physical Therapy. “I chose UCF for my graduate degree because the program has a track record that speaks for itself,” says Bartley. He describes how the Department of Physical Therapy often has 100 percent passing rates for the National Physical Therapy Examination on the first try for their graduating class. “I also was drawn to the class size of the cohorts (38), which allows for adequate attention from professors and the closeness of the students in the group,” he says.

In addition to his supportive cohort, one of the things Bartley appreciates most about his program is the availability and willingness of the professors to help the students. He describes how Dr. Carey Rothschild puts time and effort into her craft as an educator and is responsible for instilling the foundational clinical skills students need. “She makes it a point to present us with the most recent research in our field and always is willing to provide resources she believes will help us grow as physical therapists,” he says.

Bartley advises students to take advantage of the faculty at UCF, saying that they all want to see their students succeed. He also advises his peers to avoid comparing themselves to others, as the program will provide opportunities for each student to shine and encourages students to enjoy their academic journey.

During his time at UCF, Bartley has received several awards, including the UCF Professional Doctor Diversity Fellowship Award and the FPTA Steven Levine Grant for APTA House of Delegates. He credits his program with preparing him for his dream career by engaging students in rigorous content and providing great clinical experience both in and out of the classroom.

Bartley and a team of researchers will soon begin conducting their capstone research project under the guidance of Dr. Matt Stock. Their goal is to determine whether the acute effects of a deadlifting exercise are superior in impact compared to aerobic exercise in reducing low back pain. “My group and I were interested in this research because we wanted to study something directly applicable to a clinical setting,” he says. He looks forward to using his findings to assist patients.

After graduating in May 2024, Bartley plans to take the National Physical Therapy Examination to obtain his license and start changing lives as a physical therapist.