University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point December 2025 graduate Joshua Brown has several reasons to be proud of his accomplishments as he heads into the new year.
He closed 2025 by earning his Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) degree as part of the second cohort of the program at UW-Stevens Point. He also passed the National Physical Therapy Examination (NPTE) licensing exam with a perfect 800 score.
“I thought it might have been a mistake,” he said. “It was hard to believe I scored that high.”
He was more relieved to have the test done before the holidays, he said, as there is a lot of studying needed to prepare and the test itself is a challenge that calls on your problem-solving skills. Scores are scaled rather than based on every correct answer.
Brown credited UW-Stevens Point’s DPT program for its collaborative learning model, which emphasizes hands-on group work and combined lab experiences that create connections with fellow students that last throughout the two-and-a-half-year program.
“Those experiences helped me grow as a person and helped me retain information for the long term,” he said. “There is a good community feel to the program as we all lift each other up along the way,”
He also found the faculty to be very accessible. “All the professors have an open-door policy – just walk in and they’ll help you. It’s clear that they are in the program to help us grow.”
While the program is new, it is well established with experienced faculty, he said. He also recommends it because of the clinical experiences that begin with the first week of classes.
Brown first came to UWSP as an undergraduate from Butternut, Wis., undeclared with an interest in a career in physical therapy. He soon became a health science and wellness major and was active in the Pre-Physical Therapy Club as well as several other student organizations. As an undergraduate, he earned the Chancellor’s Leadership Award and Albertson Medallion, the highest honor for a UWSP student.
Deciding where to earn his doctorate in physical therapy was easy, he said, as UWSP had developed the new program while he was an undergraduate. “I knew the professors and knew they had a good vision for the program, so it was a comfortable transition to graduate school.”
Another consideration was the program’s emphasis on rural health care, as Brown is from a small town in northern Wisconsin.
“That was a big draw for me, as I have a good understanding of the opportunities and challenges of serving rural communities,” he said.
Brown recently began his career as a physical therapist at Aspirus Stevens Point Hospital.
“As a student, Josh had curiosity and a dedication to learning,” said Nathan Brown, a clinical assistant professor in the DPT program. “This approach will benefit those he gets to work with, as he will be able to obtain new knowledge and adapt to a changing health care landscape. Perhaps more important is Josh’s humility, which helps him clearly elevate the perspectives of the patients he will work with to provide the most meaningful and appropriate recommendations for their health.”