Nigerian-born Professor of Physical Therapy, Prof. Emmanuel Babatunde John, who is also a visiting Professor at the Chrisland University, Abeokuta, has been appointed Dean of the Myers School of Nursing and Health Professions located in Pennsylvania, United States.
Until his new appointment, John was Chair and Associate Professor of the Department of Physical Therapy at Chapman University in Irvine, California, USA.
Currently, Chrisland University is collaborating with Professor John in furtherance of positioning the Institution’s Doctor of Physiotherapy
Programme for a global market.
It would be recalled that Prof. John had visited Nigeria sometime in April 2022 to fine-tune the process of a Memorandum of Understanding with Chrisland University, where he doubles as a Visiting Professor at the Physiotherapy Department of the institution.
The visiting Professor undertook a review of the institution’s curriculum, ensuring that the content is in tandem with global practice and is currently championing the proposed Transitional Doctor of Physiotherapy (tDPT), a programme which offers BSc Physiotherapy graduates the opportunity to upgrade to Doctor of Physiotherapy programme.
John earned a bachelor’s degree in physiotherapy from the College of Medicine, University of Lagos, Nigeria; a Ph.D. in rehabilitation science from the University of Kansas Medical Center; a Doctor of Physical Therapy from Alabama State University, Montgomery; an MBA from Louisiana State University, Shreveport; and a Master of Public Health from Liberty University in Lynchburg, Va.
He is a Credentialed Fellowship Graduate of the American Physical Therapy Association’s Educational Leadership Institute.
His research spans four areas: the effects of age, gender, and neurological lesions on the sense of motor effort; the effects of virtual reality rehabilitation and robotic rehabilitation interventions on the sense of motor efforts; the effects of discharge destinations and socioeconomic factors on motor function recovery after stroke; and the impact of brain-drain on physical therapy education in developing countries
Elated by the development, the Vice-Chancellor, Chrisland University, Prof Chinedum Peace Babalola, FAS, has swiftly conveyed hearty congratulations to the celebrated Don on the new appointment.
Prof Babalola described the Okitipupa, Ondo State born Prof John as a worthy partner over whom the University was proud. In a congratulatory message, the Vice-Chancellor said: “We are proud of the many achievements and accomplishments of Prof. John. We will continue to strengthen our relationship with him in this new role and in building up the Physiotherapy programme in Chrisland University, nationally and internationally”.
John serves in leadership roles for a number of professional organizations, including as secretary and a member of the Executive Committee and Board of Directors for the American Council on Academic Physical Therapy. He is also a member of the American Physical Therapy Association and Executive Director of the Nigeria Physiotherapy Network.
