Elizabeth (Elise) Ruckert, PT, DPT, EdD

Dr. Elizabeth Ruckert is associate professor in the department of rehabilitation medicine at Georgetown University. She earned her educational doctorate (EdD) from the University of Southern California (USC) in 2024, along with her bachelor’s degree (2005), master’s degree (2006), and transitional doctorate of physical therapy degree (2007) from Ithaca College in Ithaca, NY. Dr. Ruckert has additional specialty-specific training through the Rancho Los Amigos and University of Southern California neurologic residency program (2007-2008) and the George Washington University Master Teacher Leadership Development Program (2012-2013). She has over 15 years of experience as a core faculty member in Doctor of Physical Therapy programs with both traditional and hybrid designs, including appointments at George Washington University and the University of Southern California. At Georgetown, Dr. Ruckert serves as the founding program director for the developing doctor of physical therapy program.

Dr. Ruckert’s scholarship focuses on evidence-informed teaching and learning in physical therapy and health professions. Her research examines instructional design, learner motivation, educational technology, and faculty belonging. Her doctoral research explored the experience of belonging among full-time, hybrid physical therapy faculty, and she continues to study faculty belonging through the validation of a new belonging assessment instrument and investigations into its relationship with faculty well-being, retention, and burnout. She has authored numerous peer-reviewed publications and book chapters on instructional design, critical thinking, and educational technology. She is a regional and national presenter on topics related to educational innovation, faculty development, mentoring, and reflective practice, and currently serves on the Professional Development Committee of the American Physical Therapy Association’s Academy of Education.

Dr. Ruckert has been recognized for excellence in teaching through numerous awards, including the Commendation for Excellence in Teaching from USC’s Division of Biokinesiology & Physical Therapy (2024), the Outstanding Faculty Award from multiple GW Doctor of Physical Therapy Classes (2013, 2014, 2016), and the Golden Apple Award for Excellence in Teaching (2016, 2019). In 2012, Dr. Ruckert received the Distinguished Young Alumni Award from Ithaca College in recognition of her contributions to the profession.