����Ӱ��

Image

One of the most well-respected names in the field of physical therapy, Dr. Sam Ward -- self-ascribed half-time orthopedic scientist, half-time university administrator -- would at the same time remind you that he is a t-shirt, jeans, and baseball cap kind of guy. After all, that is how he would have looked walking into class as a physical therapy student at Long Beach State in the late 90s. 

“I loved PT school. Those were some of my favorite days,” says Dr. Ward. 

The list of accolades and prestigious positions held in the physical therapy field by Dr. Ward are numerous. Dr. Ward is a professor, has served as Vice Chair for Orthopedic Surgery, Radiology and Bioengineering at University of California, San Diego, and in his latest appointment, he now serves as Vice Dean for Research at UCSD’s School of Medicine.

Dr. Ward obtained a Postdoctoral Fellowship in Orthopedic Surgery from UCSD, got his Ph.D. in Biokinesiology at USC in 2003, and also studied engineering at UC Davis as an undergraduate. He cites graduating from the ����Ӱ�� Department of Physical Therapy program in 1998 as holding a special place in his heart.

“I think the core of what I do ‘practice-wise’ and ‘research-wise’ I can directly connect back to my educational experience at Long Beach State,” he says. 

A few years ago, Dr. Ward was elected to The American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering (AIMBE) College of Fellows for his contributions to the field of biomechanical modeling, specifically in skeletal muscle design, plasticity and imaging. The College of Fellows is comprised of the top two percent of medical and biological engineers in the country.

While a ����Ӱ�� physical therapy student, Ward was ahead of his time. He remembers he was encouraged in his idea to give a final presentation on MRI, CT and PET Imaging in Dr. Al Russo’s physiology class. 

“This is like ’96 or ’97 and I remember I was really into imaging, and we didn’t have an imaging course in PT school, which is why I did the presentation. [Professor Al Russo] liked the idea of my presentation, I remember him saying, ‘Imaging seems like it’s important, we don’t do enough on that in the curriculum, so it would be good to give a talk on that.’ I did the talk and then I was like, ‘This is awesome, I’ve got to learn more about this.’”.

Some 30 years later, Dr. Ward has been instrumental in helping to develop new pulse sequences for MRI to visualize anatomy of muscle and bone. He says a lot of that work stems from that one talk he gave as a student at ����Ӱ�� years ago.   

As a ����Ӱ�� alumnus, Dr. Ward has served as a Department of Physical Therapy guest lecturer and advisory board member, and still sponsors a scholarship which funds an annual graduating student award for excellence in biomechanics. This year’s recipient went to ����Ӱ�� physical therapy student Kendall Hart, who is on her way to achieving her own great success in the field. 

“When I learned that I had been selected as the recipient of the Excellence in Biomechanics Scholarship, I was deeply honored and profoundly grateful for Dr. Ward’s generosity in making this award possible,” Hart said. “Earning any scholarship is a privilege, but receiving this recognition among such talented and accomplished peers makes it especially meaningful. To me, biomechanics is the foundation of physical therapy—essential for understanding, analyzing, and treating patients effectively. Being recognized for excellence in this area not only affirms my dedication to the field, but also inspires me to continue advancing my knowledge and skills to better serve my patients.”

On why he continues to beat the drum for Long Beach State, Dr. Ward emphasizes his love for the people at ����Ӱ�� and the education he received there.  

“If I did not have the fundamentals that I obtained clinically at Long Beach State, I would never be where I am today. Yes, I give a small scholarship back to the PT students every year, and it’s the least I can do. Long Beach State physical therapy was there for me, and I want to continue to be there for the program and its students.” 

Image