Megan Donaldson, PT, Ph.D., FAAOMPT, is a highly accomplished physical therapy professional with 24 years of experience, including 17 years in education. She is a tenured professor at the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC). Her expertise includes leading the Department of Rehabilitation and managing faculty teams for occupational therapy (OT), physical therapy (PT), and speech-language pathology (SLP), thereby playing a vital role in shaping the future of rehabilitation education. She was also the inaugural founding program director of the Tufts Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) program in Boston, MA.
Dr. Donaldson’s clinical background includes running a private practice and serving as a senior therapist and team leader in hospital-based outpatient and home health settings. She has maintained a pro bono clinical role at a local clinic for the past 10 years. As a Fellow of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Manual Physical Therapists (FAAOMPT), she is dedicated to clinical excellence and maintaining the highest standards in manual therapy. Her commitment to advancing the profession is demonstrated through her completion of the Higher Education Leadership Fellowship, offered by the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA), in 2021.
She actively contributes to scholarly work through peer-reviewed publications, book chapters, and presentations. Her research focuses on musculoskeletal health, patient-centered care, manual therapy, educational practices, and leadership topics both nationally and internationally. Dr. Donaldson has a broad scope of service at the state and national levels, including roles as delegate and chief delegate for the Ohio Chapter of the APTA. She holds numerous national service and board positions and is currently serving as the president of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Manual Physical Therapists.