{"id":14,"date":"2026-04-15T18:01:47","date_gmt":"2026-04-15T18:01:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/faculty.tarleton.edu\/djames\/?page_id=14"},"modified":"2026-05-06T01:59:12","modified_gmt":"2026-05-06T01:59:12","slug":"home","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/faculty.tarleton.edu\/djames\/","title":{"rendered":"Overview"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>Dr. James is the founding Program Director of the Doctor of Physical Therapy Program at Tarleton State University, where she provides strategic leadership for program development, accreditation, and academic excellence. A licensed physical therapist, she brings clinical experience across pediatric acute orthopedics, early intervention, and school-based practice, informing a curriculum grounded in patient-centered care and real-world practice demands. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Dr. James has extensive experience in healthcare education, academic leadership, and research, with a sustained focus on building high-performing programs and advancing student success. She is dedicated to preparing future physical therapists who are compassionate, clinically competent, and equipped to practice across healthcare environments including rural and primary care settings. Dr. James actively contributes to the profession through leadership, scholarly collaboration, and service that advances physical therapy education and practice at the state and national levels.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-advgb-accordions advgb-accordions-3e61b5ae-d0ba-4bd2-a263-b666656c9a05 advgb-accordion-wrapper\" data-collapsed=\"true\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-advgb-accordion-item advgb-accordion-item\" style=\"margin-bottom:15px\"><div class=\"advgb-accordion-header\" style=\"background-color:#4f2d7f;color:#fff;border-style:solid;border-width:1px;border-radius:2px\"><span class=\"advgb-accordion-header-icon accordion-state\"><svg fill=\"#fff\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"24\" height=\"24\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\"><path fill=\"none\" d=\"M0,0h24v24H0V0z\"><\/path><path d=\"M12,2C6.48,2,2,6.48,2,12s4.48,10,10,10s10-4.48,10-10S17.52,2,12,2z M17,13h-4v4h-2v-4H7v-2h4V7h2v4h4V13z\"><\/path><\/svg><svg fill=\"#fff\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"24\" height=\"24\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\"><path fill=\"none\" d=\"M0,0h24v24H0V0z\"><\/path><path d=\"M12,2C6.48,2,2,6.48,2,12s4.48,10,10,10s10-4.48,10-10S17.52,2,12,2z M17,13H7v-2h10V13z\"><\/path><\/svg><\/span><h3 class=\"advgb-accordion-header-title\" style=\"color:inherit\">Education<\/h3><\/div><div class=\"advgb-accordion-body\" style=\"border-style:solid !important;border-width:1px !important;border-color:undefined !important;border-top:none !important;border-radius:2px !important\">\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>APTA Fellowship in Higher Education Leadership, Academy of Physical Therapy Education<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Doctor of Science in Rehabilitation Sciences, Pediatric Specialization, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Post-Professional Transitional Doctor of Physical Therapy, Arizona School of Health Sciences, AT Still University<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Bachelor of Science (Physical Therapy), Rockhurst University<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-advgb-accordion-item advgb-accordion-item\" style=\"margin-bottom:15px\"><div class=\"advgb-accordion-header\" style=\"background-color:#4f2d7f;color:#fff;border-style:solid;border-width:1px;border-radius:2px\"><span class=\"advgb-accordion-header-icon accordion-state\"><svg fill=\"#fff\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"24\" height=\"24\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\"><path fill=\"none\" d=\"M0,0h24v24H0V0z\"><\/path><path d=\"M12,2C6.48,2,2,6.48,2,12s4.48,10,10,10s10-4.48,10-10S17.52,2,12,2z M17,13h-4v4h-2v-4H7v-2h4V7h2v4h4V13z\"><\/path><\/svg><svg fill=\"#fff\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"24\" height=\"24\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\"><path fill=\"none\" d=\"M0,0h24v24H0V0z\"><\/path><path d=\"M12,2C6.48,2,2,6.48,2,12s4.48,10,10,10s10-4.48,10-10S17.52,2,12,2z M17,13H7v-2h10V13z\"><\/path><\/svg><\/span><h3 class=\"advgb-accordion-header-title\" style=\"color:inherit\">Accomplishments<\/h3><\/div><div class=\"advgb-accordion-body\" style=\"border-style:solid !important;border-width:1px !important;border-color:undefined !important;border-top:none !important;border-radius:2px !important\">\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Board Certified Clinical Specialist in Pediatric Physical Therapy: APTA<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Higher Education Teaching Certificate, Derek Bok Center for Teaching and Learning, Harvard University<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Certified Clinical Instructor, APTA<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Certified Higher Education Professional-Excellence in Teaching (CHEP) Credential from the National Association of State Administrators and Supervisors of Private Schools (NASASPS)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Y-Balance Test Certification, Functional Movement Systems<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Advanced Direct Access, Certificate of Advanced Clinical and Administrative<br>Competency, Sports Medicine of Atlanta<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Certified Instructor of Infant Massage (CIIM): International Loving Touch Foundation<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Certification in Assistive Technology Applications: California State University, Northridge<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Mobility Opportunities Via Education (MOVE) Certification: MOVE International<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>National Classifier, US Paralympics Track and Field, 2017-present<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-advgb-accordion-item advgb-accordion-item\" style=\"margin-bottom:15px\"><div class=\"advgb-accordion-header\" style=\"background-color:#4f2d7f;color:#fff;border-style:solid;border-width:1px;border-radius:2px\"><span class=\"advgb-accordion-header-icon accordion-state\"><svg fill=\"#fff\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"24\" height=\"24\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\"><path fill=\"none\" d=\"M0,0h24v24H0V0z\"><\/path><path d=\"M12,2C6.48,2,2,6.48,2,12s4.48,10,10,10s10-4.48,10-10S17.52,2,12,2z M17,13h-4v4h-2v-4H7v-2h4V7h2v4h4V13z\"><\/path><\/svg><svg fill=\"#fff\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"24\" height=\"24\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\"><path fill=\"none\" d=\"M0,0h24v24H0V0z\"><\/path><path d=\"M12,2C6.48,2,2,6.48,2,12s4.48,10,10,10s10-4.48,10-10S17.52,2,12,2z M17,13H7v-2h10V13z\"><\/path><\/svg><\/span><h3 class=\"advgb-accordion-header-title\" style=\"color:inherit\">Area of Expertise\/Interest<\/h3><\/div><div class=\"advgb-accordion-body\" style=\"border-style:solid !important;border-width:1px !important;border-color:undefined !important;border-top:none !important;border-radius:2px !important\">\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Clinical Interests:<br>&#8211; Pediatric physical therapy, particularly early intervention and school-based<br>practice<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Research interests:<br>&#8211; Pediatric practice issues<br>&#8211; Rural health<br>&#8211; Teaching and learning in entry-level DPT programs<br>&#8211; Pediatric and adapted sports<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Dr. James is the founding Program Director of the Doctor of Physical Therapy Program at Tarleton State University, where she provides strategic leadership for program development, accreditation, and academic excellence. A licensed physical therapist, she brings clinical experience across pediatric acute orthopedics, early intervention, and school-based practice, informing a curriculum grounded in patient-centered care and &hellip; <a href=\"https:\/\/faculty.tarleton.edu\/djames\/\" class=\"more-link\">Continue reading <span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Overview<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"inline_featured_image":false,"advgb_blocks_editor_width":"","advgb_blocks_columns_visual_guide":"","footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-14","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"coauthors":[],"author_meta":{"author_link":"https:\/\/faculty.tarleton.edu\/djames\/author\/kbuchanantarleton-edu\/","display_name":"Buchanan , Keegan"},"relative_dates":{"created":"Posted 3 weeks ago","modified":"Updated 3 days ago"},"absolute_dates":{"created":"Posted on April 15, 2026","modified":"Updated on May 6, 2026"},"absolute_dates_time":{"created":"Posted on April 15, 2026 6:01 pm","modified":"Updated on May 6, 2026 1:59 am"},"featured_img_caption":"","featured_img":false,"series_order":"","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/faculty.tarleton.edu\/djames\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/14","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/faculty.tarleton.edu\/djames\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/faculty.tarleton.edu\/djames\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/faculty.tarleton.edu\/djames\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/faculty.tarleton.edu\/djames\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=14"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/faculty.tarleton.edu\/djames\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/14\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":33,"href":"https:\/\/faculty.tarleton.edu\/djames\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/14\/revisions\/33"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/faculty.tarleton.edu\/djames\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=14"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}