Dr. David Levine was formally recognized as an Honorary Diplomate by the American College of Veterinary Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation during the ACVSMR Annual Business Meeting on Friday, March 27, in Lexington, Kentucky.
Professor David Levine, the Walter M. Cline Chair of Excellence in Physical Therapy at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, has been elected as an Honorary Diplomate by the American College of Veterinary Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation (ACVSMR) in recognition of his contributions to the development and progress of the field.
Honorary Diplomate status is conferred by the ACVSMR Board of Directors following an affirmative vote of the organization’s membership and recognizes individuals who have made substantial contributions to the development and progress of veterinary sports medicine and rehabilitation. Levine is only the fourth individual to be named an Honorary Diplomate by the college and the first non-veterinarian to receive the distinction.
“It feels like a bit of a career achievement honor,” said Levine, who was formally recognized during the ACVSMR Annual Business Meeting on Friday, March 27, in Lexington, Kentucky. “It is nice to have recognition for contributing to the development of the field. I would say it is definitely one of the highlights of my professional career.”
Levine joined the UTC faculty in 1990 and has worked in animal rehabilitation research since 1993. Over the course of his career, he has collaborated with researchers and clinicians from veterinary schools across the United States, including the University of Tennessee, the University of Pennsylvania, Cornell University, North Carolina State University, Midwestern University, Purdue University and the University of California, Davis. He also serves as an adjunct professor at the UT College of Veterinary Medicine.
During that time, he has helped shape the emerging discipline of veterinary rehabilitation, blending the principles of human physical therapy with veterinary medicine to improve recovery, mobility and quality of life for animals.
His research and clinical work focus on rehabilitation techniques and therapeutic interventions that help animals recover from injury, surgery and neurological conditions. That work has helped expand treatment options for animals ranging from household pets to service dogs to horses.
Today, veterinary rehabilitation programs and research initiatives operate at universities and specialty clinics worldwide, many of which trace their roots to early collaborative work between physical therapists and veterinarians. Levine has been a central figure in that effort, helping design research studies, teach international courses and develop evidence-based rehabilitation techniques used in clinical practice.
“We are proud to see Dr. David Levine recognized as an ACVSMR Honorary Diplomate,” said UC Foundation Professor Nancy Fell, head of UTC’s Department of Physical Therapy. “This award reflects an exemplary career dedicated to advancing the science and practice of human and veterinary rehabilitation.
“His work at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga and with academic and clinical partners around the world has been instrumental in bridging physical therapy, rehabilitation science and veterinary medicine to advance evidence-based care and outcomes.”
Levine continues to practice in both animal rehabilitation and human physical therapy while maintaining an active research program and mentoring students and collaborators across multiple institutions.
“Dr. Levine continues to distinguish himself and, again, his work has resulted in recognition for his career and his contributions to animal physical rehabilitation. This latest honor is evidence of his impact and accomplishments in this field,” said Dr. Valerie Rutledge, dean of UTC’s College of Health, Education and Professional Studies.
Levine has authored or co-edited multiple books widely used in the field, including “Canine Rehabilitation and Physical Therapy” and “Essential Facts of Physiotherapy in Dogs and Cats,” both co-edited with Darryl Millis—a veterinary surgeon at UT’s College of Veterinary Medicine. He has also published dozens of research papers related to veterinary rehabilitation and sports medicine.
Much of that work focuses on improving rehabilitation outcomes following orthopedic and neurological injuries in dogs and addressing performance and injury prevention in horses.
“When I started, it was a case of being in the right place at the right time,” Levine said. “I knew veterinarians were interested, but getting started was a challenge. Having a background in veterinary medicine and human medicine—along with doing some of my doctoral work in comparative medicine—helped bridge some of that gap.”
Despite the recognition, Levine said the focus remains on advancing the field.
“This recognition makes you feel like a lot of the hard work and the long hours you put in are worth it,” he said, “and then you continue to think about what’s our next step and what more can we do. It’s all about developing the field to better help the animals that we work with.”
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Dr. David Levine, the Walter M. Cline Chair of Excellence in Physical Therapy, joined the UTC faculty in 1990 and has worked in animal rehabilitation research since 1993. Photo by Angela Foster.
