1992: Betty Denton, Ellen Hamilton, David Morris, and Garvice NicholsonDavid Morris was raised a true North Carolinian who embraced Tar Heel pride through and through. He was never going to leave the state – at least not without a fight. But all of that changed in 1983, when the PT school at UNC-Chapel Hill sent him to UAB for a clinical rotation.
“I came to Birmingham kicking and screaming – I did not want to come to Alabama,” he said with a big laugh. “But I just fell in love immediately, especially with the physical therapy community at Spain Rehab. I loved the people and loved the hospital.”
Morris – who goes by Dave – has called Birmingham and UAB home ever since. He was hired to be a PT at the Spain Rehabilitation Center and started taking classes at UAB. In 1991, he earned his master’s in physical therapy from UAB and began teaching in the Department of Physical Therapy’s entry-level bachelor program the next year.
He has served in nearly every faculty position possible for the PT department, has been the department chair since 2015, and in 2024, was named UAB Distinguished Professor – the first PT faculty ever awarded the honor.
Forward-Thinking Problem Solver
Over the decades he has witnessed much change all around him. On the professional side, telehealth was not on anybody’s Bingo card in the 1980’s. On the academic side, the entry-level program for physical therapists has elevated to a doctoral level.
However, a couple things have not changed.
- The PT department as an industry pioneer
“Even when I first started, this was a very forward-thinking department – they were recognized as leaders in the profession and were always thinking about the next thing,” said Morris. “The leaders back then always thought about where does physical therapy need to go and how can we help the profession get there. I want that enterprising spirit to remain. I believe we have kept that spirit going, and I would really like for it to continue.”
- The PT chair as a problem solver
“What comes up the most often today is a student that is in a financial crisis – the car breaks down, they’re unable to cover rent this month, things where they need emergency funds,” said Morris. “We do have loan programs at UAB, but those require paying back and that just adds to a student’s debt.”
David M. Morris Endowed Support Fund in Physical Therapy
In 10 years as department chair, he has noticed that there are countless things that pop up all the time. And it is not just crises either as there are many educational and professional opportunities available. However, those opportunities are often limited due to financial requirements.
So, in 2025, Dave created the David M. Morris Endowed Support Fund in Physical Therapy, to provide annual funds that can be used at the discretion of the department chair. When opportunities – or crises – arise, he wants the department to be in a position to support their students in need. It will be an opportunity to witness first-hand the direct impact of his giving.
The perfect example, is the annual American Physical Therapy Association’s Combined Sections Meeting, the largest physical therapist conference in the U.S. The PT department has funding to send around 20 students to CSM every year, but often they have more than 20 students who want to attend.
“Our national conference is great exposure for our students in networking, learning and advocacy and we want to help every student that wishes to go, but due to current funding structures we can't,” said Morris. “I created this support fund so the PT chair will have direct access to funds that can help every student be afforded this wonderful opportunity.”
And speaking of legacies, this is also about his own. He recently made a bequest gift that will enhance his endowed support fund.
“I would like to set the example for our faculty because I know UAB has done a lot for their careers as well,” said Morris. “I would love to have them also think about our PT department and how we can all help it continue to move forward the way it has during our tenure – I will do anything I can to help with that.”
Living up to Legacies
We asked Dave about this decision to give back to UAB. Was it easy or difficult?
It was his quickest answer: “Very easy.”
Dave spoke of the legacy of leaders before him. Joan Bergman was the first physical therapist hired at University Hospital (1955) and then assigned to create the Bachelor’s degree program in Physical Therapy (1964) – five years before UAB was a university.
He spoke of Marilyn Gossman, known as the 'Mother of UAB PT,' who was director of the program from 1968 until 1998. And of Sharon Shaw who served as department chair over the next 15 years. Each of these leaders - and so many more – gave so much to Dave as well as to the others who served the PT department.
“I feel like there have been so many opportunities that opened up for me here at UAB because of the people. I always think of my first boss, Pat Kelly, who really looked for opportunities for me. The same thing goes for Marilyn Gossman and Sharon Shaw, because each tasked me to take on certain things that they knew would align with my growth as a person, a practitioner and an academic. UAB has made all the difference in my career. I don’t think I would have had these opportunities anywhere else. And I’ve ended up with a real good career. So, giving back was just a no brainer for me.”
