Jun 10, 2026
A full-circle journey: Reid Moseley’s path from DPT student to clinician-scholar
Over a decade, Reid Moseley, DPT, has cycled through virtually every stage of professional development in the field of physical therapy, from student to resident to student again – all at the VCU College of Health Professions.
Moseley first discovered physical therapy as an undergraduate at the University of Virginia, where he worked as a student manager for the men’s basketball team and interned with the strength and conditioning staff. That early exposure to sports medicine shifted his career trajectory and clarified the kind of work he wanted to pursue.
“I knew I wanted to do something people-facing where I could help others,” Moseley said. “And the education you get as a physical therapist – combining the principles of anatomy with physics and biomechanics – gives you a unique perspective on the human body and movement itself.”
After earning his bachelor’s degree, Moseley enrolled in VCU’s Doctor of Physical Therapy program, beginning a relationship with the department that would continue well beyond graduation. Proximity to his family played a role in selecting VCU, but wasn’t his only reason: “The faculty was, and still is, highly respected, so it felt like the best combination of things for me.”
Moseley completed his DPT in 2018 and entered clinical practice, working in outpatient orthopedics in Charlottesville. While the role provided valuable experience, his longstanding interest in sports physical therapy remained.
After several years in practice, Moseley decided to “open the door” to working with athletes by returning to VCU, this time in the Sports Physical Therapy Residency Program.
The residency offered immersion that he would struggle to find elsewhere, as he found opportunities to work with high-level athletes in an environment with interdisciplinary collaboration and real-time injury management. “Treating in a training-room setting or even on the sidelines gives you the opportunity to respond to and treat injuries in a more acute fashion,” he said, not to mention the benefits of VCU’s emphasis on mentor relationships and structured professional growth.
Following residency, Moseley moved to Houston, where he worked as a sports physical therapist with Memorial Hermann Health System. There, he treated a broad spectrum of athletes and gained exposure to large-scale clinical research focused on return-to-sport testing after knee injuries.
During that period, Moseley and his wife welcomed twins, prompting him to reflect on work-life balance and long-term sustainability in high-demand sports roles. “Being a dedicated PT for athletes is a really heavy time commitment. You often work crazy hours, especially in season,” he said. “I got to a point where it would have been hard to make that work and also raise a family.”
In 2025, Moseley returned to the VCU Department of Physical Therapy for a third time, now as a Ph.D. student concentrating in neuromusculoskeletal dynamics within the Rehabilitation and Movement Science program. Though again spurred by family proximity and the department’s renown, this time, he looked forward to re-engaging with an environment he’d gotten to know well – from various angles.
“My VCU experience went well the first two times,” he said, “so it was a safe bet that the third time around would go great, too.”
Alongside his doctoral coursework, Moseley works part-time as a physical therapist with VCU Health and serves as a teaching assistant for DPT students, helping bridge the gap between theory and clinical application. His research interests center on return-to-sport decision-making, specifically how clinicians determine when athletes are truly ready to resume competition.
After years of learning, practicing and learning again, Moseley now sees his role within the Department of Physical Therapy as one of stewardship. “The College of Health Professions and the PT department have given so much to me that I’d like to repay the favor, so to speak.”