Leadership training for those involved in physical therapy education was largely absent when the profession began its transition to the doctor of physical therapy degree and the doctoring profession.

While residencies and fellowships were being created for development of clinical expertise — with many graduates moving into leadership within clinics — a vacuum remained in development of expertise in educational leadership. Although there were leadership programs in other fields, little was available to facilitate physical therapy faculty transition to positions in academic leadership. Nor were there tools to assist clinicians who wanted to move into academia.