Vicki Mercer, PT, PhD, has received the award of Outstanding Physical Therapist, an annual award given by the North Carolina Physical Therapy Association (NCPTA). Mercer, who has been a physical therapist for more than 35 years, has maintained a love for clinical practice over the decades. Having joined division faculty in 1994, Mercer devotes 20 percent of her time to direct patient care at University Physical Therapy (UPT), located in Hillsborough, where she provides care for adults with neurological diagnoses and balance issues. She has also provided countless hours of pro bono community service through her leadership of the Community Health and Mobility Partnership (CHAMP) program in western North Carolina.