Thinking back on 2015, it is hard to believe it was 10 years ago, and that rings especially true for our Physical Therapy (PT) class of 2015. One minute, they were graduate students worried about their exams and clinicals, while balancing extracurricular activities and personal obligations; the next, they were working in the careers they dreamed of, building families, and shaping lives through physical therapy.
On October 11th, 2025, the Physical Therapy class of 2015 held its long-awaited 10-year reunion. The group had originally hoped to gather for their 5-year reunion back in 2020, but due to the COVID-19 pandemic, those plans were put on hold. While they stayed connected virtually and celebrated from afar, there’s nothing quite like being together again in person.
The 10-year reunion was held at The Farm in Chapel Hill from 12–4 p.m. The family-friendly venue allowed attendees to enjoy not only the event with their peers but also outdoor activities with their little ones. The afternoon was full of hugs, laughter, delicious food, and the rekindling of old friendships, while also creating new memories with spouses, partners, and children. Alumni were also invited to gather later that evening at One40 Social on Franklin Street.
Being both a current faculty member in the Division of Physical Therapy (DPT) and a 2015 alumna, Deidra Charity took the lead in planning the 10-year reunion. After the class’s 5-year reunion in 2020 had to be held virtually, she was determined to make this one memorable. Early planning and teamwork were key. Charity sent out a survey in February to pick the best date and held several committee meetings starting in April. Partnering with many university entities, including Medical Alumni Affairs, helped make the event a success. “I reached out to several offices outside of the School of Medicine, and the responses I received were a great example of how UNC is truly a community of people willing to support others,” Charity says. Even classmates who couldn’t attend were included through a slideshow of photos and updates shared by alumni from all over.
Charity couldn’t have done it alone. The planning team included several UNC DPT Class of 2015 alumni — Briarly Reed, Reid Medlin, Patrick McNamara, and Mark Boles — along with Director of Alumni Engagement Dillon Kimmel, whose support was tremendously helpful.
Reed and Medlin reflected on the planning process and shared what made the event such a success. “Having regular Zoom meetings with our planning committee was helpful to stay on track,” Medlin said. “Deidra was the spearhead who kept us on track and did an amazing job keeping everything organized for us. Reaching out to the alumni group was smart and very helpful as well.” Reed agreed, adding, “We had a high turnout and everybody in attendance had great things to say about the event. From the amazing catering to the fellowship that was had, it was a great time to catch up with classmates.” Charity, Reed, and Medlin all agreed that the reunion went exceptionally well; the only thing they would have changed was having even more alumni there to share in the memories.
The current Director of the Division of Physical Therapy, Tim Eckard, also joined the celebration. He encouraged alumni to continue sharing their professional achievements with the program, highlighting opportunities to feature their work and service on the UNC PT website. Eckard also reminded attendees to stay connected with the department to follow program updates, student activities, and ongoing developments in the field.
Overall, the reunion had an excellent turnout. Many alumni were able to attend, traveling from both near and far to reconnect with classmates and current as well as retired faculty. The room was filled with laughter, heartfelt conversations, and stories of growth since graduation. For many, it felt as though no time had passed at all. The sense of pride and community within the PT program was evident throughout the day, making the reunion not just a celebration of the past but a reminder of the lifelong connections formed at UNC.
Thank you to everyone in the Division of Physical Therapy, university entities, local vendors, and to all who helped make this incredible event possible.