The longtime chair reshaped USC’s physical therapy program and now, upon stepping down as associate dean and chair, returns to the classroom.

BY MICHELLE McCARTHY

JAMES GORDON JOINED USC IN 2000 as associate dean and chair of the USC Division of Biokinesiology and Physical Therapy, viewing the role as an exceptional opportunity. A native New Yorker with his education and professional roots on the East Coast, Gordon was drawn west by a chance to lead one of the nation’s premier physical therapy programs at a pivotal moment.

“USC was already one of the top programs in the country,” Gordon recalls. “The timing was right for my family, and the position had tremendous potential for excellence. It was an easy decision.”

Twenty-five years later, Gordon has stepped down from his leadership role, leaving a Division transformed into a model for research, education and clinical practice.

But don’t call it a retirement. “We don’t use the ‘r’ word,’” he says, with a laugh. “I’ve stepped down as chair, but I’m still very much part of this community. I’m on sabbatical for the fall, then I’ll return in January as a professor.”

A Culture of Creativity and Respect

For Gordon, the true joy of his work has been the culture that developed within the Division.

“There’s always something exciting going on — new ideas, innovative projects, creative approaches,” he says. “That environment of constant innovation makes it a joy to come to work.”

Equally important, he adds, is the culture of respect. “Every individual matters — faculty, staff, students, leadership. We’ve built a place where people value one another’s contributions. That makes the Division not just productive, but a genuinely good place to be.”

A Profession Transformed

The field of physical therapy has changed dramatically since Gordon first entered it more than 50 years ago. At the time, most physical therapists held only bachelor’s degrees. But, by the late 1990s, USC was one of the first programs to elevate entry-level education to the doctoral level.

“USC graduated its first class of doctors of physical therapy in 1998, and I arrived two years later,” he explains. “That daring model was one of the things that attracted me here.”

In the decades since, the entire profession has followed suit. Today, every accredited program requires a doctoral degree. The shift has elevated the perception of physical therapists from technical assistants working under physician supervision to autonomous healthcare professionals.

“It has changed enormously how physical therapists are viewed — by colleagues in healthcare and by patients,” Gordon says. “USC was at the forefront of that transformation.”

Looking Ahead

As he steps down, Gordon acknowledges the challenges facing higher education. “I couldn’t have chosen a more difficult moment to step down,” he admits. “These next few years will be bumpy. Resources are tight, public confidence in higher education is under pressure, and the landscape is shifting. But the Division has a strong faculty and excellent staff. They’ll find their way through.”

His advice is simple: Hold onto core principles. “Stay focused on what matters most — excellence in teaching, research and service to students,” he says. “The details will be hard, but the values should never waver.”

A Return to the Classroom

Gordon is using his sabbatical to prepare for his next chapter as a professor. “A sabbatical isn’t a vacation,” he says. “It’s time to refocus on the next stage of my career.”

He is working on new courses and sharpening his skills, particularly around the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in education. “AI is going to be a big part of the future of teaching. I need to understand both its strengths and its challenges so I can help students navigate it,” he says.

When he returns in January, Gordon will take on a larger role in teaching neuropathology in the DPT program and may also lead a PhD course. “I’m excited to devote more time to teaching,” he says. “That’s always been a part of the work I’ve loved.”

A Career of Collective Accomplishments

When asked what he is most proud of, Gordon resists claiming personal credit. “When you’re chair, there’s no ‘I accomplished,’” he says. “Everything we achieved, we achieved together. I was fortunate to help an extraordinary group of people see the possibilities and pull together to accomplish them.”

That collective effort, he says, built a department unique in the nation for its integrated excellence in research, education and clinical practice. “It was intentional,” he explains. “When I first came, we looked around, saw the possibilities and set about building something exceptional. Over time, we’ve earned a well-deserved reputation across every dimension of physical therapy.”

But if pressed to name one legacy, Gordon points to the people. “The most important thing a chair does is hire and support faculty,” he says. “I look at our department today, at the outstanding faculty and staff we’ve recruited and developed, and that’s where I see my greatest accomplishment. They are the future of the Division.”