Virginia Commonwealth University’s College of Health Professions has appointed Benjamin Darter, P.T., Ph.D., chair of the Department of Physical Therapy. Darter has served as interim chair since fall 2022.

Darter’s primary research and clinical interests are in the areas of rehabilitation following extremity amputation, optimization of gait performance, and overall health promotion. He teaches courses in orthotics and prosthetics, and applied exercise physiology in the entry level Doctor of Physical Therapy program.

Earlier this year, he was awarded a $1.97 million grant from the U.S. Department of Defense to collaborate with colleagues from the University of Washington and the Hanger Institute for Clinical Research and Education to study how much attention amputees currently give to their artificial leg while walking. Ben has subsequently been awarded a $4m grant from the Department of Defense for his research on myoelectric control in people with transradial amputation.