If you get a PhD you will be educated in becoming an independent researcher. You can work in any number of places including medical devices/pharm, CRO, uni, non profit, health care system. There are lots of options and lots of opportunities.
That said, choosing a PhD program is where all of your efforts should go if that is the route you decide to take
1. See what research is going on in the Dept you are interested in. Do pubmed searches. Do nih reporter searches.
2. Identify potential mentors. For PhD you should know who you are going to work with before you accept.
3. Talk with potential mentors. Ask to talk with current and past students. Get all of your questions answered. You should be able to transfer some DPT courses in to the degree. Well depending on the PhD.
4. Don’t only consider rehab science PhD. Think about neuroscience, ex phys, interdisciplinary health, biomechanics, public health, health education, etc. all of these would allow you to do rehab related research and may offer more flexibility.
5. Do NOT pay for your PhD. Your mentor should fund you. If not a US citizen this may be trickier and you may have to pay something. But any good PhD program will fund you. Ask this question explicitly. This doesn’t mean you won’t have to take out loans for rent and stuff. Programs with T32 funding for pre docs would be particularly good.
