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Administration and Graduate Program Directors
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Vice President
of Academic Affairs
Stan Hartgraves, PT,
PhD
Stan Hartgraves has been involved with health
professions educational programs for over 15 years.
He has had a variety of experiences as a faculty
member, program director, and administrator, and has
been a physical therapist since 1969 (University of
Texas Medical Branch at Galveston graduate). Stan
has a Ph.D. in Physiology and Biophysics from the
University of Southern California and has published
numerous articles and abstracts in the fields of
behavioral neuropharmacology and neurotoxicology.
Stan was in the Air Force for over 20 years,
practicing as a therapist and directing Air Force
biomedical research following completion of his
studies at USC. As an educator and administrator,
he especially enjoys interacting with faculty and
students, and has mentored students in areas such as
research, the neurosciences, anatomy,
pathophysiology, and pharmacology. |
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Clinical Electrophysiology
Michael Skurja Jr., PT,
DPT, ECS
Executive Vice President
Dr. Skurja graduated with a Bachelor's degree in
Biological Science from Fort Lewis College in 1967
and a Certificate in Physical Therapy from the Mayo
Foundation, School of Physical Therapy in 1969. He
was commissioned as a Lieutenant Junior Grade in the
Naval Medical Department in 1969, and over the next
23 years he was stationed at numerous Naval
Hospitals throughout the United States. In 1977 the
Navy sent him to graduate school at the University
of Southern California in Los Angeles, California,
and in 1979 he graduated with a Masters Degree in
Physical Therapy with a specialization in
musculoskeletal disorders. He retired from the Navy
in 1992 with the rank of Captain. Dr. Skurja
received his Doctor of Physical Therapy degree from
Rocky Mountain University of Health Professions in
2007.
He is board certified by the American Board of Physical Therapy Specialties as a Electrophysiologic Clinical Specialist. He has served as the chairman of the Specialty Council for the Section on Clinical Electrophysiology of the American Physical Therapy Association, and in 1993 was awarded the Professional Merit award by the section.
He has authored several chapters in textbooks and his publications have appeared in the U.S. NAVY MEDICINE, PHYSICAL THERAPY, JOURNAL OF ORTHOPEDIC AND SPORTS PHYSICAL THERAPY, and JOURNAL OF CLINICAL ELECTROPHYSIOLOGY. |
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Doctor of Physical Therapy
Daniel G. Rendeiro,
PT, DSc, OCS, FAAOMPT
Dr.
Rendeiro hails from Pennsylvania, where he earned
an undergraduate degree in biology and English
from Bucknell University. Following several
career paths including a position as a manuscript
editor at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, he
obtained his physical therapy training from Baylor
University. Dan has been an Army physical
therapist for the past thirteen years.
During this time, he has practiced in outpatient
and inpatient orthopaedics, acute care, home
health, and nursing home settings. Since
2002, he has been the director of the U.S.
Army-Baylor University Postprofessional Doctoral
Program in Orthopaedic and Manual Physical
Therapy, at Brooke Army Medical Center in San
Antonio, Texas. There, he has coordinated
research efforts aimed at identifying subgroups of
patients likely to respond to particular
interventions. He is also interested in
implementing exercise regimens that optimize
musculoskeletal function.
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Pediatric
Therapy
Jane K. Sweeney, PT, PhD, PCS
Dr. Sweeney, a former Mary Switzer Distinguished Research Fellow of the National Institute for Disability and Rehabilitation Research, conducts neonatal physiological research in Tacoma, WA. She has a private practice for pediatric home care and neonatal ICU clients.
Dr. Sweeney's educational degrees include BA from the University of the Pacific, MS from Colorado State University, and PhD from the University of Washington. The emphasis of her doctoral study was the high-risk infant and family; her doctoral research focused on physiological and behavioral tolerance of neurological assessment procedures in preterm and full-term neonates. Publications on pediatric topics include 14 journal articles,
10 chapters, 15 peer-reviewed abstracts, and 1 edited book.
After receiving physical therapy education in the US Army Medical Department, Dr. Sweeney worked primarily in pediatric and neurologic rehab positions. Before retiring at the rank of Colonel, she held a six-year position as Chief of Clinical Investigation and Research for the Army Medical Specialist Corps and a 12-year position as Pediatric Physical Therapy Consultant to the office of the Army Surgeon General.
Dr. Sweeney was in the first group of 4 to become board certified in pediatric physical therapy in 1986. She then served as Chair of the Pediatric Specialty Council and as chair of the American Board of Physical Therapy Specialties. She chaired a task force on neonatal ICU practice guidelines for the APTA Section on Pediatrics
and has served as an editorial board member of Infants and Young Children Journal,
Developmental Medicine and Child Neurology, and
Pediatric Physical Therapy journals.
Dr. Sweeney was recipient of the distinguished
mentorship award, distinguished service award, and
outstanding doctoral dissertation award of the
Section on Pediatrics, APTA and the Richmond Award
(Research) from the Academy for CP and Developmental
Medicine. |
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Orthopaedic
and Sports Physical Therapy
Lori Thein Brody,
PT, PhD, SCS, ATC
Lori Thein Brody is currently the Orthopaedic
and Sports Physical Therapy Graduate Program
Director for Rocky Mountain University in Provo,
Utah. She also works as a Physical Therapist and
Athletic Trainer at the University of Wisconsin
Sportsmedicine and Spine Center. She has taught in
physical therapy education programs at Ithaca
College and the University of Wisconsin. Dr. Brody
has lectured extensively across the country on
management of orthopaedic and sports related
injuries, aquatic physical therapy, arthritis and
other connective tissue problems and musculoskeletal
primary care. She has over 20 articles and chapters
to her credit and along with Carrie Hall, she
co-authored Therapeutic Exercise: Moving
Toward Function, published by Lippincott
Williams & Wilkins,. She is currently working on
the third edition of this text and a new textbook in
aquatic physical therapy. She served on the
Musculoskeletal Panel for Volume II of the Guide
to Physical Therapist Practice, and on the
Guide to Physical Therapist Practice Task Force,
Volume III. She also served on the American Board
of Physical Therapy Specialties, including serving
as its chair. She also served on and chaired the
Committee for the Credentialing of Post-Professional
Clinical Residencies and Fellowships. |
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President
Richard P. Nielsen, PT,
DHSc, ECS
Dr. Nielsen obtained his BS degree in Zoology from Brigham Young University and his BS degree in Physical Therapy from the University of Utah in 1975. He entered the United States Navy serving in various positions over twenty years including Assistant Chairman of Physical Therapy at Naval Hospital Camp Pendleton, California, Chairman of Physical Therapy at Naval Hospital, Portsmouth, Virginia and as Chairman of Physical and Occupational Therapy at National Naval Medical Center, Bethesda, Maryland. During Dr. Nielsen’s last tour of duty, he served as Chief Physical Therapist for the United States Navy and as Physical Therapy Consultant to the Surgeon General, The United States Supreme Court, Congress and White House. Following retirement, Dr. Nielsen co-founded and served as President of the Institute of Clinical Electrophysiology in Provo, Utah where he served until becoming President of Rocky Mountain University of Health Professions in 1998. Rick graduated from the University of Washington with an MS degree in
neuro-kinesiology and from the University of St. Augustine with a Doctorate in Health Sciences with specialization in Clinical Electrophysiology. Rick is concurrently practicing as an electromyographer in Utah and is a board certified clinical specialist in clinical electrophysiology. He has authored chapters in textbooks and published in peer reviewed journals in the specialty area of Clinical Electrophysiology. |
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Vice
President of Finance
Michael
Millet, MBA
Mr. Millet
earned a BA degree in Speech Education (1967) and an
MBA degree with emphasis in accounting (1972) from
Brigham Young University. As a Systems Engineer
with Electronic Data Systems he developed and
maintained large-scale health claims and accounting
computer systems, and over the next 24 years
developed software systems for healthcare, life
insurance, mortgage banking, cost accounting, steel
manufacturing, state transportation, and supply
chain applications. For five years during this
period he owned and operated his own software
development company and developed a proprietary
computer accounting system for small businesses. He
has turned around several technical development
projects by implementing formal project management
disciplines into the development process, and has
recently coordinated the technical implementation of
manufacturing and service contracts worth over $75
million in annual revenue. Mr. Millet also studied
Instructional Technology at the graduate level and
has over six years’ experience as a professional
trainer presenting both technical and leadership
training. |
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Athletic
Training
Malissa
Martin,
EdD, ATC/L, CSCS
Dr.
Martin is the Graduate Program Director of the Doctor of
Science program in Athletic Training at RMUoHP. She earned a
bachelor of science degree from Indiana State
University. She was awarded a master's and doctorate of
education degrees from the University of South Carolina,
where she also earned a post graduate certification in
alcohol and drug studies. Professor Martin is a 2005
recipient of the National Athletic Trainer's Association
Most Distinguished Athletic Trainer Honorary Award. She
serves on the editorial board for the Journal of
Athletic Training and is the education column editor
for Athletic Therapy Today . She is as an
athletic training education curriculum consultant and
site visitor for the Joint Review Committee for Athletic
Training Accreditation. Dr. Martin is a nationally
known speaker and has over 35 publications to her
credit. A master teacher in orthopedic assessment
and
pedagogy, Dr. Martin has over 20 years of experience as
an athletic training educator at the undergraduate and
graduate level. |
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Nursing
Sandy
Pennington, PhD, RN PhD
Academic Dean
Dr. Sandy
Pennington holds a PhD in Nursing from the
University of Kentucky in Lexington, Kentucky. Her
doctoral study explored symptom appraisal in women
with coronary artery disease. She has co-authored
several textbooks, including those in the areas of
critical care and emergency nursing, and
pharmacology. She had served as a clinical
consultant for nursing texts related to assessment
and to critical care, and as a reviewer of several
texts dealing with critical care and nursing in
contemporary society. She had also authored articles
in Research in Nursing & Health and
Nursing Magazine,
Sandy is involved with clinical, educational, and
legal consulting, and lectures on topics related to
women’s health, preparation for the NCLEX
examination, and evidence-based practice. She is a
past Salzburg (Austria) seminar fellow and Mellon
Grant recipient and has taught nursing at the
Baccalaureate and Doctoral Level. She currently
serves as the Academic Dean at RMUoHP.
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Vice
President of Student Services
Jessica
Egbert, MEd
Ms. Jessica Egbert has
been with Rocky Mountain University of Health
Professions since 2001 and has over 14 years of
special expertise in informatics and project
management in the healthcare and education
industries. Her baccalaureate degree in
psychology was awarded by Brigham Young University
and she received her Master of Education degree from
American InterContinental University with an
instructional technology emphasis. In 2008,
she began working on a PhD in Educational Leadership
at TUI University. Ms. Egbert has presented
multiple times at the national conference of the
American Association of Collegiate Registrars and
Admissions Officers (AACRAO) and is a member of
AACRAO, Psi Chi National Honor Society, and
International Society of Technology in Education.
She serves locally on the Board of the Women’s
Business Network of the Provo-Orem Chamber of
Commerce.
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Director of
Research
Mitch Rauh,
PT, PhD, MPH,
FACSM
Mitchell J. Rauh, PT, PhD, MPH obtained his
doctorate in Epidemiology with a special interest in
injury epidemiology from the University of
Washington. He has also received degrees in Health
Sciences (University of Nevada-Reno), Public Health
(San Diego State University), and Physical Therapy
(University of Washington). Dr. Rauh is concurrently
an adjunct faculty member in the Departments of
Exercise & Nutritional Sciences and Graduate School
of Public Health, San Diego State University, San
Diego, CA. He is also Co-Principal Investigator of
Project SPIRIT (Sports Injury Research In Teens) and
a research scientist consultant at the Naval Health
Research Center in San Diego. Dr. Rauh is also an
active clinical practitioner in the San Diego area.
Dr. Rauh’s current research interests include high
school sport injury epidemiology (surveillance and
analytical studies) and issues concerning the female
athlete and recruit (risks of musculoskeletal
injury, female athlete triad). Dr. Rauh is a member
of the Research and Sports (SPTS) sections of the
American Physical Therapy Association, and is a
founding member/chairperson for the SPTS Female
Athlete SIG. Dr. Rauh is also a member and fellow of the
American College of Sports Medicine where he has
presented at symposiums and platform sessions on
high school sports injury research. |
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Doctor of
Occupational Therapy
Martha
Hartgraves,
PhD, OTR/L, CLT
Martha
Hartgraves is a practicing clinician in Provo, Utah. She
received her Occupational Therapy degree from the University
of Texas Medical Branch Galveston and her Ph.D. in Clinical
Chemistry and Pharmacology from the
Westfaelische-Wilhelms-Universitaet in Muenster, Germany.
Dr. Hartgraves’ clinical experience includes adult physical
rehabilitation in inpatient and outpatient settings and her
academic experience includes faculty positions at Texas Tech
University and University of New Mexico. Dr. Hartgraves’
research interests include occupation-based practice in
orthopedics, outcomes research, and the detrimental effect
of drugs in rehabilitation. Dr. Hartgraves is the
chair of the Institutional Review Board and Graduate Program
Director of the post-professional Doctor of
Occupational Therapy program at RMUoHP. |
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Certified Hand Therapist Electives (OTD and DPT)
Susan
Michlovitz, PT, PhD, CHT
Susan
Michlovitz, PT, PhD, CHT, is in private practice in
Ithaca, NY. She is an Adjunct Associate Professor,
Rehabilitation Medicine, Columbia University. Before
relocating to Ithaca in 2005, she was Professor,
Department of Physical Therapy, Temple University,
Philadelphia PA. Dr. Michlovitz has extensive
experience in teaching hand therapists at the APTA
Combined Sections Meetings, ASHT and American
Association for Hand Surgery (AAHS) Annual Meetings.
She is the 2008 Natalie Barr Lecturer for the ASHT
Annual Meeting. Dr. Michlovitz is on the Editorial
Advisory Boards of the Journal of Hand Therapy and
of Techniques in Hand and Upper Extremity Surgery.
She serves on the Board of Governors of the Hand
Surgery Endowment (of the AAHS). Her most recent
scholarly works have been published in the Journal
of Hand Therapy, Archives of Physical Medicine and
Rehabilitation and Journal of Orthopaedic and Sports
Physical Therapy. She was co- guest editor and a
contributor for the 2006 Special Issue on the Elbow
of the Journal of Hand Therapy. |
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Clinical Electrophysiology
Lisa V.
DePasquale, PT,
DSc, ECS
Dr. DePasquale has been involved in physical therapy for
greater than 22 years. She was a Navy Physical Therapy
Technician for 12 years, completed a Bachelor’s Degree in
Physical Therapy at Kansas University while in the Naval
Reserve and was subsequently commissioned in 1987. She
served as a Naval Officer and physical therapist for 15
years. While on active duty, she was assigned to various
Naval medical facilities, deployed to Saudi Arabia and
earned her Master’s degree in Kinesiology with an emphasis
in Motor Control from the University of Maryland in 1997.
Prior to retiring from the Navy she completed her Doctor of
Science with a concentration in Clinical Electrophysiology
from Rocky Mountain University of Health Professions in
2001.
Her professional credentials include electrophysiologic
specialist board certification granted by the American Board
of Physical Therapy Specialties in 1993; Program Chair and
Secretary for the Section of Clinical Electrophysiology of
the American Physical Therapy Association; Chair, EMG Task
Force, Virginia Physical Therapy Association; Co-Chair,
Virginia Board of Medical Examiners Work group; Member,
Committee on EMG Practice, Section of Clinical
Electrophysiology of the American Physical Therapy
Association.
Academically, she established a physical therapist
assistant degree completion program for Army and Navy
Physical Therapy Technicians at Northern Virginia Community
College, coordinated EMG training courses for Department of
Defense personnel, implemented various EMG training courses
for physical therapists and physicians, published
professionally and was appointed as adjunct faculty at
several Universities. After retiring from the
Navy in 2002, she practices as an orthopedic
electromyographer in the local area and consults with
physician specialty groups. |
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Health
Promotion and Wellness
Troy Adams, PhD,
FAWHP
Dr.
Adams’s primary focus is the use of technology to influence
health outcomes, particularly among the college student and
working adult populations. His secondary focus is the
effectiveness of complementary and alternative medicine. He
has been engaged in the health promotion industry for over
20 years—12 as a college professor. He has published
over 40 articles or abstracts, received close to $700,000 in
grants and contracts, and presented at professional
conferences dozens of times. He also has presented over 100
invited lectures and speeches on personal effectiveness,
wellness, and personal finance. Additionally, he is the
Editor for the Database section of the American Journal of
Health Promotion, a member of the National Wellness
Institute Board of Trustees, an American College of Sports
Medicine certified Health/Fitness Director, and a licensed
facilitator for the 7 Habits of Highly Effective People. |
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Doctor of
Nursing Practice
Marie-Eileen Onieal, PhD,
MMHS, RN, CPNP, FAANP
Dr.
Onieal holds a PhD in Nursing and Health Policy from the
University of Massachusetts Boston, her dissertation
“Hospital Closures in Massachusetts: A Case Study of the
Waltham Hospital Closure” examined governmental, community,
and employee perspectives about the 2003 Waltham Hospital
closure in order to understand the impact of hospital
closings and the perception of access to health care
services resulting from the closure. She holds Master in
Management of Human Services from The Heller School for
Social Policy and Management; the focus of her Master’s
project was after school services for middle school
children. Dr. Onieal earned a BS in Nursing at Pace
University, and her Pediatric Nurse Practitioner Certificate
at Northeastern University. Dr. Onieal is one of the
founders of the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners (AANP),
and a Past President of that organization. In 1997 she was
selected as a US Public Health Service Primary Care Policy
Fellow, representing the AANP. In recognition of her
advocacy for Nurse Practitioners at the local, state and
national levels, in 2000, Dr. Onieal was inducted as a
Fellow of the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners.
Dr.
Onieal’s clinical expertise is in Pediatrics and
Orthopedics. She is a frequent lecturer at national
conferences and nurse practitioner programs. She has
developed, initiated, and maintained the Nurse Practitioner
role in multiple healthcare settings. Her administrative roles include
Health Policy Coordinator - Bureau of Health Quality
Management; Hospital Preparedness Coordinator - Center for
Emergency Preparedness; Executive Director Professional
Licensure Board, all with the Massachusetts Department of
Public Health. Dr. Onieal is currently the Director of
Health Services for the Massachusetts Department of Youth
Services and co-Graduate Program Director for the
DNP program at RMUoHP. |
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