A Message From the Chair

A message to our friends and alumni –

This has been another extraordinary academic year for our school. Applications to our School were up sharply with our participation in a new national centralized application service and we look forward to a full class of thirty-four students. Our clinics continue to thrive and are providing unique learning and service opportunities to our students and the campus community. 

The School has added two new faculty members effective autumn semester of 2009. Dr. Ryan Mizner joins the faculty after serving on the physical therapy faculty at Eastern Washington University. A native of Missoula, Ryan received his Ph.D. in Biomechanics and Movement Science in 2005 from the University of Delaware, where he also received his MPT in Physical Therapy in 2000. Ryan received the 2009 Margaret L. Moore Outstanding New Academic Faculty Award from the APTA, the 2009 Outstanding Faculty Award in Scholarly Activity from EWU, the 2007 Excellence in Quality Service Award from EWU and was a 2005 Finalist for New Investigator Recognition Award, Orthopaedic Research Society. His interests are in orthopedics and clinical research where his primary work has been in the advancement of evidence based practice and the science of physical therapy practice and determining the extent, sources, and impact of skeletal muscle impairments in patients who have disorders of the knee joint.

The School is also pleased to announce the addition of Dr. Sara Scholtes from Washington University, in St. Louis, where she has been finishing her dissertation work in the Movement Science Program. Sara has been the recipient of three prestigious PODS Scholarships through the Foundation for Physical Therapy, the 2004 Mary McMillan Doctoral Scholarship, the 2004 Steven J. Rose Research Award and the 2002 Scholars in Physical Therapy Award at Washington University. She is a Phi Beta Kappa graduate of Luther College; her current research focuses on movement impairments in people with musculoskeletal pain problems, particularly of the lower extremity.

The arrival of Drs. Scholtes and Mizner will coincide with the development of a new motion capture laboratory which will include runway, force plates and a sophisticated camera system. We are delighted to have these two superb faculty members join our group and look forward to the opportunities for student learning and scholarly activities.

In the fall, Cathy Rase joins our group as an adjunct faculty member to deliver expertise in pediatric physical therapy. We also appreciate the contributions of our clinical faculty, particularly Drs. Sue Ostertag and Brenda Mahlum, Mary Coar, Jess Malouf and many area clinicians.

In the past year we initiated a transitional DPT program and have now over 70 students including Montana physical therapists enrolled in this program which will no doubt improve care for residents all over the country and all over Montana while providing for enhanced clinical internship experiences for students. The curriculum is designed to meet the needs of both BS and MS trained graduates who are licensed PTs so I encourage you to check the web site if you are interested.

Perhaps most importantly I am pleased to announce the School has been re-accredited for 10 years by our accrediting agency, CAPTE, following a grueling and sometimes – no, all the time – tedious 18 month process. And whether you are fans or not of US News and World report rankings – I think if you are ranked you believe in them and if you aren’t, well, you don’t – the School was ranked in the top 20% of all programs in the US and that includes the Division I heavyweights like Washington University in St. Louis, Duke, Southern Cal and Miami. It is the first time we’ve been ranked so to ascend in the rankings so quickly at the very least means we’re being noticed by our peers and that’s good for all Montana graduates.

As always, I am indebted to a great faculty and staff and the continuing support of Dean David Forbes and his crew. As an alumnus, you have a lot to be proud of and I encourage you to visit us. And of course, despite the challenging economic times I would be remiss not to ask your consideration of helping us help the students through unrestricted gifts to the School, so please keep us in mind. So, I’d love to hear from you anytime and see you if you are in the neighborhood! All the best in the year ahead.

Reed Humphrey, PT, PhD

Professor & Chair