DPT Faculty Bios

healing in motion

Doctor of Physical Therapy Faculty

School of Physical therapy Leadership

Mark Reinking, PT, PhD, FAPTA

Board-certified Specialist in Sports Physical Therapy Certified Athletic Trainer Dean, SoPT Professor

Dr. Mark Reinking has over 30 years of experience in physical therapy practice and education. He received his Master of Science in Physical Therapy from the University of Indianapolis in 1988 and his PhD from Saint Louis University in 2004. He is a licensed physical therapist, a certified athletic trainer and a board-certified specialist in sports physical therapy. His primary area of practice and research is athletic rehabilitation. He has more than 30 peer reviewed publications and has been invited to present at numerous national and international conferences on lower extremity overuse injuries. His 2017 systematic review on medial tibial stress syndrome risk factors received the T. David Sisk Award for best review paper in 2017 from Sports Health.

Dr. Reinking is a member of the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA), National Athletic Trainers Association and board member for the Center for African American Health. He was the recipient of the 2012 APTA Baethke-Carlin Award for Excellence in Academic Teaching and the 2014 Lifetime Excellence in Education Award from the Sports Section of the APTA. In 2020, Dr. Reinking received the Tab Blackburn Hall of Fame/Lifetime Achievement Award from the American Academy of Sports Physical Therapy.

Dr. Reinking is currently serving as president of the American Council of Academic Physical Therapy, the organization of physical therapist education programs in the United States. Dr. Reinking is a guitarist, an avid cyclist, hiker and enjoys winter sports. He loves spending time with family, especially his grandson!

Heidi Eigsti PT, DPT, PhD

Board-certified Clinical Specialist in Pediatrics Director of Graduate Studies and Assessment Professor

In the year 2020, Dr. Eigsti celebrated 25 years of service in the School of Physical Therapy. Dr. Eigsti is the DPT Program Director with her focus on student progression, daily operations, program development and assessment. She has been a practicing pediatric physical therapist for more than 40 years, is an APTA Board Certified Pediatric Specialist and earned her PhD in Pediatric Science from Rocky Mountain University of Health Professions. In 2014, she was inducted into the Alpha Sigma Nu Jesuit Honor Society recognized for leading DPT students in global immersions and her commitment to leadership and intercultural development. She has published and presented nationally on interprofessional models of service delivery in early intervention, leadership and intercultural development. Dr. Eigsti serves on the Institutional Review Board at Rocky Mountain University of Health Professions. She is a Pediatric Physical Therapy Journal reviewer and is an academic liaison for the Colorado APTA Pediatric Special Interest Group.

Dr. Eigsti was recently appointed to the Colorado Interagency Coordinating Council, a governor’s appointed council charged with advising the State’s Early Intervention lead agency in providing services to families who have children with disabilities.

Dr. Eigsti has teaching responsibilities related to health humanities, pediatric physical therapy, intercultural development and leadership. In her free time, she enjoys skiing, and mountain biking and spending time with her PT husband and three children (Regis alumni).

Ira Gorman, PT, PhD, MSPH Assistant Dean Professor

Ira Gorman has been a physical therapist for 40 years and has been at Regis University since the creation of the PT program in 1995. He was a part of the group of professionals that came together in 1994 to start a new physical therapy education program in Colorado that was evidenced based and believed in quality patient centered care around Jesuit values. He received his PT degree from SUNY Stony Brook and later his PhD in Health and Behavioral Sciences from the University of Colorado-Denver with a research interest in the effect of the built environment on childhood physical activity and obesity. He also holds a Master of Science in Public Health from the School of Medicine at the University of Colorado Health Science Center, Department of Preventive Medicine.

Ira presently focuses his teaching on the areas health policy, business management, diagnostic imaging, global health and professional values. He incorporates his behavioral health and public health background to give the students a population health perspective that incorporates the social determinants of health into a physical therapy intervention program that helps truly meet the APTA vision of transforming society. Ira has a long history of public policy work on health care reform nationally as a former member of the public policy committee for APTA, the APTA Political Action Committee Board of Trustees and locally as a member of Colorado Commission for Affordable Healthcare. He presently serves as a Governor appointed member of the Colorado State Board of Physical Therapy. He teaches with passion, commitment and practical experience as a former clinic owner and clinic director. He is also the clinical manager of RegisCares, the on campus physical therapy faculty practice.

Stacy M. Carmel, PT, DPT, Ed.D.-C Director of Clinical Education Assistant Professor

Dr. Carmel has more than 14 years in full-time physical therapy practice and nineteen years teaching in physical therapy higher education. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Physical Therapy from the University of Mississippi Medical Center in 1997 and completed her post-professional Doctor of Physical Therapy from Western University in California in 2010. Dr. Carmel earned her Doctorate in Education from the University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences in Florida in 2020.

Dr. Carmel’s physical therapy practice experience includes out-patient orthopaedics, wound intervention, inpatient oncology and acute care practice. Dr. Carmel has a research interest and has been invited to present research in physical therapist and physical therapist assistant intra-professional practice and DPT student interprofessional practice. Dr. Carmel’s present scholarship agenda includes physical therapy clinical education and PT/PTA collaborative learning and practice. In addition to her experience educating students in the clinical setting, Dr. Carmel teaches and facilitates clinical educational learning experiences. As the Director of Clinical Education Dr. Carmel seeks to maximize the student’s clinical education opportunities and experiences.

Dr. Carmel is an APTA Level I and Level II Credentialed clinical instructor. As a member of the American Physical Therapy Association, and as the chair of the Colorado Clinical Education Special Interest Group, Dr. Carmel seeks to expand excellence in clinical education.

Dr. Carmel is an avid reader, and enjoys outdoor activities and traveling. She loves spending time with her husband, daughter and son.

Cameron MacDonald, PT, DPT, FAAOMPT Board-certified Clinical Specialist in Orthopaedics and Geriatrics Director of Fellowship in Orthopaedic Manual Physical Therapy & Residency in Orthopaedics Associate Professor

Dr. Cameron MacDonald, associate professor in the Regis School of Physical Therapy, has practiced clinically for more than 25 years and served in academic teaching roles for over 15 years. He originally trained in Australia, and earned his Doctorate from Regis University with subsequent Fellowship training in Orthopaedic Manual Physical Therapy (OMPT). He is board-certified in orthopaedics and geriatrics with research awards for scholarly publications in orthopaedics and geriatrics. His ongoing PhD research focuses on the historical roots of manual therapy. He has achieved clinical recognition at the university, state and national levels with service awards. He currently chairs the program directors special interest group of the American Academy of OMPT and is the immediate Past-President of the Colorado Chapter of the APTA.

He is the director of the Regis Fellowship in OMPT and the Residency in Orthopaedics. His ongoing studies are focused on the foundational origins of manual therapy, dry needling, telehealth and a diverse array of orthopaedic and manual therapy interests. He is blessed with an energetic family who keeps him on his toes, and has traveled to more than 30 countries and all 50 states.

Erin Choice, PhD, CSCS Director of Health and Exercise Science Program Assistant Professor

Erin Choice has ten years of experience in strength and conditioning practice and five years of experience teaching in health and exercise science higher education. She earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Exercise Science and Health Promotion and her Master of Science degree in Exercise Physiology, both from Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton, Florida. She also earned her PhD in Health and Human Performance from Concordia University of Chicago. Erin is drawn to the vastness of the health and exercise science field and all that is encompassed by it. She hopes to share her passion to improve and advance the field with her students, so that they may be the advocates that the world needs to improve health and performance.

Suzanne Holm, OTD, OTR/L, BCPR Occupational Therapy Academic Program Coordinator and Associate Professor Board Certified in Physical Rehabilitation

Suzanne Holm has over 30 years of experience as a practitioner and has been in academia since 2013. Dr. Holm completed her post-professional doctorate in occupational therapy from Creighton University in 2013. She received a Master of Arts from Texas Woman’s University in 1997 and a Bachelor of Science in Occupational Therapy from the University of Texas Medical Branch in 1991. Through the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA), she attained board certification in physical rehabilitation in 2006, recertifying in 2011, 2016 and 2021.

Her practice areas include inpatient rehabilitation and acute care. Her research has been published in the American Journal of Occupational Therapy, the Journal of Occupational Therapy Education, and Physical and Occupational Therapy in Geriatrics. She is an author and co-editor of the text, Occupational Therapy in Acute Care. A life-time member of AOTA, she helped to develop their Board and Specialty Certification process, completed a seven-year term on the Fellowship Program Review Committee and is the Representative for Colorado on AOTA’s Representative Assembly. In 2016, she received the Occupational Therapy Association of Colorado’s Marjorie Ball Award of Merit for contributions to occupational therapy in Colorado. She and her husband enjoy adventures with their German Shorthaired Pointer, Butters.

Stephanie Albin, PT, DPT, PhD, FAAOMPT

Board-certified Clinical Specialist in Orthopaedics Assistant Professor Fellow of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Manual Physical Therapy

Dr. Albin received her physical therapy master’s and doctorate degrees, in addition to her PhD in rehabilitative science, from the University of Utah. She received her Fellowship in Manual Therapy from Regis University in 2007, and is certified as a clinical specialist in orthopaedics. She has over 14 years of clinical experience.

Her primary area of practice and research is management of patients with foot and ankle injuries. She has been invited to present at numerous national conferences on the management of patients with foot and ankle conditions. She has published several peerreviewed manuscripts and is a reviewer for the American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine Foot and Ankle Guidelines. She has been awarded funding from agencies such as the Department of Defense and the National Institute of Health (NIH) for research involving the management of foot and ankle conditions.

Dr. Albin is a member of the APTA. She is also a member of the Foot and Ankle Special Interest Group where she has served on the board for more than five years.

She enjoys skiing, climbing, running, biking, hiking and loves being outdoors.

Jean Marie Berliner, PT, DPT, PhD

Board-certified Clinical Specialist in Neurologic Physical Therapy Assistant Professor

Dr. Berliner received her master of physical therapy and transitional doctor of physical therapy degrees from the University of Scranton in Pennsylvania. She received her PhD in rehabilitation sciences from the University of Colorado, Anschutz Medical Campus in 2018, and is certified as a clinical specialist in neurologic physical therapy. She has practiced as a physical therapist for over 15 years.

Her primary area of clinical practice is in the management of neurologic populations. She has worked with patients in many different settings including acute care, in-patient and outpatient rehabilitation settings. Her research has focused on studying visual, vestibular and oculomotor deficits and fatigue in Parkinson’s disease. Dr. Berliner also has a passion for global health and health equity having practiced physical therapy for almost 2 years in Central America. She has participated in many different non-profit organizations providing free health care for under and uninsured individuals. Dr. Berliner currently participates as both a clinician and administrator for Rehabilitation Services Project (RSVP) here in Denver, CO. She has been invited to present at numerous national conferences and has published several peer-reviewed publications. She is a reviewer for Physiotherapy Theory and Practice.

Dr. Berliner is a member of the APTA. She is also a member of multiple Special Interest Groups including the Spinal Cord Injury, Brain Injury and Vestibular Special Interest Groups. She is also a member of the Vestibular Disorders Association.

Dr. Berliner enjoys spending time with her family being outdoors: hiking, camping or on the water. She is also most often chasing after her six-year-old twins.

Alice Davis, PT, DPT

Alice M. Davis has 23 years of clinical experience and ten years of academic teaching at Regis University. She holds a master’s and doctorate in physical therapy. Alice is an associate professor and is on the Clinical Education and Post-Professional Teams. With an extensive background in leadership in action for the physical therapy profession, she contributed to the development of the leadership curriculum for Regis Doctor of Physical Therapy students. She has presented her research on leadership development at multiple national conferences. Her collaborative effort with Dr. Heidi Eigsti has led to their manuscript being accepted for publication in the Journal of Physical Therapy Education. Alice’s ongoing commitment to leadership development extends beyond the physical therapy profession — she has served as a coach for the Leadership Institute at Regis University. She frequently enjoys travel to Ethiopia with students as part of organized global health immersions.

She is a physical therapy founder of Regis Neighborhood Health, which is an innovative integrative health model aimed at supporting health, wellness and community connections in Northwest Denver. She has a broad range of clinical experience with a primary focus in orthopaedics, health and wellness. She is a board-certified clinical specialist in orthopaedic physical therapy and is certified in health coaching, Pilates rehabilitation and dry needling. She is a member of the APTA and is the recipient of the Outstanding Physical Therapist award and the Bob Doctor Service award for the Colorado chapter of the APTA.

Dr. Davis’ secret sauce to happiness consists of family, faith, life-long learning and, of course, morning workouts before the sun rises.

Board-certified Clinical Specialist in Orthopaedics Associate Professor

Rebecca Downey

PT,

DPT Assistant Professor APTA Board Certified Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Specialist

Rebecca Downey is an assistant professor in the School of Physical Therapy. She received her Doctorate from Regis in 2009 and became an APTA Board Certified Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Specialist in 2017. Her clinical background includes time spent practicing in pediatrics and most recently in acute care. She still practices as a senior Physical Therapist at the University of Colorado Hospital and is passionate about working with patients who are critically ill in the ICU.

She has been a member of the APTA since her first year as a physical therapy student. She is an avid trail runner and enjoys spending time running long distances, especially in the mountains and with her family.

Hannah Herriott, PhDc Assistant Professor

Hannah Herriott is an anatomy and neuroscience professor in Rueckert-Hartman College for Health Professions’ School of Physical Therapy at Regis University. She decided to pursue a career as a medical educator due to passion for facilitating learning in others coupled with a desire to improve healthcare through more holistic approaches to professional education and development. Hannah’s research interests are driven by the Jesuit value of magis; as she strives to add to the collective body of educational research in the pursuit of excellence. This research includes exploring innovative methods of promoting interprofessional education, communication, teamwork, near peer mentorship, and culturally inclusive teaching practices into a curriculum. Interacting with students and aiding in their growth, personally as well as professionally, is the highlight of Hannah’s job as an educator. Her favorite quote, by Saint Thérèse de Lisieux, is “Without love, deeds, even the most brilliant, count as nothing.” It is that love of her students, colleagues, and community that drives every facet of her academic, service, and research roles both within and outside of Regis.

Larisa Hoffman, PT, PhD Associate Professor

Dr. Larisa Hoffman has 12 years of experience as an assistant and associate professor at Regis University. She received her physical therapy degree and her doctorate at the University of Miami. She enjoys working with children and adults with neurological dysfunction. Most of her clinical practice has been devoted to working with young children. During her doctoral work, she worked as a physical therapist in the neuromotor rehabilitation lab at the Miami Project to Cure Paralysis, where she worked with individuals with spinal cord injuries. She is interested in gait training interventions including orthoses and dry needling. She is a member of Academy of Pediatrics and the Academy of Neurological Physical Therapy. Dr. Hoffman enjoys spending time with her family biking, skiing, hiking and jeeping.

Hofmann, PT, PhD Assistant Professor

Melissa Hofmann is an assistant professor in the School of Physical Therapy. She earned her bachelor’s and master’s in physical therapy from D’Youville College and her doctorate in research methods and statistics from the University of Denver. She has 19 years of clinical experience as a licensed physical therapist in multiple inpatient hospital-based settings including trauma and neurological ICU, general acute and subacute care, and inpatient acute rehabilitation.

She continues to practice as a senior physical therapist at the University of Colorado Health. She is an active member of the APTA, specifically the research, education, health policy and neurological sections. Her primary research interests include trauma advocacy for practitioners and patients, LGBTQIA cultural competence in physical therapy, traumatic brain injury, spinal cord injury and stroke rehabilitation. She has also engaged in multiple service endeavors including participation in the 9Health Fair sponsored by Regis University, Project Homeless Connect, health-related missions in Peru and Nicaragua, and was a volunteer trauma medical professional following the Haiti earthquake in 2010. In her free time, she enjoys hiking, mountain biking, snowboarding and snowshoeing.

Melissa

Kristen L. Jagger, PT, MSPT, PhD Professor

Kristen Jagger has been a physical therapist for 23 years, initially graduating with her MSPT from North Georgia College and State University. She has practiced in a variety of settings, eventually finding her passion in outpatient orthopaedics. Kristen’s fascination with how things work led her to pursue and complete a PhD in biomechanics at the University of Florida, after which she entered PT academia full time. Dr. Jagger’s research interests primarily involve dynamic balance assessment methods. She is especially interested in validating the use of dynamic balance tests designed for younger athletes in the healthy aging populations. Dr. Jagger has been a member of the APTA since her first year as a student of physical therapy. She believes in living life to its fullest and is convinced that spending time in nature is key to being truly fulfilled.

Laura LaPorta PT, PhD Assistant Professor

Dr. LaPorta has enjoyed holding ranked or affiliate faculty roles in physical therapist education for 22 years and celebrates being part of the Regis community for the past 15 years. She has taught responsibilities related to human movement, musculoskeletal management and psychosocial aspects of health care. She serves on the Clinical Education Team in the School of Physical Therapy, where she acts as a liaison between students, clinical instructors, and coordinators of clinical education, to facilitate a complement of clinical experiences that are individualized and well-rounded for each graduate student advisee. She has practiced for 26 years, is an orthopedic specialist and a recognized expert in pelvic health. As the President/Owner of Providence Physical Therapy, a local private, outpatient physical therapy practice – she specializes in the treatment of spine, hip, pelvis, obstetric, gynecological, urogenital, and chronic pain issues in men and women. She speaks locally and nationally on women’s health and men’s health topics in communities, and at scientific meetings, has published in scientific journals, and is a principal investigator in clinical research on an ongoing basis. Working at Regis University, she finds great joy teaming with others who share a common passion of teaching, service and Jesuit mission and is inspired by the Ignatian values of magis and integrity in her roles as teacher, mentor, leader, researcher, and clinician.

Andrew Littmann, PT, PhD Associate Professor

Dr. Littmann worked for many years in clinical practice in the United States and New Zealand, specializing in neurological rehabilitation, with particular interest in stroke, spinal cord injury and vestibular disorders. He was credentialed as a board-certified clinical specialist in neurological physical therapy in 2001. He completed his doctorate in rehabilitation science from the University of Iowa in 2012. During that time, he received three promotions of doctoral studies awards through the Foundation for Physical Therapy.

He has numerous peer-reviewed publications in human cortical and spinal plasticity in response to motor learning and physical activity. Dr. Littmann is currently a member of the Academy of Neurologic Physical Therapy and serves nationally as a member of the APTA’s Council on Frontiers in Rehabilitation Science and Technology, and also the APTA Vestibular Special Interest Group. In recent years, his interests have expanded to regenerative medicine and genomics in physical therapy, as well as leading global health immersion projects in Peru.

William McGehee, PhD,

Associate Professor

CEEAA

William McGehee, Jr. PT, PhD, CEEAA is an associate professor in the School of Physical Therapy at Regis University. He has been a physical therapist for 25 years. Bill served as professor of practice and director of Physical Therapy Education for the Physical Therapy Department at the University of Florida (UF) in Gainesville, FL from 2016-2019. Prior to this position, Dr. McGehee served as an assistant professor and director of Clinical Education at the UF from 2013-2019. He was an assistant professor and director of Clinical Education at Bradley University in Peoria, IL from 1998-2013. He has been an active member of the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA), Illinois Physical Therapy Association (IPTA) and Florida Physical Therapy Association since 1993, having held the position of IPTA treasurer from 2002-2004 and Illinois Physical Therapy PAC chair from 2002- 2006. He has served 11 times as a chapter delegate to the APTA House of Delegates. Dr. McGehee was elected to the position of APTA Speaker of the House and member of the Board of Directors of APTA in 2020 and previously served as vice speaker of the House from 2010-2013. He is a member of the Academy of Physical Therapy Education, Academy of Orthopedic Physical Therapy, Academy of Acute Care Physical Therapy, HPA-The Catalyst and the Cardiovascular and Pulmonary section of the APTA. He received his PhD in Public Policy Analysis and Administration at St. Louis University. He received a Bachelor of Science degree in Zoology with an option in athletic training from Eastern Illinois University and a Bachelor of Science degree in Physical Therapy from Bradley University. He received his Master of Health Science degree from the University of Indianapolis. Dr. McGehee maintains an active clinical practice in home health care. He has also provided clinical care in his career across many physical therapy settings including outpatient and acute care. He received certification as an Exercise Expert for Aging Adults (CEEAA) in 2019.

Nancy Mulligan, PT, DPT

Board-certified Clinical Specialist in Orthopaedics Fellow of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Manual Physical Therapy Associate Professor

Dr. Nancy Mulligan (she/her) has been with Regis University since 2004 where she has facilitated growth in the next generation of physical therapists through her passion for orthopaedic physical therapy, global health and clinical education. She previously served as the Director of Clinical Education for 13 years where she gained an appreciation for the profession of physical therapy by building partnerships across the country and continues to develop mentors for the Regis University Residency of Orthopaedic Physical Therapy.

Dr. Mulligan has a passion for addressing global health inequities through teaching, service and scholarship. As the RHCHP Global Health Pathway Chair, she teaches and serves on an interprofessional healthcare team in Peru and with multiple domestic community partners serving under-resourced individuals. She has extensive training in Ignatian spirituality, was a Regis Ignatian Faculty Fellow and is an honorary member of the Jesuit Honor Society, Alpha Sigma Nu. This appreciation for the Jesuit Mission has provided a lens to examine inequities that impact the LGBTQIA+ community and other under-represented communities. Dr. Mulligan and her colleagues’ LGBTQIA+ research is centered around identifying LBGTQIA+ cultural competence issues in physical therapy from a clinician, student and academic perspective.

Dr. Mulligan served as the Colorado chapter of the APTA as the cochair of the Awards Committee from 2008 to 2022 and is the current nominating committee chairperson of the APTA Academy of Leadership and Innovation. In recognition for Dr. Mulligan’s service to the profession she was honored to receive the APTA Colorado Chapter Bob Doctor Service Award in 2022.

Laurel Proulx Associate Professor

William McGehee, Jr. PT, PhD, CEEAA is an associate professor in the School of Physical Therapy at Regis University. He has been a physical therapist for 25 years. Bill served as professor of practice and director of Physical Therapy Education for the Physical Therapy Department at the University of Florida (UF) in Gainesville, FL from 2016-2019. Prior to this position, Dr. McGehee served as an assistant professor and director of Clinical Education at the UF from 2013-2019. He was an assistant professor and director of Clinical Education at Bradley University in Peoria, IL from 1998-2013. He has been an active member of the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA), Illinois Physical Therapy Association (IPTA) and Florida Physical Therapy Association since 1993, having held the position of IPTA treasurer from 2002-2004 and Illinois Physical Therapy PAC chair from 2002- 2006. He has served 11 times as a chapter delegate to the APTA House of Delegates. Dr. McGehee was elected to the position of APTA Speaker of the House and member of the Board of Directors of APTA in 2020 and previously served as vice speaker of the House from 2010-2013. He is a member of the Academy of Physical Therapy Education, Academy of Orthopedic Physical Therapy, Academy of Acute Care Physical Therapy, HPA-The Catalyst and the Cardiovascular and Pulmonary section of the APTA. He received his PhD in Public Policy Analysis and Administration at St. Louis University. He received a Bachelor of Science degree in Zoology with an option in athletic training from Eastern Illinois University and a Bachelor of Science degree in Physical Therapy from Bradley University. He received his Master of Health Science degree from the University of Indianapolis. Dr. McGehee maintains an active clinical practice in home health care. He has also provided clinical care in his career across many physical therapy settings including outpatient and acute care. He received certification as an Exercise Expert for Aging Adults (CEEAA) in 2019.

Amy Rich

Board-certified Clinical Specialist in Orthopaedics Fellow of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Manual Physical Therapy Associate Professor

Dr. Nancy Mulligan (she/her) has been with Regis University since 2004 where she has facilitated growth in the next generation of physical therapists through her passion for orthopaedic physical therapy, global health and clinical education. She previously served as the Director of Clinical Education for 13 years where she gained an appreciation for the profession of physical therapy by building partnerships across the country and continues to develop mentors for the Regis University Residency of Orthopaedic Physical Therapy.

Dr. Mulligan has a passion for addressing global health inequities through teaching, service and scholarship. As the RHCHP Global Health Pathway Chair, she teaches and serves on an interprofessional healthcare team in Peru and with multiple domestic community partners serving under-resourced individuals. She has extensive training in Ignatian spirituality, was a Regis Ignatian Faculty Fellow and is an honorary member of the Jesuit Honor Society, Alpha Sigma Nu. This appreciation for the Jesuit Mission has provided a lens to examine inequities that impact the LGBTQIA+ community and other under-represented communities. Dr. Mulligan and her colleagues’ LGBTQIA+ research is centered around identifying LBGTQIA+ cultural competence issues in physical therapy from a clinician, student and academic perspective.

Dr. Mulligan served as the Colorado chapter of the APTA as the cochair of the Awards Committee from 2008 to 2022 and is the current nominating committee chairperson of the APTA Academy of Leadership and Innovation. In recognition for Dr. Mulligan’s service to the profession she was honored to receive the APTA Colorado Chapter Bob Doctor Service Award in 2022.

Julie Stutzbach PT, DPT, Ph.D., Assistant Professor

Julie Stutzbach, PT, DPT, PhD is a clinician scientist with extensive experience in neurorehabilitation and research experience in mixed methods, physical activity, clinical trials, qualitative research, and behavior-change. She graduated from Chatham University with her DPT and completed her PhD in Rehabilitation Sciences from the University of Colorado. Her research interests include improving rehabilitation for adults with neurodevelopmental disabilities and physical activity in post-acute care environments. Dr. Stutzbach practices at the RegisCAREs clinic. She is passionate about using evidence-based methods to prepare the next generation of physical therapists to achieve clinical excellence as well as to realize happiness and well-being for themselves.

Katie Yahya, PT, DPT, GCS Assistant Professor

Dr. Yahya comes to Regis with a wealth of clinical knowledge in the acute, rehab and complex medical patient population and is a board-certified specialist in Geriatrics through the Americal Physical Therapy Association (APTA). She has practiced in the Denver Metro area for over ten years with a special focus on acute care and the intensive care unit. Her focus as an educator at Regis is to bridge the gap between students and entry level clinicians. As a member of the Clinical Education team, she hopes to create connections between foundational learning and clinical practice; develop reflective clinicians; and continue to develop learners who become leaders at Regis University.

Dr. Yahya is an active APTA member and a founding member of the Colorado Acute and Rehab SIG (CARe SIG) which focuses educational offerings to therapists in the in-patient and rehab settings. In 2022, she became the Co-Chair of the Clinical Rehab Educators Focus group, the newest group in the Academy of Acute Care Physical Therapy to connect educators in the clinical space improve processes and network. She also works with the Regis SoPT Student SIG organizations to improve leadership opportunities.

Working at Regis University, she finds great joy teaming with others who share a common passion of teaching, service and the Jesuit mission.

In her spare time, Dr. Yahya also enjoys spending time with her family and gardening.