RMU'S MISSION
We develop healthcare professionals and leaders to advance evidence-based practice and improve the human condition.
Message from the President
RMU’s culture of service is alive in every classroom, clinic, and community we serve.
Dear Friends,
Last year, eight of our optometry students walked into the Utah State Correctional Facility. They were there because people inside those walls needed to see, and RMU could help. By the end of the day, 50 incarcerated individuals had received comprehensive eye exams. Some could read clearly for the first time in years.
This is what it means to improve the human condition.
Our theme—Loving & Lifting—is not aspirational language. It is visible every day in our clinics, classrooms, and communities. We saw it at Millie’s Royal Ball, where 41 students served more than 700 children facing life-threatening illness. We saw it in Thailand, where 175 wheelchairs were fitted for individuals who had none. I see it every week on our campus when Parkinson’s patients come to receive care.
We also strengthened Utah’s healthcare workforce. In 2025, we graduated 592 healthcare professionals. Notably, 97% are employed in their field within months of graduation, and 30% choose to serve in nationally underserved communities. New programs and accelerated educational pathways were created to meet workforce demands and help students get into clinics sooner. Because Utah (and the nation) needs prepared professionals now.
To our community partners, thank you for trusting us to serve alongside you. To RMU Foundation donors, your generosity makes a measurable impact. To our legislators, investing in healthcare education strengthens every community.
As we move into 2026, our momentum will continue as we develop healthcare professionals and leaders to advance evidence-based practice and improve the human condition.
With gratitude,
CAMERON K. MARTIN, PHD President & CEO
Rocky Mountain University of Health Professions
Healing Utah
When Utah communities needed care, RMU showed up
50 Men Can See Clearly Again. RMU Students Made That Happen.
Eight RMU optometry students walked into the Utah State Correctional Facility with a simple goal: help people see. By the end of the day, 50 incarcerated individuals had received comprehensive eye exams—many leaving with prescriptions that allowed them to read clearly for the first time in years.
Each diagnosis was reviewed and approved by faculty, who are optometric physicians. Along with the exams, individuals who needed corrective lenses were allowed to select a new pair of glasses. The screenings also helped bring to light other health conditions, resulting in helpful referrals to other healthcare specialists.
Photos courtesy of the Utah Department of Health and Human Services
700 Children. 41 Students. One Night That Meant Everything.
Every year, RMU students put their skills and empathy into inclusive fairy-tale escapes. Forty-one students from RMU volunteered at the 2025 Millie’s Royal Ball, bringing medical expertise and heartfelt service to more than 700 children facing cancer and life-threatening conditions.
Students studying optometry, physical therapy, and speech-language pathology provided first aid, adaptive activities, and tender care during the January event at Loveland Living Planet Aquarium in Draper. Kayla Barker, a student in the Master of Science in Medical Speech-Language Pathology program, exemplified RMU’s impact by twirling color-guard flags, captivating a young girl who later joined her school team. “You’re human. You’re not your cancer. You’re not your diagnosis,” said Barker, sharing her message to the children while embodying the University’s spirit to love and lift.
You’re human. You’re not your cancer. You’re not your diagnosis.
— RMU STUDENT KAYLA BARKER AT MILLIE’S ROYAL BALL
Community Health Fairs Served 250+ Utah Residents
For many, community health fairs are the only way to access healthcare services. Across the U.S., more than 1 in 10 people remain uninsured, highlighting the continued need for accessible community care. RMU works with area organizations to bridge the need.
RMU partnered with the Provo Seventh-day Adventist Church in July to host a health fair for church members. In addition to enjoying meals and activities, attendees received healthcare services and connections to local resources.
In September, RMU partnered with United Way of Utah County to host a community health fair. The event, which has turned into an annual collaboration, brought together students, faculty, and local healthcare partners to provide free health screenings, wellness education, and resources to community members.
Attendees received blood pressure checks, vision screenings, nutrition consultations, and health coaching from RMU’s expert faculty and students across multiple disciplines.
Hosting events like these demonstrates RMU’s ongoing commitment to expanding access to healthcare across the community.
When the Community Needed Support, RMU Opened Its Doors
In September, the RMU Counseling Clinic opened its doors to anyone in the community who needed support after the tragic shooting at Utah Valley University in nearby Orem. Over the ensuing weeks, the clinic provided counseling services free of charge, offering immediate care to help people regain some semblance of control after such a traumatic event. Many of these individuals were UVU students in need of support. Clinicians helped them feel grounded and safe, and introduced coping skills that could support them in the days ahead. “This was truly a team effort,” said Farley Sowards, senior director of the RMU Health Clinics. “Being able to support our community in moments like these is at the heart of why we do this work.”
Being able to support our community in moments like these is at the heart of why we do this work.
—
FARLEY SOWARDS,
SENIOR
DIRECTOR OF THE RMU HEALTH CLINICS
3,901 visits to the Eye Institute and Parkview Vision Clinic in 2025
For Dozens of Refugees, a Simple Eye Exam Changed Their Lives
In May, RMU optometry students helped run a pro bono clinic at the RMU Eye Institute, providing comprehensive eye exams and no-cost prescription glasses to underserved individuals in partnership with EyeCare4Kids and Utah Valley Refugees.
For students, it’s where learning becomes real. “In the classroom, we study a lot and look at books,” said RMU student Ashton Davis. “But here, I get to apply what I’ve learned.” For patients, it’s more than improved vision, it’s restored independence and improved quality of life.
This commitment to service extended beyond campus in 2025, with RMU students providing eye care through partnerships with the Ogden School District and outreach efforts serving Navajo Nation communities.
Parkinson’s Patients Show Up Ready to Fight
Twice each week, Parkinson’s patients walk into RMU as participants in their own progress. They arrive in workout clothes, ready to move, ready to work, and ready to be supported by a team that takes their goals seriously. For one hour, the sixth floor
becomes something more than classrooms: it transforms into a place where people living with a progressive disease are met with energy, structure, and hope.
Launched in 2022, the RMU Parkinson’s exercise program is an integrated clinical learning experience where Physical Therapy and Speech-Language Pathology students collaborate to support patients through carefully planned and safely executed sessions. Each class is designed to address the real-life challenges Parkinson’s creates—mobility, balance, speech, and cognitive engagement—through high-energy, adaptive exercise, and targeted activities.
For students, it’s learning that can’t be fully explained in a textbook. They learn how to coach with empathy, adjust in real time, and build trust with patients who are navigating complex health needs. For patients, it’s consistent care and community—an ongoing reminder that they don’t have to face Parkinson’s alone.
Healing the World
RMU’s mission extends beyond borders of RMU Alumni Work in Nationally Underserved Areas 30%
175 Wheelchairs. One Month. A Transformative Experience for Everyone Involved.
RMU PhD student Meredith Bailey, DPT, COMT, headed up a team of students and faculty members from Oklahoma Baptist University, where she teaches, on a wheelchair service project in Thailand. For a month, the group worked with hospitals and Stronger Together Thailand to provide free wheelchairs and healthcare to people in need. The group focused on wheelchair distribution in a mountain region of northern Thailand. In all, Dr. Bailey’s team helped assemble, fit, adjust, and distribute 175 wheelchairs.
“It was transformative,” she said. “I have a deeper appreciation for what we have access to here in the U.S. but also for the culture and selflessness of the Thai people.”
From Mexico to Malawi, RMU Students Serve the World
Serving others is at the heart of RMU’s mission. That was felt around the globe in 2025 as RMU students and staff provided care to people in need from the Americas to Africa.
Just before fall semester started, a group of 25 students and two faculty members provided 500 physical exams in 15 different orphanages in Mexico.
During the summer, another group of 18 RMU staff, students, and alumni attended a service trip to Malawi with World of Difference. They worked on service projects and offered free healthcare in several communities in the eastern African country.
These were life-changing events for the people who received care and for those from RMU who used skills in real-life settings while carrying on the University’s tradition of loving and lifting.
Building Utah's Healthcare Workforce
RMU is part of the solution
Utah Needs More Acute Care Providers. RMU Is Training Them Faster.
RMU introduced new Master of Science in Nursing options—the Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (AGACNP) program and post-Master’s certificate—to address pressing workforce needs in acute and critical care. The program prepares nurses to deliver advanced, evidence-based care to adult and older adult populations, with a strong emphasis on leadership in rural and underserved areas.
The AGACNP program features immersive simulation-based training, point-of-care ultrasound integration, and rare cadaver lab experiences. Coursework is delivered online with strong faculty mentorship and on-site intensives that prepare graduates for national certification and high-acuity practice.
The nurse practitioner profession has been ranked the #1 Best Job in America by U.S. News & World Report for three years running, citing strong demand, competitive compensation, and an expanding role in delivering patient care.
Opening the Door to Speech-Language Pathology for More Students
This year, RMU launched the innovative Speech-Language Pathology Leveling Curriculum, a streamlined pathway designed for students whose undergraduate programs do not offer communication sciences and disorders courses. Through six fully online courses, learners gain essential foundations in phonetics, anatomy, speech and hearing science, and language development. This makes it easier and more affordable for career-changers and nontraditional students to prepare for graduate study in speech-language pathology.
“This option allows students with a variety of undergraduate degrees and experiences to enter the field and add depth and diversity to the profession,” said Wendy Chase, RMU’s Master of Science in Medical Speech-Language Pathology program director.
By expanding access and flexibility, RMU is opening new doors into a growing healthcare field and strengthening the future of speechlanguage pathology.
New Technology Improves Swallowing Diagnostics and Care
In 2025, RMU introduced a state-of-the-art video fluoroscopy unit in the Voice and Swallowing Lab at the Center for Communication Disorders within the RMU Health Clinics. This advanced imaging technology, used for modified barium swallow studies, allows clinicians to observe real-time X-rays of the swallowing process to accurately diagnose and treat dysphagia or impaired swallowing.
This technology means more accurate diagnoses and better outcomes for patients who previously went undiagnosed. It also strengthens the healthcare workforce by training future clinicians on cutting-edge technology, ensuring all patients receive more advanced care.
Getting from Classroom to Clinic Faster. How RMU Is Shortening the Path to Practice.
RMU’s Education and Industry Partnership Program strengthens pathways for students and healthcare professionals by forming strategic collaborations with colleges and universities across the country. These partnerships offer faster, more efficient pathways into advanced healthcare degrees through streamlined programs and transfer agreements.
Through these agreements, students can shorten their time to graduation—such as completing an entry-level Doctor of Occupational Therapy degree in just 5.5 years (three years undergraduate and 2.5 years graduate) in comparison to 6.5-7 years via a traditional academic path.
Current partners include Utah Valley University, Southern Utah University, Brookline College, Albany State University, the University of Nevada–Reno, Weber State University, and Provo College, with more collaborations underway to expand opportunity even further.
A Doctorate—Now One Year Faster
The Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Health Sciences program has changed from a four-year model to an accelerated three-year structure. The redesigned hybrid format combines asynchronous online coursework with immersive on-campus experiences, demonstrating RMU’s commitment to delivering evidence-based, flexible education that meets the evolving needs of healthcare professionals.
The new PhD program allows customizable pathways, offering the opportunity for elective coursework and dissertations in virtually any area of health sciences.
Traditional qualifying exams were replaced with new landmark assessments focused on real-world applications of knowledge. This focus helps RMU set a new standard in graduate healthcare education.
RMU Offers
24 Degree Programs 25 Certificate Programs
The power of loving and lifting will transform your life, your patients' and colleagues' lives, and it will help the next generation.
— PRESIDENT CAMERON K. MARTIN
Inspiring Change Through Thought Leadership
RMU President Cameron K. Martin delivered the keynote address at the 2025 Summit Medical Institute held at Sundance, highlighting RMU’s commitment to bridging education and community. The mission of the event was to unite experts in advancing patient care through a many-minds approach—driving better outcomes for every patient. President Martin’s remarks emphasized the institution’s mission to “improve the human condition” through adopting a mindset of loving and lifting those in need. He ended the speech with a call for medical professionals to improve healthcare by taking on at least one student intern a year.
5,516 Total Degrees & Certificates Conferred since RMU's founding in 1998
The People Who Make It Possible
Students, faculty, and alumni define RMU’s impact
Student Stories
Sister Act: Strengthening Their Bond Through Speech-Language Pathology
Sisters Kylie Crook and McKenna Marks, often mistaken for twins, are pursuing Master of Science in Medical SpeechLanguage Pathology degrees. The Utah State University graduates joined RMU for hands-on training at the Center for Communication Disorders, preparing to help patients with speech, language, and swallowing disorders. Having done nearly everything together growing up, including running a marathon side-by-side, the sisters discovered speech-language pathology independently but aligned on its medical focus. Marks aspires to work with children, while Crook is drawn to swallowing disorders and head and neck cancer care, options the flexible program supports. The close-knit pair are set to graduate in 2026.
MS M ed SLP STUDENTS
Training Space Force Members with AI and Leading the Future of Healthcare
What if your coach could adjust your workout instantly based on your performance, fatigue, and risk of injury? That’s the future RMU PhD student and strength coach Adam Whisler is helping build. Using artificial intelligence (AI), he’s developing more responsive training systems that deliver real-time feedback to improve strength, performance, and long-term health outcomes—work that benefits members of the U.S. Space Force.
But the impact goes beyond fitness. This same technology has the potential to transform healthcare, supporting rehabilitation, preventing injury, and personalizing care in ways that weren’t possible before. AI can extend the reach of clinicians and coaches while still relying on human expertise.
Featured on RMU’s podcast The Pulse, Whisler demonstrates how AI is already being used to enhance coaching, education, and research—offering a glimpse into a future where healthcare is more individualized and accessible.
I think we will see a model of individualized healthcare for every single person with the help of AI.
— ADAM WHISLER
One of Utah’s Top Healthcare Students Started in Finance
Garrett Parry went from studying finance at Brigham Young University to physician assistant studies at RMU. His unique background stood out in interviews, with one faculty member asking, “Are you sure you’re in the right place?” Years later, it’s clear that Parry is right where he should be. He graduated in August 2025 with a Master of Medical Science degree, earning a 4.0 GPA and receiving multiple family medicine job offers. He was also named Utah’s Best College Student in the 2025 Best of State competition.
PhD STUDENT
PA STUDENT
Scan to watch Whisler's podcast
Adam Whisler, pictured left
A Future PT’s Unlikely Path from Childhood Illness to Ninja Warrior
Gabe Villalobos, an RMU Doctor of Physical Therapy student and Wyoming’s own “Village Wolf,” participated in the American Ninja Warrior national finals in Las Vegas during fall 2025. We won’t know how he fared in the competition until his episode(s) air in June 2026, but he confirmed that he had an “awesome” time chasing the $250,000 grand prize across six challenging obstacles. The Rock Springs, Wyoming, native’s compelling story includes his valiant battle against a childhood disease.
As a 10-year-old, he battled Systemic Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis until an experimental drug sparked a miracle recovery at Primary Children’s Hospital in Salt Lake City. Villalobos is so grateful for his experience at the hospital that he hopes to do a clinical rotation there.
Villalobos has a bright future in physical therapy and on the competitive obstacle course. “The sky’s the limit,” he exclaimed after returning to campus following his Ninja competition.
322 Graduates. One Mission: Go Out and Serve.
RMU proudly hosted its 2025 Commencement Ceremony in August at the UCCU Center in Orem. With 296 in-person graduates from 37 states and five countries along with 26 virtual graduates, the ceremony marked one of the largest graduating classes in RMU’s 27-year history. Students, families, friends, and alumni from around the globe gathered to celebrate the achievements of these future healthcare leaders.
“You leave here not only as occupational therapists, physician assistants, nurse practitioners, counselors, speech-language pathologists, researchers, or educators, but as compassionate and dedicated professionals who will make a difference by how you choose to serve,” said RMU President Cameron K. Martin.
Faculty Stories
Dr. Rhodri Purcell Goes from Top Secret Career to Top Educator
If Dr. Rhodri Purcell told you exactly what he did for a living after graduating from Brigham Young University in 1993, he’d have to kill you. OK, that wouldn’t really happen. But for legal reasons, the RMU associate professor is unable to divulge classified information about what he did in the mid-1990s as a military intelligence officer.
Currently teaching in RMU’s Doctor of Physical Therapy program, Dr. Purcell has enjoyed a productive career as a physical therapist and healthcare professor. He also serves as a mentor at RMU’s Physical Therapy Clinic.
It’s gratifying for him to teach the next generation of physical therapy students and to know that he’s making an impact on them and the people they treat. He retired from his clinical practice at Utah Valley Hospital to volunteer more often at the PT Clinic.
“I love how the clinic offers pro bono services. We’re giving back to the community and to all the people who wouldn’t get physical therapy otherwise,” he said. “It’s just really rewarding and fulfilling.”
DPT FACULTY
I became an optometrist so I could reach my patients directly, but I’ve found that you can reach a lot more through students.
— DR. ZANNA KRUOCH
She Left Texas to Help Build Something New at RMU
Though she enjoys clinic settings, Dr. Zanna Kruoch particularly loves educating students about the ins and outs of optometry. She has created curriculum for RMU’s College of Optometric Medicine and collaborates with other professionals and multidisciplinary teams, including pediatricians and pharmacists. After establishing herself as an outstanding educator and optometrist in Texas, Dr. Kruoch moved to Utah in 2023 to help RMU become the first optometry school in the Intermountain West. She’s been described as “compassionate, demanding, and smart”—qualities that factored into her being honored as a Utah Business Magazine 2025 Healthcare Hero and as the Utah Optometric Association’s Educator of the Year.
“I really love teaching,” Dr. Kruoch said. “I’ve always wanted to do something impactful. I became an optometrist so I could reach my patients directly, but I’ve found that you can reach a lot more through students.” 462
OD FACULTY
Photos courtesy of Utah Business Magazine
No Matter Where They Go, RMU Alumni Stay Connected
From Houston to Philadelphia to Washington, D.C., RMU alumni are building careers and staying connected along the way. In 2025, more than 150 graduates came together at regional events and national conferences, reconnecting with classmates, expanding professional networks, and strengthening ties to the RMU community.
These gatherings are more than networking— they’re a reminder that their RMU journey doesn’t end at graduation. It continues through shared purpose, professional support, and a commitment to lifting others throughout their careers.
5,061
Total Alumni RMU
ALUMNI GATHERINGS IN 2025
February I Houston, TX
American Physical Therapy Association
Combined Sections Meeting
April I Philadelphia, PA
American Occupational Therapy Association Annual Conference
June I San Diego, CA
American Association of Nurse
Practitoners Conference
July I Kansas City, MO
National Strength & Conditioning Association National Conference
November I Washington, D.C.
American Speech-Language-Hearing Association Convention
They’re Leading in Healthcare and Giving Back Along the Way
RMU’s 2025 Alumni Award recipients reflect what happens when education meets purpose. These graduates are not only advancing their fields—they’re mentoring others, improving patient care, and expanding access to health and wellness in their communities.
Dr. Kirsten Thornhill
Dr. Thornhill is already making an impact in maternal-fetal medicine research at Intermountain Health in Salt Lake City. She also co-founded a global consulting firm supporting PhDs in career transitions and leads wellness initiatives locally, extending her influence beyond research into real-world impact.
Dr. Nick Rainey
Dr. Rainey has built a career centered on both clinical excellence and mentorship. Through his practice and teaching, he continues to guide RMU students and shape the next generation of physical therapy professionals.
Her Impact Continues to Shape Nursing
Nearly 50 years into her career, RMU alumna Dr. Mimi Secor continues to influence the future of nurse practitioner care nationwide. As the recipient of the 2025 AANP Sharp Cutting Edge Award, she is recognized for decades of leadership in clinical practice, education, and advocacy.
From founding one of Massachusetts’ first NP-owned practices to leading national organizations, Dr. Secor’s work has expanded access to care and elevated the role of nurse practitioners across the country. Her career reflects the lasting impact RMU alumni can have, not only on patients but on the profession itself.
Innovation Spotlight—RMU Pulse
In 2025, RMU launched RMU Pulse, a monthly video podcast highlighting evidence-based healthcare innovation.
The inaugural episode features RMU faculty member and researcher Dr. Crystal Miskin who explores the science behind running injuries and recovery. From hydration and fueling strategies to the critical role of sleep, she offers practical insights that help listeners better understand how the body heals and how to optimize performance while reducing injury risk.
Research That Changes Practice
Turning evidence into applicable outcomes
Where RMU Research Is Showing Up and Making an Impact
RMU research doesn’t stay on campus, it shows up in leading journals and conferences where healthcare professionals go to learn what’s next. Faculty, students, and alumni are contributing to conversations that shape clinical practice, education, and patient outcomes.
Leading journals that published RMU research include American Journal of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, Journal of Sports Physical Therapy, Military Medicine, Open Journal of Occupational Therapy, and more.
RMU faculty and students presented at major conferences such as American Occupational Therapy Association Annual Conference, American Physical Therapy Association Combined Sections Meeting, the World Physiotherapy Congress, American Speech-Language-Hearing Association Convention, and athletic training forums.
DR. MARY SHOTWELL'S SELECTED RESEARCH & CONTRIBUTIONS (2025)
Focus Areas:
• Intellectual & developmental disabilities
• Trauma-informed care in education
• Aging and quality of life
• Functional movement disorders
• Rural and underserved populations
Published in:
• Journal of Occupational Therapy Education
• Open Journal of Occupational Therapy
• Tremor and Other Hyperkinetic Movements
Presented at:
AOTA National Conference, APTA Combined Sections Meeting, AAIDD, and national OT conferences
OT/PhD FACULTY
Research is critical to any profession, but healthcare in particular. If we don't have evidence for our practices then our practice is merely trial and error.
— DR. MARY SHOTWELL
Turning Discovery into Real Improvements in Patient Care
What happens when research actually reaches the people who need it? For Dr. Mary Shotwell, it means better care for patients, stronger clinical decision-making, and more prepared healthcare professionals entering the field.
In 2025, her work focused on some of healthcare’s most complex challenges—from improving care for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities to advancing trauma-informed education and understanding quality of life across aging populations. Her research doesn’t stay in journals—it shapes how clinicians treat patients, how educators train students, and how healthcare systems respond to real-world needs.
Many of her studies are conducted alongside RMU PhD students and alumni, giving them hands-on experience in research that directly impacts patient care.
“The best part of working with the PhD program is celebrating students’ successes,” she said. “Seeing a student’s paper accepted for presentation or publication feeds my scholarly soul.”
After Two Decades of Research, He Is Still Focused on What Helps Patients Most
What does better care actually look like for children, families, and schools trying to support development? For Dr. Bryan Gee, it starts with research that answers those questions in ways clinicians can actually use.
Over nearly two decades, Dr. Gee has focused on improving outcomes in occupational therapy, with work spanning sensory processing, infant development, pediatric care, and school-based interventions. His research helps practitioners understand not just what works, but how to apply it in real-world settings where every patient and family is different.
But his impact goes beyond what he publishes. Dr. Gee is deeply committed to mentoring the next generation of clinicians and researchers, working closely with students and early-career faculty to build skills in research, clinical reasoning, and evidence-based practice.
“Research doesn’t just tell us what works—it tells us what doesn’t,” he said. “That’s how we move the profession forward.”
DR. BRYAN GEE'S SELECTED RESEARCH & CONTRIBUTIONS (2025)
Focus Areas:
• Pediatric and infant development
• Sensory processing and sleep
• School-based occupational therapy
• Mentorship and clinical education
Published in:
• Open Journal of Occupational Therapy
• Journal of OT, Schools & Early Intervention
• Academic Journal of Health Science & Research
Presented at:
AOTA National Conference, AOTA Education Summit, and national OT forums
OTD FACULTY
Advancing Healthcare Innovation in the Heart of the Mountain West
In its inaugural year, the Mountain West Research Summit brought together nearly 200 students, faculty, and healthcare professionals for a day focused on one thing: advancing care through collaboration. Co-hosted by RMU and Noorda College of Osteopathic Medicine, the event featured research spanning clinical care, education, and emerging science, from Parkinson’s disease to postpartum recovery.
More than a showcase, the Summit created space for connection and idea-sharing. As RMU continues to grow its research footprint, events like this signal something bigger: a commitment to leading the field of evidence-based healthcare research.
Several RMU researchers were recognized for work that directly impacts patient care and clinical practice.
Podium Presenter Winners
• Parkinson’s disease exercise outcomes
Dr. Tyler Luszeck
• Postpartum recovery interventions
Dr. Crystal Miskin
Synopsis & Poster Winners
• Brain injury and quality of life
Dr. Natalie King
• Knee extensor strength symmetry
Dr. Erin Florkiewicz
• Mindfulness and recovery
Dr. Cenell Boch
• MS and COVID-19 outcomes
Steven Landspurg
• Pelvic floor measurement innovation
Dr. Hina Garg
From Idea to Impact: Supporting Every Phase of Research
RMU’s Office of Research empowers faculty, students, and partners to turn ideas into impact. Located on RMU’s Provo campus, the office supports every phase of the research process, from grant development to publication. It also offers access to cutting-edge equipment such as 3D printers, motion-capture technology, electroencephalogram systems, and virtual reality tools.
From exploring red light therapy for first responders to investigating breathing patterns in Parkinson’s patients, RMU drives evidence-based research that improves practice and strengthens the University’s reputation as a leader in healthcare.
MOUNTAIN WEST RESEARCH SUMMIT
Better Healthcare Doesn’t Happen Alone
Partnerships that lift communities
Bringing Leaders Together to Strengthen Community
What happens when leaders from healthcare, education, technology, and policy sit down at the same table?
At RMU’s inaugural Falcon Vision gathering, the answer was clear: better ideas, stronger partnerships, and a shared commitment to improving healthcare across Utah and beyond. Hosted in September, the forum brought together regional leaders to tackle real challenges in healthcare delivery and workforce development.
More than a single event, Falcon Vision represents a growing effort to connect people who can move forward together.
Partners Who Make the Work Possible
RMU is proud to collaborate with organizations that share a commitment to improving lives:
• United Way of Utah County
• EyeCare4Kids
• Now I Can Foundation
• Noorda College of Osteopathic Medicine
RMU Employees Are a ‘Great Tornado of Goodness’ during Day of Caring
Continuing a cherished annual tradition, RMU employees joined hundreds of volunteers to provide community service during the United Way of Utah County’s 2025 Day of Caring. For the third consecutive year, RMU staff, faculty, and administrators assisted the Now I Can Foundation in Orem, by completing a long list of cleaning and maintenance tasks inside and outside of the intensive physical therapy center.
RMU comes in here like a great tornado of goodness and energy and gets so much stuff done.
— TRACEY CHRISTENSEN EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR,
NOW I CAN FOUNDATION
Giving Machines Turn Generosity into Care
Through its partnership with the Light the World Giving Machine initiative, RMU is helping turn community generosity into real, measurable care.
In 2025, the RMU Health Clinics partnered with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to expand access to services for underserved populations. Donations directly support patient care across RMU’s clinics, while also creating hands-on learning opportunities for students.
University Updates
Program Growth
The College of Optometry was renamed the College of Optometric Medicine, reflecting RMU’s commitment to advancing medically integrated vision care.
Leadership Updates
College of OPTOMETRIC MEDICINE
Recognition & Awards
RMU earned three Best of State honors for the second consecutive year, recognizing excellence in student achievement, curriculum innovation, and leadership.
Best University Student
Garrett Parry, Physician Assistant student Graduated August 2025
Best Curriculum Development
RMU Occupational Therapy Department
Best University Administrator
Dr. Cameron K. Martin, President & CEO
Honoring Board Service
RMU extends its gratitude to D. Brent Israelsen and Mary Jane Harris, who concluded their service on the Board of Trustees after nearly a decade of leadership, guidance, and commitment to the University’s growth.
Foundation Leadership
Jeffrey Fisher joined the RMU Foundation as senior executive director, bringing extensive experience in healthcare and higher education fundraising to expand partnerships and philanthropic impact.
Academic Leadership
Dr. Sheri Montgomery was appointed program director for the Master of Occupational Therapy program. With deep experience in program development, accreditation, and student training, she will help guide the program’s continued growth and excellence.
Chief of Staff Appointment
Richard Peterson stepped into the role of chief of staff, bringing more than a decade of institutional leadership experience to support strategic planning, operations, and the Office of the President.
Built for What's Next
RMU expanded campus spaces to support learning and engagement:
• Occupational therapy labs
• Fluoroscopy unit
• New classrooms
• Veterans lounge
• Media studio
Organizational Growth
Dana Marsh was promoted to vice president of Enrollment, Marketing, and Communications, joining the University Cabinet. Stephen Whyte expanded his leadership role as executive vice president of University Relations, continuing to support institutional strategy and external partnerships.
Looking Ahead
At Rocky Mountain University of Health Professions, we have a vision of being a leading force in transformative healthcare education by removing barriers to career advancement and upholding the highest standards of educational excellence.
Each year, our students, faculty, staff, alumni, and partners extend the reach of RMU far beyond our campus. Through research that improves care, clinical education that prepares confident and compassionate practitioners, and partnerships across the healthcare community, we continue working to meet the growing needs of patients and the workforce.
But the responsibility of preparing the next generation of healthcare professionals cannot rest with universities alone. As the demand grows, so does the need for dedicated mentors and partners willing to invest in the future.
We invite you to join us.
Your involvement helps ensure that RMU continues to love and lift those we serve while preparing the healthcare workforce our communities depend on.
How? Serve as a preceptor. Partner in research. Share your stories. Support our students through donations. Advocate for higher education.
Together, we will strengthen the future of healthcare.