JANUARY 2020
PHYSICAL THERAPY NEWS UNIVERSITY OF MARY
PROGRAM DIRECTOR’S MESSAGE Mary Dockter, PT, PhD, Physical Therapy As I am in the midst of my 10th year as Program Director for the Department of Physical Therapy (22 years total at the University of Mary) and during this time of New Year’s resolutions, I felt this was a timely and appropriate title to my update.
together in 1995. I know I speak for many of my deep gratitude for their tireless dedication, guidance, wisdom, and mentorship. Thankfully neither of them is going far and we certainly hope to continue to utilize their skills in some capacity in the coming years. We will keep you posted on some type of celebratory event in the near future thanking them for their service and wishing them well on their next phase. I look forward to hearing the many stories from Drs. Roller and Parker, faculty, friends, and alumni!
Looking back
Over the past 10 years much has changed, and much has stayed the same. I am thankful for a loyal and steadfast commitment from our team of faculty and staff. In a time in which most PT programs are struggling to fill open positions, we have been blessed with strong retention. Our 9- member faculty has an average length of service to the University of 15 years! Our program has grown from a cohort of 21 students in 1997 to our current status of 48 students/cohort. Additionally, the program transitioned from a master’s degree to a clinical doctorate in 2003, graduating its first DPT cohort in 2006. This makes for a bustling
“The present defines the future. The future builds on the foundation of the past.” Lailah Gifty Akita Certainly, the University of Mary Physical Therapy Program’s (U of Mary PT) story wouldn’t even have been started without the vision, perseverance, and hard work of our early leaders, Dr. Jodi Roller and Dr. Michael Parker. As Dr. Roller notes in her comments, she will be transitioning into a new phase this summer retirement. It is fitting that Dr. Parker also announced his impending retirement as the two of them started their journey at the U of Mary