20th anniversary for Rocky Mountain University of Health Professions

​PROVO, Utah, June 7, 2018 – Setting out on a mission to advance the quality, delivery, and efficacy of healthcare to the world, Rocky Mountain University of Health Professions (RMUoHP), an institution of higher education regionally accredited through the US Department of Education, this week celebrates its 20th Anniversary.
 
Since its founding in 1998, there have been approximately 2,200 graduates of the University’s doctoral and master’s degree programs in different healthcare specialties. Graduates from all 50 states and other countries today treat millions of patients annually in their respective healthcare professions throughout the world. Many are also healthcare educators and administrators within reputable institutions.
 
“We estimate Rocky Mountain University of Health Professions graduates currently treat tens-of-thousands of patients throughout the country every day,” said Dr. Richard P. Nielsen, founding president of Rocky Mountain University of Health Professions. “The quality of care these patients receive is evidence of the quality of education our graduates experience.”
 
RMUoHP graduates experience:

• a 97% student satisfaction rate
• more than a 99% job placement rate
• an overall graduation rate of 87%
• a national board pass rate of 98-100%

 
RMUoHP was initially founded to provide post-professional physical therapy education, which included a Master of Science and Doctor of Physical Therapy degree programs. During its two decades, the University expanded its program specialties to include 21 doctoral and master’s degree healthcare education programs and specialty concentration tracks.
 
The University has a superior record of educational excellence, and is recognized for its evidence-based and meaningful graduate healthcare education. Some of the university’s key academic milestones include:
 
Terminal Research Degrees (DSc, PhD)—started in 1999

• 185 potential dissertation committee members
• 100% pass rate on qualifying core exams

Transitional Doctor of Physical Therapy post-professional (DPT) —started in 2001

• 94% graduation rate
• 2nd transitional DPT program in the U.S.

Post-Professional Doctor of Occupational Therapy (OTD) —started in 2003

• 95% employment rate
• 1st post-professional OTD program in the U.S.

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) —started in 2006

• Over 50% of nursing faculty are nursing academy fellows
• 95% graduation rate
• 100% FNP licensure pass rate

Doctor of Physical Therapy entry level (DPT)—started in 2010

• 45 weeks of clinical education
• 98% graduation rate
• 98% NPTE (national board) pass rate

Master of Science in Health Science—started in 2013

• 89% graduation rate

Doctor of Clinical Science in Speech-Language Pathology— (SLP) started in 2014

• 100% employment rate. First post-professional SLP post-professional limited residency program in the U.S.

Master of Physician Assistant Studies—started in 2015

• 98% PANCE (boards) certification pass rate

Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology entry level —(med SLP) started in 2017

• 100% academic faculty with terminal degree
• 100% clinical faculty with specialty certifications

 
RMUoHP is regionally accredited with the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities, an institutional accrediting body recognized by the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Education – the highest achievable in the United States.
 
“One of the University’s most important milestones includes receiving regional accreditation,” said Nielsen. “Accreditation demonstrates we have met the most stringent higher education academic standards in the United States. It demonstrates to students, faculty, and staff that they are associated with an academic institution of higher education meeting the highest standards and that our students are receiving the highest quality education in the healthcare sciences.”
 
Additionally, RMUoHP is recognized for the following programmatic accreditation status:
 

• APBTRFE—American Board of Physical Therapy Residency and Fellowship Education (Accreditation) - First PT neonatology fellowship program in the U.S.
• ARC-PA—The Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant (Provisional Accreditation)
• ASHA—Council on Academic Accreditation in Audiology and Speech-Hearing-Language Pathology (Accreditation Candidacy)
• CAPTE—Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (Accreditation)
• CCNE—Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education(Accreditation)

 
“It has been an interesting and at times stressful journey,” said Dr. Michael Skurja, co-founder and executive vice president of operations at Rocky Mountain University of Health Professions. “We started by providing a pathway to a doctorate for physical therapy professionals. Today, Rocky Mountain University provides multiple high quality, evidence-based healthcare programs students and graduates can be proud of and that they can use to help people enjoy better health.”
 
Nielsen said the University would continue to lead the nation in providing innovative and successful specialty healthcare programs that fulfill healthcare needs. Over the last 20 years, it has designed and executed more than 20 graduate healthcare programs with great student outcomes including impactful student preparation to deliver healthcare services.
 
“We expect and anticipate continuing this leading trend to develop highly sought-after graduate-level healthcare programs,” said Nielsen. “We will continue to be innovative in using technology and transformational education models in academic programming to better prepare our students for their role as healthcare providers and healthcare leaders during their future years.
 
“We have proven ourselves worthy to be recognized as one of the top leaders of graduate healthcare education in the world.”
 
Closely associated with RMUoHP’s 20th Anniversary is the upcoming opening of its new Center for Communication Disorders clinic on June 15. More information is forthcoming.
 
About Rocky Mountain University of Health Professions
 
Founded and located in Provo, Utah, in June 1998, Rocky Mountain University of Health Professions (RMUoHP), is a regionally accredited institution under the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities, an institutional accrediting body recognized by the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Education. This accreditation is the highest achievable in the United States. RMUoHP is an exclusive graduate healthcare education institution with a reputation for high-quality, evidence-based, and outcomes-oriented healthcare education programs (currently 21 doctoral programs or doctoral tracks and four master’s degree programs in different healthcare specialties) and has a diverse student body and faculty with alumni from Utah and all 50 states. www.rmuohp.edu
 
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