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Physical Therapist Assistant Program

Faculty

The PTA Program includes four full-time faculty, several adjunct faculty, and a variety of guest lecturers from related medical fields. The faculty-to-student ratio is 1:10 in the classroom and lab settings for both programs.

Dr. Wendy Bircher

Dr. Wendy Bircher, PT, EdD
PTA Program Director

bircherw@sanjuancollege.edu
(505) 566-3407

EdD, Educational Administration
New Mexico State University
MS in Adaptive Physical Education and MS in Special Education
University of Utah
BS, Physical Therapy
University of Utah

Wendy has been affiliated with the PTA program since the start of the program in 1992. She is currently the On-Campus Program Director. She has extensive teaching and clinical experience. She specializes in pediatric physical therapy.

 
Amy Cooper

Amy Cooper, MS, DPT
Assistant Professor
ACCE for the On-Campus Program

coopera@sanjuancollege.edu
(505) 566-3424

DPT, Doctor of Physical Therapy
Northwestern University
MS, Neurobiology and Physiology
Northwestern University
BS, Chemical Engineering
University of Tennessee

Amy has been affiliated with the PTA program since 2003. She is currently an assistant professor and the Academic Coordinator for Clinical Education (ACCE) for the On-Campus Program. She specializes in orthopedic physical therapy. She lives in Durango, CO with her husband, her daughter, and black lab mix from the humane society named Copper Cooper.

 
Therese Millis

Therese Millis, DPT
Online Program Director
ACCE for the Online Program

pta@sanjuancollege.edu
(505) 566-3198

DPT, Doctor of Physical Therapy
Arizona School of Health Sciences
BS, Physical Therapy
University of North Dakota
BS, Organizational Communication
University of Wyoming
AAS, Biology
Northwest Community College

Therese has been affiliated with the PTA program since 2005. She is currently the Online Program Director. She has extensive teaching and clinical experience. She specializes in geriatrics and aquatic physical therapy.

 
Karen Soensken

Karen Soensken, PTA, BS
PTA Program Instructor

soenskenk@sanjuancollege.edu
(505) 566-3562

BS, Recreation
University of Colorado
AAS, Physical Therapist Assistant
San Juan College

Karen is a graduate from the PTA Program at San Juan College. She joined the faculty for the PTA Program in 2009. She has a variety of clinical experience from working in a skilled nursing facility, hospital and outpatient clinic.