Phillip Palmer

Dr. Palmer assumed his position as part-time professor in the Doctor of Physical Therapy on August 1, 2023 and was appointed to a full-time position as Program Director on July 1, 2025. With more than 45 years of experience in PT, he has practiced at hospitals and outpatient centers in Texas, Georgia, and in the Middle East - Bethlehem, Jericho, and the Gaza Strip, where he taught in the School of Nursing and Allied Health Sciences. He also served as a PT consultant in Beirut, Lebanon and was the PT for a semi-professional basketball team in Larnaca, Cyprus. While in the West Bank, Dr. Palmer developed a PT program that was implemented at Bethlehem University. He has also taught at the Medical College of Georgia, Hardin-Simmons University in Abilene, Texas, the University of North Georgia, and was the founding director of the Doctor of Physical Therapy program at the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine Georgia.

Dr. Palmer is a member of the American Physical Therapy Association, including the Research and Education sections, and the Texas Physical Therapy Association. He has been an active volunteer with the Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy, serving on the Nominating committee and as a reviewer for ProCert, the Federation’s continuing competence certification program. His experience with the Federation also includes service as an item writer for the National Physical Therapy Examination (NPTE) and participation in task forces related to completion of practice analyses, setting pass points for the NPTE, analysis of the results of the annual membership survey, and development of the continuing competence program. As a result of his work with the Federation, Dr. Palmer has been awarded the McDougal Award for long-term service, the President’s Award for his work with continuing competence, and two Outstanding Service Awards. He was also inducted into the Academy of Advanced Item Writers. Dr. Palmer has also served as a member of the Texas Board of Physical Therapy Examiners.

He received his Bachelor of Science degree in Physical Therapy from the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston in 1976, a Master of Health Education degree in Physical Therapy from the Medical College of Georgia in 1983, and in 1990, he earned a Master of Arts degree in Religious Education from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. In 2001, Dr. Palmer earned his PhD degree in Higher Education with a minor in Research from the University of North Texas.

Dr. Palmer’s past experiences in teaching are in anatomy, neuroscience, medical physiology, pharmacology, diagnostics, research, and physical therapy sciences. His research interests include teaching/learning effectiveness and issues related to rehabilitation for cancer survivors, as well as the development and application of cultural intelligence in students.