Jeff Lau graduated with an Associate of Science degree from Utah Valley State College in 1994, a bachelor’s degree in Biology/Zoology from Southern Utah University with a minor in Athletic Training in 1996, and a Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) degree from Creighton University in 1999. He completed a PhD in Orthopedic and Sports Science in December of 2017 at Rocky Mountain University of Health Professions and an Administrative/leadership Fellowship related to Institutional level Accreditation in 2020. He worked as a physical therapist in Washington State in outpatient orthopedics, industrial rehabilitation, acute care, inpatient rehabilitation, and in skilled nursing facilities. His clinical practice in Utah has consisted primarily of pro bono patients with orthopedic conditions. He became certified in manual therapy (CMPT) through the North American Institute of Manual Therapy (NAIOMT) in 2005 and Board Certified in orthopedics (OCS) in 2006.
In 2006, he began teaching in the Physical Therapist Assistant program at Provo College as a faculty member and also as the Academic Coordinator for Clinical Education and subsequently became the Director of that program. In 2009, he joined Rocky Mountain University of Health Professions as a founding core faculty teaching a variety of classes for the entry-level Doctor of Physical Therapy Program (DPT) and as the Director of Clinical Education and served for several years as the Director of Program Accreditation and Assessment.
Dr. Lau is currently the Dean of the College of Rehabilitation Sciences, recently served as the Accreditation Liaison Officer (ALO) to the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU) for University accreditation and teaches evidence-based practice in the DPT program. His research interests are related to orthopedics, manual therapy, teaching and learning, and evidence-based practice, and he has presented at local, state, and national conferences. Jeff has been an item writer for the National Physical Therapist Exam (NPTE), a PTA program reviewer for the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE), and has served on several national advisory committees. Jeff has been a member of the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) since 1999 and has been active in various activities, committees, and positions in the APTA Utah Chapter, including six years as Chief Delegate, and he continues as a part of the bylaws committee. He was appointed to the Utah Division of Professional Licensing (DOPL) Physical Therapy Licensing Board in 2022.