For Hina Garg, PT, MS, PhD, CEEAA, community service is a part of her family culture. “People have helped me, so I work hard to help others and give back.” she explains.
That commitment, both to help her community and the patients she serves, has propelled her to make a significant impact in Utah and within the physical therapy profession.
On October 28, 2022, Dr. Garg was announced as the recipient of the Physical Therapist of the Year award from the Utah chapter of the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA).
Dr. Garg is a physical therapist and board-certified neurologic clinical specialist focusing on clinical assessment and treatment practices using implementation science and quality improvement frameworks in individuals with multiple sclerosis (MS) and other neurological conditions.
She currently works at Rocky Mountain University of Health Professions (RMU), where she is an associate professor in the Doctor of Physical Therapy program and Interim Director of the Office of Research and Sponsored Projects. In addition to her work at RMU, she also serves at RMU’s pro bono physical therapy clinic, the Community Rehabilitation Clinic (CRC).
Dr. Garg not only serves patients who need care, but she also started the MS Physical Therapy & Wellness Center as well as the COVID-19 Rehabilitation Program at the CRC.
“Coming from a humble background and a single mother Indian household, I have seen resilience from up close. My upbringing has laid the necessary groundwork for making me who I am today. The independence, resourcefulness, and perseverance that my family taught me have allowed me to find a home in the MS community because that is what people with MS thrive on.”
For her work with MS patients, Dr. Garg received the Above and Beyond award from the National Multiple Sclerosis Society earlier this year.
“These awards are very well deserved,” said RMU Founding President & CEO Richard P. Nielsen, PT, DHSc, ECS, a physical therapist by profession. “They are an acknowledgment of Dr. Garg’s contributions to the PT profession and the State of Utah and the impact she is having on so many people and their health and well being.”
Dr. Garg earned a bachelor’s degree in physical therapy from GGS Indraprastha University (Delhi, India), a master’s degree from Texas A&M University, and PhD in Rehabilitation Science from the University of Utah. She is a published author and has presented and served at state and national physical therapy conferences and boards on her clinical and research interests. Her passion is in the use of data in clinical and administrative decision making, evidence-based clinical practice, and training and development of physical therapists and researchers.
