Dr. Thomas Cappaert received his PhD from the University of Toledo and is a Certified Athletic Trainer and Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist. Dr. Cappaert has extensive experience working in higher education, including at Indiana University, Purdue University Indianapolis, and Central Michigan University, prior to coming to Rocky Mountain University of Health Professions (RMUoHP). He currently serves as the program director for the Doctor of Science in Health Science (DSc) program and as the associate director of the Office of Research of Sponsored Projects (ORSP).
Dr. Cappaert was attracted to RMUoHP because of the opportunity to teach more online and blended-learning courses and to work with doctoral students. And being a program director at RMUoHP offers the flexibility to create courses effective for student learning and adapt the courses as needed. “I really like the collaborative and friendly culture and the freedom to quickly make changes to curriculums and programs to meet the changing needs in our fields and for our students,” Dr. Cappaert says.
He adds, “My favorite part about being the program director for the DSc Program would be getting to mentor students and see them strive for and achieve their aspirations-being there to support them during their struggles and celebrate their achievements.”
The Doctor of Science in Health Science degree program at Rocky Mountain University of Health Professions is an eight-semester, limited-residency, post-professional program designed to allow practitioners and educators to continue full-time work while earning their doctoral degree through a combination of online and face-to-face instruction. The DSc program includes specialty tracks in Athletic Training, Clinical Electrophysiology, Health Promotion and Wellness, Human and Sport Performance, and Neurologic Rehabilitation.
With the combination of rigorous coursework and a student-driven dissertation, students are prepared by renowned instructors and scholars for employment in higher education, healthcare and research clinics, hospitals, and other healthcare venues.
“RMUoHP strives to provide a comfortable, collaborative, family-like environment in which we work together to learn, grow, and create a better world.”
The DSc program at RMUoHP is unique, says Dr. Cappert, “because of the outstanding faculty that are here from across the country, as well as a blended-learning model that allows students to maintain full-time work.” He continues, “The student-centered dissertation process is a unique aspect of this program, as well as the dissertation mentors from across many disciplines with tremendous amounts of research experience.”
To those interested in obtaining a DSc, Dr. Cappaert says, “It is very possible to get the degree and continue to work full-time. Have in mind an intention of how you will use the degree eventually; this will inform decisions you make about courses, your dissertation topic, and other experiences available to you. Prepare to be challenged and forced out of your comfort zone. Don’t be afraid to fail or have doubts or change your mind about your career or research path. Be open to new ideas, experiences and viewpoints.”
When looking at prospective students, Dr. Cappaert and the DSc program look for applicants who have a passion for expanding their knowledge and using that new knowledge to enhance healthcare. They also look for someone who is excited about research, teaching, and or enhancing clinical care on a micro and macro level.
Currently, the DSc program is continuing to enhance the research and scholarship support available to students to help prepare them to further contribute to healthcare knowledge and use their research skills to propel their careers forward. The program regularly investigates new concentration areas, encourages faculty to develop and utilize cutting-edge teaching techniques and instructional technology, and covers topics at the forefront of healthcare.
Overall, Dr. Cappaert hopes that current students and alumni come out of the program as proficient evidence-based practice practitioners, scholars and educators, or scholars and clinicians and are fully prepared to create and effect change in their chosen practice settings.
