Rocky Mountain University of Health Professions (RMU) is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Tom Cappaert as the Associate Vice Provost after successfully acting in an interim capacity. Dr. Cappaert has been with RMU for more than 12 years, serving as the Program Director for the Doctor of Philosophy in Health Sciences (PhD), Associate Director for the Office of Research, and Senior Faculty member in the PhD program.

“Dr. Cappaert was able to showcase his abilities and has served me well as the Interim Vice Provost,” said Dr. Malissa Martin, RMU Executive Vice President of Academic Affairs and Provost. “I have worked with Dr. Cappaert in various capacities for many years, and look forward to working with him in leading the office of Academic Affairs at RMU.”

Dr. Cappaert started at RMU as a Professor of Biostatistics. He later became the Program Director for the PhD program, where he provided invaluable leadership from 2019 to 2022.  In addition, he has actively contributed to various University committees, including the Academic Research Committee, the Committee for Rank and Promotion, the Faculty Development Committee, and the Teaching Effectiveness Committee. In September 2023, Dr. Cappaert was appointed the role of Interim Associate Vice Provost. 

While serving as Interim Associate Vice Provost, Dr. Cappaert worked on initiatives to enhance the academic environment and support systems at RMU. His endeavors included faculty development and teaching effectiveness, developing innovative Canvas course organization templates, improving communication channels, and addressing common teaching challenges. 

“I believe my most impactful role at RMU so far has been as a mentor,” said Dr. Cappaert. “I’m very proud to have served on over 75 dissertation committees, guiding and inspiring the next generation of researchers and educators.”

Dr. Cappaert has a Bachelor of Science in Sports Medicine/Athletic Training from the University of Charleston, a Master of Science in Exercise Physiology/Cardiac Rehabilitation from Marshall University, and a Doctor of Philosophy with an emphasis in Clinical Exercise Physiology from the University of Toledo.

In addition to his academic accomplishments, Dr. Cappaert holds certifications as an Athletic Trainer and Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist. His clinical experience in outpatient physical therapy and cardiac rehabilitation settings further enriches his expertise.

Dr. Cappaert’s dedication to research and scholarship is evident in his extensive body of work, comprising over 50 articles, book chapters, home study programs, and grants. He has shared his expertise on national and regional platforms, presenting at over 60 conferences and workshops. His involvement in the academic community extends to serving on the editorial board for the Athletic Training Education Journal and reviewing manuscripts for ten different scientific journals.

Marking a pivotal moment in Rocky Mountain University of Health Professions (RMU) history, Cameron K. Martin, PhD, took the oath of office as the graduate healthcare institution’s second president on Friday, October 6 at the Utah Valley Convention Center. Students, faculty, staff, community members, and local and national education, healthcare, business, nonprofit, political, and community figures attended the inauguration ceremony, filling the hall with an atmosphere of anticipation and excitement for Martin’s tenure as president.

“I am humbled and excited to build upon RMU’s mission and vision to improve the human condition,” Martin said. “Our institution is meeting graduate educational healthcare needs throughout our nation. Working together with our incredible students, faculty, and staff, we will elevate the notability of our advanced modern healthcare curriculum, experiential learning, and world-class facilities.”

The inauguration ceremony garnered the attendance and support of community leaders from all aspects of life. In a video message, Utah Governor Spencer J. Cox lauded the significance of this occasion. “RMU plays an important part of the educational offering of our great state. Utah and our entire nation have a great need right now for highly skilled healthcare professionals,” Cox said. “The university is fortunate to continue its successful trajectory under the leadership of President Martin.”

RMU’s inauguration proceedings began with an invocation led by Elder Matthew S. Holland, a General Authority Seventy of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and former Utah Valley University president, for whom President Cameron Martin served as his Vice President.

Extending warm greetings on behalf of government partners, Congressman John R. Curtis of Utah’s 3rd Congressional District had these words to share; “Cameron Martin’s DNA is all about loving and lifting those around him,” Curtis said. “Plenty of people are creative and hardworking, but Cameron is all those things, and he cares about individuals enough to make good things happen in their lives. I believe the best days for RMU are yet to come.”

Dr. Malissa Martin, RMU’s Executive Vice President of Academic Affairs & Provost, conveyed best wishes on behalf of the university’s higher education community. “We are honored and ready to share the next chapter with the second President of our University,” said Dr. Martin. “In this chapter, we will take chances and chase dreams together, further developing RMU into a premier healthcare university where our programs are one of the top choices for students seeking professional and post-professional healthcare and medical preparation and training.”  

Representatives from the healthcare community, alumni, and students also delivered heartfelt messages.

The inaugural address was given by Dr. W. Rolfe Kerr, former Utah Commissioner of Higher Education, former President of Utah Tech University (formerly Dixie State University), and Emeritus General Authority of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. As President Martin’s father-in-law, his words resonated deeply.

“It is exciting to witness the union of this outstanding and promising individual with this outstanding and promising institution,” said Kerr. “President Martin and Rocky Mountain University are already coming together in a dynamic model of synergy—that amazing process where ‘the whole becomes greater than the sum of the parts.’ I assure you with confidence that your new president is capable and committed to do everything within his power to effectively lead this university.”

Before his appointment as President of RMU, Martin worked as Vice President of Operations and Chief of Staff for the Office of the President. Previously, he was the Vice President of University Relations at Utah Valley University and worked for the Utah System of Higher Education as an Associate Commissioner for Economic Development and Planning. In his personal education, Martin earned a bachelor’s in political science, a master’s in public administration, and a PhD in educational leadership, all from Brigham Young University. 

Michael Skurja, Jr., DPT, ESC (Emeritus), Co-Founder of RMU and Chair of the Board of Trustees, vested Martin with the official responsibilities of his office. “RMU was founded and built upon a culture around the principle of putting people first, a trait that President Martin exemplifies in everything he does, ” said Dr. Michael Skurja, board chair. “Our institution has had 25 years of success advancing healthcare throughout the nation, and through his leadership, innovative solution, and educational acumen,  President Martin will continue to push RMU’s positive trajectory.” 

Martin articulated his vision for RMU’s future following the oath of office.“As president, I am committed to building upon RMU’s four foundational constructs: service, quality, agility, and culture,” Martin said. “RMU is dedicated to serving those in need and committed to quality instruction, facilities, and student outcomes. Our academic and operational models are designed to maximize our resource agility in response to workforce needs and opportunities. RMU’s long-term sustainable and competitive advantage is its culture.”

RMU has been a pioneering force in healthcare education, dedicated to shaping the future of healthcare by developing highly skilled, evidence-based, and compassionate practitioners. Twenty-five years ago, a group of visionary educators recognized the need for an institution that would set new standards in healthcare education and meet the nation’s healthcare workforce needs. Martin’s forward-thinking and service-oriented approach promises to empower RMU students further to improve the human condition by advancing knowledge and healthcare.

Addressing the excited crowd, Martin said, “RMU’s culture is focused on loving and lifting ‘the one’ in pursuit of improving the human condition for ‘the many.’ I use the words ‘love and lift’ deliberately. People need and want to be loved. In other words, patients want to be seen for who they are, met where they are, and have a voice in their health plans and treatments, which is how RMU students are trained.”

Dr. Court Wilkins was named Utah Optometrist of the Year 2023 by the Utah Optometrist Association (UOA). Dr. Wilkins exemplifies excellence in his field as a practicing optometrist, philanthropist, and Assistant Dean of Clinical Affairs for the College of Optometry at Rocky Mountain University of Health Professions (RMU) in Provo. 

“For two months, Dr. Wilkins would not tell me that he’d been awarded Utah’s Optometrist of the Year because he was afraid I’d brag about him,” said Dr. Adam Hickenbothem, Dean of the College of Optometry at RMU. “That is the kind of person he is. Always serving people but never wanting to be noticed for it.”

The Optometrist of the Year is awarded to someone who has demonstrated commitment to the advancement of optometry in Utah by serving the profession and making a difference. “Dr. Court Wilkins was nominated because he is an amazing doctor who works hard and is involved in so many things,” said Chanae Landeen, UOA Executive Director.  “He’s done a lot for the state, for the profession, and the school. We really appreciate all he has done for optometry in the state of Utah.”

Dr. Wilkins has more than 30 years of optometric experience and is a proud veteran serving over 23 years in Military Service. His military experience has sent him worldwide, serving military personnel and their families as one of the top-rated Optometrists. 

Philanthropy is a core value for Dr. Wilkins  and he made an enormous impact on both patients and students. He is the Utah Director for the Special Olympics “Opening Eyes” program. He works with other organizations to utilize RMU faculty and students in providing free vision care for communities and populations in need. Most recently, he played a role in the opening of the Parkview Vision Clinic, a pro-bono clinic in Salt Lake City offering vision care to the community. 

“When I first met Court, he was serving as the President of the Utah Optometric Association.  I asked him if he was interested in building the first College of Optometry in Utah at Rocky Mountain University. He was very excited by the idea,” said Dr. Hickenbotham. “As the Dean of Clinical Affairs, he is now setting up clinical rotations throughout the region to train hundreds of new eye doctors. The amount of people this will help will be innumerable.”

Dr. Wilkins was recognized for this achievement at the UOA Annual Conference this past June at the UOA Annual Congress in Midway, Utah.

Accreditation status has been attained by the Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling (MHC) and Master of Science in School Counseling (MSC) programs at Rocky Mountain University of Health Professions (RMU). Accreditation was granted by the Council for the Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP). 

A Bright Future for Counselors

“This is a significant achievement for the counseling program. It is the combination of work that began even before the program started in 2020,” said Dr. Verl Pope, Chair of the Department of Professional Counseling.  “I would like to recognize the contributions of all of the counseling faculty who worked on all the reports, the counseling students who assisted, the staff that contributed, and the administration that supported us along the way.  However, most importantly, this achievement will help our counseling alumni as they advance their professional endeavors.”  

Why Accreditation?

By earning essential accreditations, the university endeavors to ensure the highest level of education and training for its students, in this case- aspiring counselors. Accreditation represents a series of strategic initiatives in development aimed at supporting programs and students to enhance transparency, accountability, and monitoring processes for public protection in training professional counselors.  

A statement from the CACREP Board reads, “The Board based the … accreditation decisions on an extensive review of the self-study documents, the site review team’s report, and the institution’s response to the site review team’s report. The Board makes a decision to accredit when it determines that counseling specialty areas are in full compliance with all applicable accreditation standards and policies.”  

The accreditation cycle for the Clinical Mental Health Counseling and School Counseling specialty areas runs through October 31, 2031.  

RMU’s attainment of accreditation for another program is a monumental achievement that speaks volumes about the institution’s dedication to educational excellence. Students of RMU’s MHC and MSC programs will leave the school not only well-prepared but also capable of making a lasting impact on their communities.

Rocky Mountain University of Health Professions (RMU) has announced the hiring of a new Vice President of Technology & Innovation/Chief Information Officer (CIO), Daniel Harmuth. Harmuth began his role on August 14, 2023.

“RMU has a 25-year history of being at the forefront of technology,” said President Cameron 

Martin, PhD. “We are building a highly skilled executive leadership team, and Harmuth is a great addition to our institution. His expertise will help us to harness cutting-edge advancements and digital solutions, ultimately equipping students with the tools and knowledge to become future healthcare leaders.”

As CIO, Harmuth will provide leadership in supporting and building RMU’s information technology (IT) infrastructure. He will be responsible for current technology support and incorporating the latest innovations to enhance academic offerings. 

“I am excited to join RMU as it has an incredible culture and mission,” says Harmuth “Beyond educating students, the school seeks to revolutionize healthcare practices and improve the human condition. My experience in leading technological innovations will help me lead RMU through the dynamic and ever-evolving landscape of technology.” 

Harmuth has more than 30 years IT experience in fortune 500 companies, local government, and healthcare organizations. Most recently, he worked as the IT Chief Operations Officer for the State of Utah. He has also managed IT for Utah Transit Authority and other large organizations, and instructs an Information Systems course in the MBA program at a local Utah university.

Well-educated in all things IT, Harmuth holds a Master of Business Administration (MBA) and a Master of Science in Information Technology from the University of Maryland Global Campus. He earned a Master’s Certificate in Technology Project Management from George Washington University and a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science from Central Michigan University. 

Additionally, Harmuth is a retired Colonel who served for 30 years in the U.S. Army both active and reserves and was deployed four times to Afghanistan, Iraq, and Kuwait.  Dan commanded Transportation Battalions, worked in the FEMA Region IX (Oakland, CA) Ops-Center, COOP coordinator for U.S. TRANSCOM, Artillery Officer, and Wartime Host Nation Support coordinator for US Forces Korea.

“RMU is dedicated to incorporating all the latest technological innovations in our practices and classrooms,” says President Martin. “RMU has already demonstrated technological innovation with its virtual anatomy lab, eye clinic technologies, and more. Harmuth will elevate RMU’s innovative technological offerings to enhance the student’s educational experience.”