Faculty
Nine core faculty members are devoted to the Physical Therapy Doctoral Program, and the program also draws faculty from Mayo Clinic's clinical, scientific, and technical staff. Faculty members are chosen for their commitment to teaching, as well as clinical practice and research. Many have published and lectured extensively and are highly regarded in their fields.
You have direct access to these individuals throughout the program, giving you the opportunity to learn directly from some of today's best practitioners in physical therapy.
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John Hollman, Ph.D., P.T., FAPTAPhysical Therapy Doctoral Program Director Dr. Hollman joined the Physical Therapy Doctoral Program in 2003. He graduated from the Physical Therapy Program at Mayo Clinic School of Health Sciences in 1994 and from Washington University in St. Louis in 2000 with his Ph.D. in movement science/biomechanics. He is a Professor of Physical Therapy at Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science. Dr. Hollman has published more than 100 peer-reviewed papers in scientific and professional journals and serves as an editorial board member with the Archives of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation and Gait & Posture. He is a member of the American Physical Therapy Association, including the association's academies/sections of geriatrics, orthopedics, research, and education; the American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine; the American Society of Biomechanics; and the International Society of Posture & Gait Research. |
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Bryce Beckman, P.T., D.P.T., NCSDr. Beckman joined the Physical Therapy Doctoral Program faculty in 2021. He is a 2008 graduate of the program. He completed his Ph.D. in Health and Human Performance at Concordia University in Chicago, Illinois in 2025. Dr. Beckman's teaching responsibilities include clinical intervention skills such as neurological handling, electrical stimulation, and management of neurologic conditions. His research interests include examination of rehabilitative interventions in neurorehabilitation for patients with stroke, brain injury, and spinal cord injury. He continues to practice part-time as a clinician in the neurorehabilitation practice, working with patients following stroke, brain injury, and spinal cord injury. |
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Darren Calley, P.T., DScPT, OCSDr. Darren Calley joined the faculty of the Physical Therapy Doctoral Program in 2015. He is a 1996 graduate of the Mayo Clinic School of Health Sciences Physical Therapy Program and earned his Doctor of Science in Physical Therapy from the University of Maryland in 2009. A board-certified orthopaedic clinical specialist, Dr. Calley helped develop and currently serves as director of the Neurologic, Oncologic, Orthopaedic, and Sports Physical Therapy Residency Programs at Mayo Clinic’s Rochester campus. He also serves as faculty and mentor within the orthopaedic and sports residencies. His teaching responsibilities include musculoskeletal evaluation and treatment of the spine and extremities, differential diagnosis, pain neuroscience education, and manual therapy techniques. |
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Beth Cloud-Biebl, Ph.D., P.T., D.P.T.Dr. Cloud-Biebl joined the Physical Therapy Doctoral Program faculty in 2016 and is a 2010 graduate of the program. She completed a Ph.D. in Clinical and Translational Science from the Mayo Graduate School in 2015, with thesis work focused on evaluating spine and shoulder motion during manual wheelchair propulsion. In 2017, she completed the Anatomy Training Program, co-sponsored by The Anatomical Society and the American Association of Anatomists. Dr. Cloud-Biebl’s teaching responsibilities include anatomy, neuroscience, and neurorehhabilitation topics. Her research interests include the biomechanical assessment of movement strategies used by individuals with spinal cord injury, as well as the exploration of topics in health sciences education. |
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Sarah Economides, P.T., D.P.T.Dr. Economides joined the Physical Therapy Doctoral Program in 2023. She is an experienced physical therapist who completed a post-professional residency in pediatric physical therapy and is certified by the American Board of Physical Therapy Specialties as a Pediatric Certified Specialist (PCS). She was previously employed as a staff pediatric physical therapist at Madonna Rehabilitation Hospital in Lincoln, Nebraska.
In addition to her clinical experience in pediatric physical therapy, Dr. Economides has served as an adjunct faculty member with Creighton University's Department of Physical Therapy in Omaha, Nebraska, and as a faculty member and clinical mentor for Creighton University's Pediatric Physical Therapy Residency Program. Her scholarly productivity includes one co-authored peer-reviewed publication and multiple invited regional presentations. Her teaching responsibilities include movement science, human growth and development, and neuromuscular conditions. |
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Melissa Hake, P.T., DScPTDirector of Clinical Education Dr. Hake joined the Physical Therapy Doctoral Program in 2018. She graduated from Mayo Clinic School of Health Sciences' Physical Therapy Program in 2001 and from University of Maryland School of Medicine in 2012 with a Doctor of Science in physical therapy.
Before joining the academic faculty, Dr. Hake served as a clinical instructor for over 100 students completing eight- to 12-week clinical education experiences in the acute care setting. In addition to her role as the program's Director of Clinical Education, her academic teaching interests include acute care topics, complex medical conditions, examination and systems review, interventions, professional management, and clinical education. Her research interests include defining and evaluating student competency in the acute care setting, simulation education, and oncology rehabilitation. |
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Nathan Hellyer, Ph.D., P.T.Dr. Hellyer joined the Mayo Clinic faculty in January 2003. He received his master's degree in physical therapy and Ph.D. in pharmacology from the University of Iowa. He is a member of the American Physical Therapy Association, American Physiological Society, and National Strength and Conditioning Association (Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist). Dr. Hellyer teaches pharmacology, management of cardiopulmonary conditions, and anatomy. He has led DPT students on six physical therapy service-learning trips to Honduras. |
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Ray Lunasin, PT, DPT, Ph.D.Dr. Lunasin is a research physical therapist with Mayo Clinic’s Motion Analysis Laboratory and core faculty in the Doctor of Physical Therapy Program in Rochester, MN. He earned his DPT from Mayo Clinic School of Health Sciences (2015) and Ph.D. in Physical Therapy from Texas Woman’s University (2024). Dr. Lunasin is board-certified in orthopaedic and pediatric physical therapy, a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist, and a Fellow of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Manual Physical Therapists. His research focuses on the therapeutic outcomes and mechanisms of manual therapy and dry needling for chronic pain and sleep disturbance, and preoperative electromyography for upper extremity spasticity. |
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Joy Macheel, PT, DPT, CWS, OncCS, CLT-LANADr. Macheel joined the Physical Therapy Doctoral Program in 2021 and became a core faculty member in December 2025. She graduated from the Physical Therapy Doctoral Program at Mayo Clinic School of Health Sciences in 2011 and is currently a Ph.D. candidate in Medical & Health Professions Education at Old Dominion University. She is a Certified Wound Specialist, a Certified Lymphedema Therapist, and is board certified in Oncologic Physical Therapy. Her academic teaching interests include integumentary and oncologic conditions, patient examination, clinical preparation, as well as supporting the Physical Therapy Oncologic Residency. Her research interests include health professions education, lymphedema and integumentary conditions, and oncologic rehabilitation. |
Visiting professors and lecturers
A hallmark of higher education excellence is the breadth and depth of information and experience provided students by the faculty and visiting experts. Many prominent professors visit Mayo Clinic to lecture on their areas of medical and scientific expertise each year.
Students at Mayo Clinic School of Health Sciences are encouraged to learn from these valuable resources by attending all relevant conferences, lectures and seminars prepared for students, interns, residents, fellows and consulting staff.
Facilities
The Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation in Minnesota offers comprehensive care for both inpatients and outpatients. At Mayo Clinic, physician evaluations, as well as physical and occupational therapy services, are available. Inpatient rehabilitation care is provided at Mayo Clinic Hospital, Saint Marys Campus.
Through training activities, specialized equipment, videos and other learning resources, students learn to treat adult and pediatric patients with medical diagnoses typically seen in the rehabilitative clinical setting, including stroke, spinal cord injury, traumatic brain injury, multiple sclerosis, cancer, cardiac conditions, and neurological impairments.
Mayo Clinic's campus in Rochester, Minnesota, includes an extensive outpatient complex, Mayo Clinic Hospital — Rochester, and substantial research and education facilities. This Mayo Clinic site is among the largest, most advanced medical centers in the world.