Bradley University
Melissa Peterson, PT, PhD, GCS is currently the Chair and Program Director of the Department of Physical Therapy & Health Science at Bradley University. She completed her BSPT from Bradley University in 1995, her MS in PT at the University of Indianapolis in 2000, and her PhD in Kinesiology at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in 2005. Prior to joining the faculty at Bradley in 2001, Dr. Peterson practiced geriatric physical therapy in various settings, including outpatient, skilled nursing, and home health. Her teaching responsibilities include geriatric physical therapy, research methods and evidence-based practice, health and wellness, and neurorehabilitation. Her research interests include the assessment of movement in special populations, the role of the physical therapist in health and wellness, and the effects of pro bono work in the neurological DPT curriculum.