Faculty Member
Dr. Rushton has had many wonderful doors open in the rehabilitation field. Most recently he specialized in the rehabilitation of patients with hemophilia and other bleeding disorders. He utilized comprehensive evaluation and examination techniques as well as ultrasound to visualize joint bleeding for these patients. He was the Program Administrator for the Utah Center for Bleeding & Clotting Disorders at the University of Utah. Where he led a team of care providers including physicians, social worker, nurses, pharmacy services, and physical therapists.
In his career, Dr. Rushton worked closely with patients experiencing bone marrow transplant (BMT) at the University of Utah’s Huntsman Cancer Hospital. As the lead physical therapist on the BMT team he spearheaded the rehabilitation program that accompanies patients through their pre-transplant phase, the acute hospital stay and the post-acute outpatient follow-up period. Previously in 2007 at Oregon Health and Sciences University--Doernbecher Children’s Hospital, Dr. Rushton created automatic physical therapy referrals for play and age-appropriate exercise to address the issue of young children entering the hospital running and playing, but leaving weeks later in a wheelchair following BMT. At Huntsman Cancer Hospital, Dr. Rushton developed the clinically integrated physical therapy program that ensures each patient admitted to the hospital receives personalized exercise programing during all transplant periods. In 2016 Dr. Rushton teamed up with the Physician over the Blood and Marrow Transplant Program at Huntsman Cancer Institute to provide physical therapy services within the BMT clinic while alongside the physicians. This has allowed physicians, physical therapists, and patients to document their pre- and post-transplant functional status, strength, and walking ability and intervene where appropriate. Exercise in patients undergoing bone marrow transplant has been shown to increase mood, decrease fatigue, and most importantly make one stronger. Dr. Rushton’s goal for each patient is to “do something” for themselves and to feel accomplished and invigorated through the very challenging BMT period of their life.
Other areas of practice include pediatrics, geriatrics, acute and post-acute care.
Major: Master of Healthcare Administration
Major: Physical Therapy
Major: Physical Therapy Studies
Introduction to Health Professions, Spring 2025
Medical Terminology I, Spring 2025
