Mary Dockter, PhD

Dean of Saint Gianna School of Health Sciences

Saint Gianna School of Health Sciences

About Me

I am a lifelong ND resident with a passion for healthcare, education, and service. I practiced physical therapy (PT) in multiple clinical settings before entering higher education. While full-time faculty, I served as Director of Clinical Education for the PT Program, Department Chair (2010-2020), and am currently the Dean of the Saint Gianna School of Health Sciences. My commitment to service has led to multiple local and national board appointments, and the joy of guiding 15 service-learning teams to Guatemala and Peru. I enjoy time with my family (husband, 2 adult children, and 2 dogs), golfing, working out, and reading.

Why I’m At Mary

To quote Mother Theresa, "In this life we cannot always do great things, but we can do small things with great love." A call to service means serving each other, our students, and our community day in and day out with a heart of gratitude. Our Sisters, in their modeling of Jesus, give me my "why" - to live our faith means to serve others. And honestly, what better place to live this then at the University of Mary where we are blessed to not only educate students for their professions, but hopefully to also begin to teach them that a life worth living is a life spent in service to others.

Expertise

My primary expertise is in women's health physical therapy, professional practice issues, leadership, and service-learning. I also completed an advanced Fellowship in Education Leadership through the American Physical Therapy Association in 2012.

Recent Work

Dockter, M. (2021) "The renewal of catholic health sciences education," Prime Matters Perspectives. https://primematters.com/

Dockter, M., Ulmer, E., Wulf, C., Gunderson, M., Halvorson, J., Joneson, A., Abraham, K., Reisch, R. (2021) "Comfort level of current physical therapist students in addressing sexual issues with patients," Journal of Women's Health Physical Therapy. doi: 10.1097/JWH.0000000000000200

Dockter, M., Lundeen, H., Parker, M. (2020) "An interprofessional geriatric experiential learning experience: Its impact on physical and occupational therapist students," Journal of Physical Therapy Education. 34(1): doi: 0.1097/JTE.0000000000000115

Dockter, M., Benson, S., Zhang, Y., Anderson, C., Le Dang. (2018) "Factors influencing physical therapists to enter into women's health specialty practice," Journal of Women's Health Physical Therapy. 42(3): 154-164.

Reisch, R., Rutt, R., Dockter, M., Sanders, S. (2017) "Overactive bladder in female students: Prevalence, risk factors, and effect on quality of life," Journal of Women's Health. 27(2): 156-161. doi: 10.1089/jwh.2016.6181. PMID: 28953429.

Dockter, M., Boissonnault, J.S., Anderson, K., Nelson, P., Figuers, C. (2016) "Pelvic floor examination training for the DPT student: Results from the academic and clinical communities," Journal of Women's Health Physical Therapy. 40(2): 84-88.

Boissonnault, J.S., Anderson, K., Dockter, M., Nelson, P., Figuers, C. (2016) "Comparison of section on women's health, APTA, guidelines on women's health curricular content in entry-level physical therapy Programs, 2005 to 2014," Journal of Women's Health Physical Therapy. 40(2): 89-100.

Nelson, P., Boissonnault, J.S., Anderson, K., Figuers, C., Dockter, M. (2016) "Survey on curricular content for doctor of physical therapy guidelines for women's health content in professional physical therapist education: 2014 Update," Journal of Women's Health Physical Therapy. 40(2): 61-76.

Figuers, C., Boissonnault, J.S., Nelson, P., Dockter, M., Anderson, K. (2016) "Technical report on using the systems and patient management model in women's health DPT curricular guidelines," Journal of Women's Health Physical Therapy. 40(2): 77-83.

Figuers, C., Nelson, P., Alcon, K., Anderson, K., Boissonnault, J., Branas, A., Dockter, M., Dunbar, A. (2014) "Guidelines for women's health content in professional physical therapist education: 2014 Update," APTA, Alexandria, VA.

Dockter, M., Heidrich, K., Hermes, Bethany, Kukla, C., Pearson, K. (2014) “The effects of InterStim® on quality of life: A case series,” Journal of Women’s Health Physical Therapy. 38: 53-57.

Dockter, M., Roller, J., Eckert, J. (2013) "Preparing physical therapy students for the role of clinical educator: A case study report," WORK: A Journal of Prevention, Assessment, and Rehabilitation. 44: 255-263.

Dockter, M., Stark, C., Fred, S., Johs, L., Bakkum, J. (2011) "Section on women's health members' perceptions of mentoring entry-level students in clinical education," Journal of Women's Health Physical Therapy. 35(1): 3-10.

Dockter, M., Becker, E., Huber, C., Lacher, J., Obeng, L. (2008) "The prevalence of urinary incontinence in high school females: Implications for prevention and wellness education," Journal of Women's Health Physical Therapy. 32(2): 7-11.

Dockter, M., Abraham, K., Coe, J. (2008) "Technical report of specialty practice in women's health physical therapy," Journal of Women's Health Physical Therapy. 32(1): 12-25.

Dockter, M., Kolstad, A., Martin, K., Schiwal, L. (2007) "Prevalence of urinary incontinence: A comparative study of collegiate female athletes and non-athletes controls," Journal of Women's Health Physical Therapy. 31(1): 12-17.

Boissonault, J., Anderson, K., Dockter, M., Dunbar, A., Irion, J., Laporta-Krum, L. (2005) "Guidelines for women's health content in professional physical therapist education," APTA, Alexandria, VA.

Dockter, M., Boissonnault, J., Hampton, E., Abraham, K., Cokl, M., Markowski, M. et al. (2005) "Petition for certification of women's health specialization," SOWH, APTA, Alexandria, VA.

Dockter, M., Rust, T., Schuler, E., Bergstrom, K., Brophy, J. (2004) "The use of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation for the relief of pain during labor and delivery: A case study," Journal of Women's Health Physical Therapy. 28: 33-36.

Dockter, M. (2004) "An international service-learning experience for physical therapy students: Its meaning and effect on civic engagement and leadership skills," [Dissertation]. University of North Dakota, Grand Forks, ND.

Meier, K., Dockter, M. (2002) "Survey of current clinical practices in wound care," Journal of Ostomy Wound Management. 48: 36-42.

Dockter, M. (2001) "An analysis of physical therapy pre-admission factors on academic success and success on the national licensing examination," Journal of Physical Therapy Education. 15: 61-64.

Nelson, P., Alappattu, M.J., Abraham, K., Dockter, M., Bishop, M., Spitznagle, T., Reisch, R., Chiarello, C. (2020) "Publish or Perish Session 1: Designing an Impactful Manuscript," and
"Publish or Perish Session 2: Navigating Peer Review," APTA Combined Sections Meeting, Denver, CO.

Dockter, M., Bishop, M., Nelson, P., Alappattu, M.J., Abraham, K., Spitznagle, T., Reisch, R., Chiarello, C. (2019) "Reject or Correct? A Guide to Effective Feedback on the Road to Publication," APTA Combined Sections Meeting, Washington, DC.

Nelson, P., Boissonnault, J., Anderson, K., Dockter, M., Figuers, C. (2017) "The What, When, Where and How of Women's Health Content in DPT Education," APTA Combined Sections Meeting, San Antonio, TX.

Wise, D., Carey, J., Domholdt, E., Dockter, M., Wolf, M. (2013) "Managing the At-Risk Student: When Sailing isn't Smooth from Admission to Graduation," APTA Combined Sections Meeting, San Diego, CA.

Nelson, P., Figuers, C., Dockter, M., Boissonnault, J., et al. (2012) "Update on Entry-Level Women's Health Educational Standards," APTA Combined Sections Meeting, Chicago, IL.

Rich, N., Dockter, M., Abraham, K., Borello-France, D. (2010) "Using Evidence in Practice: Writing a Case Report," APTA Combined Sections Meeting, San Diego, CA.

Rich, N., Dockter, M., Abraham, K., Borello-France, D. (2009) "Using Evidence in Practice: Writing a Case Report," APTA Combined Sections Meeting, Las Vegas, NV.

Dockter, M., Figuers, C., Hartley, G., Hendricks, C., Schwoerer, C., Thompson, M. (2008) "Professional Development Opportunities in Women's Health," APTA Combined Sections Meeting, Nashville, TN.

Dockter, M. (2007) "Service Orientated Learning Experience (SOLE): Integrating Servant Leadership into a PT Program," APTA National Physical Therapy Leadership Conference, Minneapolis, MN.

Boissonnault, J., Irion, J., LaPorta, L., Anderson, K., Dunbar, A., Dockter, M. (2004) "Entry-Level Women's Health Educational Standards," APTA Combined Sections Meeting, Nashville, TN.

Anderson, K., Boissonnault, J., Dockter, M., Nelson, P., Figuers, C. (2017) "New Guidelines for Women's Health Content in Professional Physical Therapist Education," WCPT Conference, South Africa.

Lundeen, H., Dockter, M. (2011) "A Community Partnership Between a Women's Shelter and a Physical Therapy Program "A Look at How Service Learning Works as an Instructional Strategy for Entry-Level Pediatric and Women's Health Curricular Content," APTA Section on Pediatrics Annual Conference, Anaheim, CA.

Dockter, M., Stark, C., Fred, S., Johs, L., Bakkum, J. (2011) "Section on Women's Health Members' Perceptions of Mentoring Entry-Level Students in Clinical Education," APTA Combined Sections Meeting, New Orleans, LA.

Dockter, M. (2005) "An International Service-Learning Experience for PT Students: Its Meaning and Effect on Civic Engagement and Leadership Skills," APTA Combined Sections Meeting, New Orleans, LA.

Posters
Dockter, M. "Impact of a Mentoring Program on Clinicians' Knowledge and Motivation to Pursue an Academic Career," [Poster]. APTA Combined Sections Meeting. (Virtual Meeting).

Roller, J., Dockter, M. (2019) "Interprofessional Course for 7+ Professions," [Poster]. Innovation in Physical and Occupational Therapy Education Summit, Omaha, NE.

Dockter, M. (2003) "A Description of a Physical Therapy Service-Learning Field Study in Guatemala," [Poster]. APTA Combined Sections Conference, Tampa, FL.

Anderson, T., Dockter, M. (2002) "Integrating a Service-Orientated Leadership Experience (SOLE) into Professional Programs," [Poster]. Collaboration Conference, Minneapolis, MN.

Education

BS (PT): University of North Dakota, 1989
MEd: University of Mary, 2000
PhD: University of North Dakota, 2004