Rosanne Thomas, PT, Ph.D.

Title:	Program Director and Associate Professor
Unit:	Physical Therapy
Office Location:	WL 1140
Office Phone:	815-753-2837
Email:	Rthomas4@niu.edu

Courses Taught

• AHPT 615: Fundamentals of Neuroscience for Physical Therapy
• AHPT 616: Lifespan Motor Control and Motor Learning for Physical Therapists
• AHPT 618: Pharmacology for Physical Therapists
• AHPT 652: Neurological Rehabilitation
• AHPT 730: Clinical Imaging for Physical Therapists
• AHPT 798: Comprehensive Examination in Physical Therapy

Education

• Rosalind Franklin University/ School of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies, PhD in Neuroscience
• Finch University of Health Sciences/ The Chicago Medical School, MS in Neurological Physical Therapy
• University of Health Sciences/ The Chicago Medical School, BS in PT

Research Interests

• Best practice in PT education
• Student stress and resilience

Selected Publications

Curfman, SE, McConnell, R, Thomas, R, Best, W, Austin, GP Trauma symptoms and student success in gross anatomy courses. (In press, Journal of Trauma Studies in Education, March 2026).

Curfman, SE, McConnell, R, Lindsley, S, Thomas, RM, Emotional Distress in Anatomy among Healthcare students. Anatomical Sciences Education. ASE-24-0006. Submitted 01/10/2025.

Thomas RM, Bayliss J. The Neuro Clinic: A Model to Facilitate Student Clinical Development through In-Class Patient Experiences while Meeting Community Need. IJAHSP. Dec 2017. 16:1 (2); 1-10.

Bayliss J, Thomas RM, Eifert-Mangine M. Pilot Study: What Measures Predict First Time Pass Rate on the National Physical Therapy Examination? The Internet Journal of Allied Health Sciences and Practice. 2017 Oct 03;15(4), Article 1.

APTA ELC Platform Presentation. Facilitating Student Clinical Development through In-Class Patient Experiences: Implementation of a Neuro Clinic. RM Thomas, J Bayliss. Oct 2017.

APTA ELC Platform Presentation. Pathways to Graduate School success – An Interprofessional Orientation Focusing on Successful Transition to Graduate Professional Education. RM Thomas, J Bayliss. Oct 2017.

APTA ELC Platform Presentation. Clinical Credentialing – A Strategy to Identify and Track Student Readiness to Enter into Clinical Education. RM Thomas, J Bayliss. Oct 2017.

APTA ELC Platform Presentation. Practicality of Interprofessional Education: Championing Change. RM Thomas, J Bayliss. Oct 2017.

APTA ELC Platform Presentation. What measures predict first time pass rate on the National Physical Therapy Examination (NPTE)? J Bayliss, RM Thomas, M Eifert-Mangine. Oct 2016 ELC meeting.

ASAHP Annual Conference Platform Presentation 10/2016. Pathways to graduate school success – an Interprofessional orientation focusing on successful transition to graduate professional education. RM Thomas, J Bayliss, BC Charles-Liscomb, D Glankler, G Burns.