The Foundation is dedicated to providing an environment that cultivates and supports student and faculty research. Our goals:

• • To provide an understanding of the environment where health science professionals may practice and prepare themselves to further the scholarship of discipline.
  • To educate students and encourage faculty to critically evaluate and conduct research that will contribute to science and practice of health sciences. This research will contribute to the science and practice of various health sciences.
  • To encourage research that is ethically sound and grounded in evidence-based science.
  • To develop faculty and student teaching, leadership, mentorship, service, and research that adds to and extends their professional/academic knowledge.
  • To master both the breadth of health sciences discipline and depth of their respective professional areas of scholarship.
  • To work collaboratively with professionals, researchers, scholars and partner institutions to foster the most conducive atmosphere for both student and faculty research.

  Our future funding needs include dissertation, capstone, or scholarly projects, faculty research projects and laboratory equipment maintenance and upgrades.

  Estimated Annual Cost: $181,000

The Africa Humanitarian Mission is a social investment project to help create sustainable communities and give African children a chance for a better life in Africa. Our faculty and students help those communities by building schools, training teachers and assisting them with supplies needed to provide a proper education.

The project focuses on two key areas in Africa: education and health. By assisting in these critical areas of need, we hope to not only improve the quality of life for communities in Africa but provide opportunities.

For the last three years, some of RMUoHP students have experienced the joy and happiness of serving and working with the people of Africa.

“While doing our clinical observations in Queen’s Hospital, I felt like we were in a refugee camp. It felt like something you see in the movies—there were sick people everywhere, constantly praying and no adequate technology. Sharing information and our education with the students and interns over there was great. They wanted to do everything to increase their knowledge and expand physical therapy in Malawi and throughout Africa.” —Chantel Myers, DPT 5 Student

Future needs for the project include 3,500 lbs. of donated supplies, lodging, and food for 35 volunteers, airfare for student volunteers, transportation to Malawi villages, materials and building costs for school, latrines and well water drilling.

Need: $160,000

Libraries are an important consideration for prospective students. Faculties indicate that librarians assist students in finding appropriate information for course assignments and support their teaching objectives. They report the positive impact of library resources on their instruction goals, including preparation of lectures, student reading assignments, and conceptual frameworks for courses. Adequate libraries also increase research productivity.

RMUoHP alumni can access articles and journals, books, dissertations, and capstones along with database and research assistance.

The Foundation is dedicated to providing RMUoHP’s Learning Resource Center with the resources to make it a vibrant, exciting, inviting, an integral part of each student’s university experience as they gather information and exchange ideas.

Foundation support for the LRC assists students to master both the breadth of the health sciences discipline as well as the depth of their respective professional areas of scholarship.  Annual funding is directed toward databases, journal software, electronic connections, and expansion requirements.

Future funding needs include additional money for textbook purchases, set up for patron-driven acquisitions of eBook purchases and reorganization and decoration of the LRC.

Resource Needs: $50,000

Most of RMUoHP students have expenses beyond tuition, including room and board, books, and other costs. In addition to student loans, a few students in financial need are desperate for scholarships to help close the gap between their expected family contribution (if there is any) and the cost of attendance. Need-based scholarships are critical for these students to complete their degree and move into the clinical phase of their lives.

Currently the Scholarship office offers eight separate scholarships including merit and dependent care. Additional need based scholarships are needed for students that experience emergencies, a sudden drop in funding, or are classified as underserved. For more information on RMUoHP scholarships see: https://rm.edu/financial-aid/scholarships-grants-discounts/

Scholarship Support Needed Annually – $25,000

Rocky Mountain University of Health Professions Neonatology Fellowship Program, Physician Assistant Program Laboratory, Nursing Program, and the development of a Medical School for Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO) are just a few of the programs at the University where additional funding can make a difference in development and delivery in changing and improving the way healthcare is delivered in Utah and the nation.

External support inspires the University to reach higher and achieve more, achieve research breakthroughs, and increase student success as the University continues to expand and grow.

Neonatology Fellowship Program

Rocky Mountain University of Health Professions, in partnership with Seattle Children’s Hospital, has successfully achieved credentials as a neonatology physical therapy fellowship program. This is the first credentialed program of its kind in the United States.

Additional funding is needed for fellowships to develop neonatal physical therapy experts in evidence-based specialty care for neonates and infants requiring intensive care and in family-centered care, for parents and families.

To establish credentialed Fellows at national children’s hospitals: $60,000

Center for Communication Disorders

The Center for Communication Disorders is an integral part of the MS Speech & Language Pathology program at Rocky Mountain University. It provides knowledge and skills in all diagnostic categories contained in the scope of practice including language, voice and resonance, feeding and swallowing, communication modalities, cognition, fluency, speech sound production, social communication, and auditory rehabilitation.

Complex and relevant instrumentation is required to teach students the use of in their encounters during external practicum experiences, on the job, and in a pro bono clinic being established by the RMU Foundation.  Instrumentation needed include:

• Transnasal endoscope for fiber optic endoscopic evaluation of swallowing
• High-level light source, camera, and recording equipment
• Rigid laryngoscope, light source, and a processor for recording rapid vibrations of vocal folds allowing for videostroboscopy examination of the voice
• Nasometer that measures air pressure in oral and nasal cavities
• Phonatory aerodynamic system to measure subflottic pressure in the airway.

Each of these instruments are designed to provide both assessment and treatment options through the use of biofeedback for the client involved.  The SLP Program requires this equipment to deliver a quality education and services to students and patients of the pro bono clinic who will benefit from SLP services to Utah County citizens and abroad.  All clinical services provided to the community by Rocky Mountain University are provided free of charge.
Funding for SLP Equipment Listed Needed: $102,253

Community Rehabilitation Clinic

The Community Rehabilitation Clinic (CRC) is the first of its kind in Utah County dedicated to serving the uninsured and underserved citizens of Utah County needing physical therapy. Located in Provo, treats patients with a variety of physical therapy needs. Our trained and highly skilled staff are licensed, qualified practitioners of physical therapy assisted by doctoral and pre-PT students from Rocky Mountain University of Health Professions, Brigham Young University, and Utah Valley University.

The Clinic is dependent upon support from foundations, corporations, municipal organizations, and individuals for equipment and operational costs. For more information, see www.rmucrc.org .

Additional funding needed to keep the Clinic operational 40 hours per week: $150,000