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, 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., Parker, M., Gebeke L., Scheresky K., Tulinsteff A., Truscinski M., Ver Burg K., Abraham K., Reisch R. Comfort Level of Occupational and Physical Therapist Students in Addressing Sexual Issues with Patients. J Phys Therap Educ. Sept 2022; Volume 36 - Issue 3 - p 256-262 doi: 10.1097/JTE.0000000000000234

Dockter M. The Renewal of Catholic Health Sciences Education. Prime Matters Perspectives: https://primematters.com/; May 2021.

Dockter, M., PT, PhD; Ulmer, E., PT, DPT; Wulf, C., PT, DPT; Gunderson, M., PT, DPT; Bornhorst, J., PT, DPT; Joneson, A., DPT; Abraham, K., PT, PhD; Reisch, R., PT, PhD Comfort Level of Current Physical Therapist Students in Addressing Sexual Issues With Patients, J Women’s Health Phys Therap. July/September 2021 - Volume 45 - Issue 3 - p 97-107 doi: 10.1097/JWH.0000000000000200

Dockter M, Lundeen H, Parker M. An Interprofessional Geriatric Experiential Learning Experience: Its Impact on Physical and Occupational Therapist Students J Phys Therap Educ: March 2020 - Volume 34 - Issue 1 - p 33-41. doi: 0.1097/JTE.0000000000000115

Dockter M, Benson S, Zhang Y, Anderson C, Le Dang. Factors Influencing Physical Therapists to Enter into Women’s Health Specialty Practice. J Women’s Health Phys Therap. 2018; 42:3.154-164.

Reisch R, Rutt R, Dockter M, Sanders S. Overactive bladder in female students: Prevalence, risk factors, and effect on quality of life. J Women’s Health. 2018 Feb; 27(2):156-161. doi: 10.1089/jwh.2016.6181. Epub 2017 Sep 27. PMID: 28953429.

Dockter M, Boissonnault JS, Anderson K, Nelson P, Figuers C. Pelvic floor examination training for the DPT student: Results from the academic and clinical communities. J Women’s Health Phys Therap. May/Aug 2016; 40:2; 84-88.

Boissonnault JS, Anderson K, Dockter M, Nelson P, Figuers C. Comparison of Section on Women’s Health, APTA, Guidelines on women’s health curricular content in entry-level physical therapy programs; 2005 to 2014. J Women’s Health Phys Therap. May/Aug 2016; 40:2; 89-100.

Nelson P, Boissonnault JS, Anderson K, Figuers C, Dockter M. Survey on Curricular Content for Doctor of Physical Therapy Guidelines for Women´s Health Content in Professional Physical Therapist Education: 2014 Update. J Women’s Health Phys Therap. May/Aug 2016; 40:2; 61-76.

Figuers C, Boissonnault JS, Nelson P, Dockter M, Anderson K. Technical Report on Using the Systems and Patient Management Model in Women’s Health DPT Curricular Guidelines. J Women’s Health Phys Therap. May/Aug 2016.40:2; 77-83.

Figuers, C, Nelson P, Alcon K, Anderson K, Boissonnault J, Branas A, Dockter M, Dunbar A. Guidelines for Women’s Health Content in Professional Physical Therapist Education: 2014 Update. Alexandria, VA: APTA; 2014.

Dockter, M, Heidrich, K, Hermes, Bethany, Kukla, C, Pearson, K. The Effects of InterStim® on Quality of Life: A Case Series. J Women’s Health Phys Therap. 2014; 38:53-57.

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

Dockter M, Stark C, Fred S, Johs, L, Bakkum J. Section on Women’s Health members’ perceptions of mentoring entry-level students in clinical education. J Women’s Health Phys Therap. 2011; 35:1:3-10.

Dockter M, Becker E, Huber C, Lacher J, Obeng L. The prevalence of urinary incontinence in high school females: implications for prevention and wellness education. J Women’s Health Phys Therap. 2008; 32:2;7-11.

Dockter M, Gjellstad M. Cultural Humility in Healthcare: Building Bridges, Not Barriers. Presentation at the ND State Respiratory Therapy Association Spring Conference, April 2025; Bismarck, ND (invited)

Kitzenberg P, Kanz B, Dockter M. Interprofessional Education Experiences in Peru. Poster presented at The Power of United Minds: Advancing Healthcare Through Interprofessional Education and Practice. ND Nurses Association Conference; Oct 2024, Fargo, ND.

Dockter M. Looking beyond the diagnosis: The Importance of addressing Social Determinants of Health. Education Session Presented at the APTA ND fall session. Grand Forks, ND Sept 2023.

Dockter M. Leadership: Creating and Sustaining a Culture of Change. Education Session Presented at the APTA ND Fall session. Grand Forks, ND Sept. 2023.

Sibla, J, Dockter, M, Hair, R. Relationship Between Strength of Faith and Perceived Stress Among Occupational and Physical Therapists. Presented at Bridging Research with Practice Interprofessional Collaboration, Health Science Research and Evidence Based Practice Conference in Fargo, ND. October 21, 2022.

Nelson P, Alappattu MJ, Abraham K, Dockter M, Bishop M, Spitznagle T, Reisch R, Chiarello C. Publish or Perish Session 1: Designing an Impactful Manuscript
Publish or Perish Session 2: Navigating Peer Review. Education Session presented at APTA Combined Sections Meeting; Denver, CO. Feb 2020.

Dockter M, Bishop M, Nelson P, Alappattu MJ, Abraham K, Spitznagle T, Reisch R, Chiarello C. Reject or Correct? A guide to effective feedback on the road to publication. Education Session presented at APTA Combined Sections Meeting; Washington, DC. Feb 2019.

Nelson P, Boissonnault J, Anderson K, Dockter M, Figuers C. The What, When, Where and How of Women's health Content in DPT Education. Panel Presented at APTA Combined Sections Meeting; Feb 2017; San Antonio, Tx.

Wise, D, Carey J., Domholdt, E, Dockter M, Wolf M. Managing the at-risk student: when sailing isn't smooth from admission to graduation. Panel presented at APTA Combined Sections Meeting; Feb 2013; San Diego, CA.

Nelson P, Figuers C, Dockter M, Boissonnault J, et al. Update on entry-level women’s health educational standards. Panel presented at APTA Combined Sections Meeting; Feb 2012; Chicago, Ill.

Rich N, Dockter M, Abraham K, Borello-France D. Using evidence in practice: writing a case report. Pre-conference course presented at APTA Combined Sections Meeting; Feb 2010; San Diego, CA.

Rich N, Dockter M, Abraham K, Borello-France D. Using evidence in practice: writing a case report. Education session presented at APTA Combined Sections Meeting; Feb 2009; Las Vegas, NV.

Dockter M, Figuers C, Hartley G, Hendricks C, Schwoerer C, Thompson M. Professional development opportunities in women’s health. Panel presented at APTA Combined Sections Meeting; Feb 2008; Nashville, TN.

Dockter M. Service orientated learning experience (SOLE): integrating servant leadership into a PT program. Presented at APTA National Physical Therapy Leadership Conference; Oct 2007; Minneapolis, MN.

Boissonnault J, Irion J, LaPorta L, Anderson K, Dunbar A, Dockter M. Entry-level women’s health educational standards. Panel presented at APTA Combined Sections Meeting; Feb 2004; 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

National Catholic Bioethics Center Certification Program (2024)
APTA Fellowship in Education Leadership (2012)
PhD: University of North Dakota, 2004
MEd: University of Mary, 2000
BS (PT): University of North Dakota, 1989