Dr. Mark Petersen
PT, DPT, OCS, FAAOMPT
Instructor and Co-Founder
Dr. Petersen has experience as a staff physical therapist and clinic director since 2002 working his entire career within two Critical Access Hospitals in rural South Dakota, which has provided him the opportunity to develop a broad skill set and a unique perspective in treating patients across their entire life spectrum.
His primary interest throughout his career has been in orthopedic physical therapy and has always had a passion for teaching and mentoring students and clinicians. He particularly enjoys helping others evolve in their understanding of the “why” and “when” behind what we do through the application of a sound clinical reasoning model. He believes this is the most important skill that any clinician can hone to better serve their patients.
Dr. Petersen is a Board Certified Orthopedic Clinical Specialist through the APTA and is a Fellow in the American Academy of Orthopedic Manual Physical Therapists. He completed his transitional Doctorate in Physical Therapy degree in 2012, Orthopedic Residency in 2013, and Fellowship training in Orthopedic Manual Physical Therapy in 2016 all with Evidence in Motion.
In addition to maintaining a full-time clinical practice, Dr. Petersen has been actively engaged in teaching orthopedic courses in the online and in person environments, as well as, serving as a clinical mentor for other Fellows-in-Training. He is also an active member of the APTA and AAOMPT.
Dr. Mark Ponstein
PT, DPT, OCS, FAAOMPT
Instructor and Co-Founder
Dr. Mark Ponstein has been a practicing physical therapist since 2009 working primarily in outpatient orthopaedics. He is passionate about educating and mentoring others to elevate excellence in patient-care. He enjoys teaching the soft-skills of solid communication and clinical reasoning as well as the technical application and integration of manual therapy with exercise.
Dr. Ponstein completed a Manual Therapy Certification through Evidence in Motion early in his career. This sparked his interest to broaden his clinical reasoning and technical skills by pursuing fellowship training through Bellin College, completing this in 2019.
In addition to patient care, Dr. Ponstein clinically mentors Orthopaedic Physical Therapy Residents and Fellows-in-Training. He has also been adjunct faculty for the Doctor of Physical Therapy program at the University of South Dakota since 2016 instructing labs for the cervical, thoracic, and lumbar spine regions.
Dr. Ponstein is board certified by the American Board of Physical Therapy Specialties as an Orthopedic Clinical Specialist (OCS) and a Fellow of the American Academy of Orthopaedic and Manual Physical Therapists (FAAOMPT).
