Dr. Peggy R. Trueblood, PT, PhD, is the Program Director for the School of Physical Therapy at Pacific Northwest University. Prior to PNWU, Dr. Trueblood served as Professor and Chair in the Department of Physical Therapy at California State University, Fresno (Fresno State) for 15 years. As Chair, she led the department at Fresno State through two accreditation site visits including the development of the DPT program.
Dr. Trueblood received her PhD in Physiological Sciences from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). She has taught and conducted research in the area of neuroscience for over 35 years. She has presented her work both nationally and internationally. Dr. Trueblood also has a Masters in Kinesiology from UCLA and a Masters in Physical Therapy with a Specialty Certificate for Evaluation and Treatment of Neurological Disorders from the University of Southern California. She has a certificate in the evaluation and treatment of vestibular disorders and has been a clinician since 1979 with an emphasis in neuro-rehab for balance and gait disorders.
Dr. Trueblood was the founder and director of the Gait, Balance, and Mobility Research and Education Center at Fresno State where she mentored physical therapy students and helped hundreds of clients with neurological impairments regain their mobility. She has also developed and implemented a fall prevention program for underserved seniors while residing in Fresno and continues to be the Director of the San Joaquin Central Valley Fall Prevention Coalition. As part of the coalition, Dr. Trueblood developed an interprofessional community based free balance screening program involving students and faculty from physical therapy, nursing, kinesiology, and pharmacy.
Dr. Trueblood continues to conduct clinical research with interests in helping reduce falls for older adults and enhancing gait and balance for people with neurological impairments such as Parkinson’s Disease and Stroke.