Flom-Meland named new chair of UND's Department of Physical Therapy

GRAND FORKS, N.D. -- Professor Cindy Flom-Meland, P.T., M.P.T., Ph.D., has been named chair of the UND School of Medicine & Health Sciences Department of Physical Therapy (PT).

A veteran practitioner and faculty member who teaches in the areas of communication and professional behavior in PT, in addition to motor control, psychology, and neuro-rehabilitation in PT, Flom-Meland takes over the role of chair from Dave Relling, P.T., Ph.D., who was recently named the School’s new Associate Dean for Health Sciences. She is only the fourth department chair in its more than 50-year history and its first female chair, taking the reins of a program formerly managed by Relling and his predecessors Tom Mohr and former Grand Forks mayor Henry “Bud” Wessman.

Having taken both her Bachelor of Science in Physical Therapy and Master of Physical Therapy degrees from UND in 1991 and 1993, respectively, Flom-Meland earned a doctorate in teaching and learning from UND’s College of Education and Human Development in 2004. A full professor in the Department since 2018, she began as a PT instructor for UND in 1998.

“I am excited for the opportunity and the challenge of being department chair,” said Flom-Meland. “I am following in the footsteps of great leaders, and look forward to working with the faculty and staff of the PT program to carry on the great tradition of UND PT.”

A prolific presenter and respected researcher, Flom-Meland is a graduate of the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) Education Leadership Institute Fellowship program. She currently is President of the North Dakota chapter of the APTA and is a member of several APTA subsections, including the Health Policy & Administration, Academy of Physical Therapy Education, Academy of Geriatric Physical Therapy, and Academy of Neurologic Physical Therapy sections.

The SMHS Department of Physical Therapy oversees the University’s three-year Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) program, which has graduated 98% of its matriculants since 2018. In its more than 50-year history, the program has produced nearly 2,000 physical therapists; half of the licensed PTs practicing in North Dakota are UND alumni.

“Both Drs. Relling and Flom-Meland have dedicated many years to the department, School, University, and their profession, and are truly outstanding faculty members and people,” noted SMHS Dean Dr. Joshua Wynne. “I am extremely pleased with these leadership developments and am confident that Dave and Cindy will continue on the amazing path that has been blazed by Tom [Mohr] over all of these years.”

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Brian James Schill
Director, Office of Alumni & Community Relations
University of North Dakota School of Medicine & Health Sciences
701.777.2733 direct | 701.777.4305 office
brian.schill@UND.edu  |  www.und.edu