Rate My Professor Jill Jumper

Dr. Jill Jumper, PT, DPT, PhD, GCS, serves as Dean of the College of Health Professions and Associate Professor of Physical Therapy at Hardin-Simmons University, where she also directs the Doctor of Physical Therapy program. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education from Abilene Christian University (1995), Master of Physical Therapy and Doctor of Physical Therapy degrees from Hardin-Simmons University (2002 and 2008), and a PhD in Physical Therapy from Texas Woman's University (2022), with a dissertation on “Factors Influencing Intent to Stay in Physical Therapy Faculty.” With over 20 years of clinical experience, Dr. Jumper has worked as a physical therapist in diverse settings including outpatient orthopedics, acute care, home health, and rehabilitation centers such as West Texas Rehabilitation Center, Hendrick Medical Center, and Lee Healthcare. Her academic appointments include Director of Clinical Education and Associate Professor in the Physical Therapist Assistant Program at Weatherford College (2015–2017), followed by roles at Hardin-Simmons University since 2017 as Director of Clinical Education, Assistant Professor, Interim Program Director, and her current positions.

A Board-Certified Clinical Specialist in Geriatric Physical Therapy since 2017 and Certified Lymphedema Therapist, Dr. Jumper was named Hardin-Simmons University's Faculty Member of the Year for 2023–2024. Her research interests encompass physical therapy education, faculty retention, Parkinson's disease interventions, blood flow restriction training, and cardiovascular health in therapy patients. Notable peer-reviewed publications include “Effects of Blood Flow Restriction Resistance Training on Autonomic and Endothelial Dysfunction in Persons with Parkinson’s Disease” (Journal of Parkinson’s Disease, 2024), “Factors Influencing Intent to Stay for Faculty in Physical Therapist Education Programs: A Mixed-Methods Analysis” (Journal of Physical Therapy Education, 2024), and “Prevalence of Elevated Pulse Pressure and Hypertension in Adults Participating in Outpatient Physical Therapy” (Cardiopulmonary Physical Therapy Journal, 2023). She has presented extensively on gait training, clinical education, and Parkinson's management at conferences including APTA Combined Sections Meetings. Dr. Jumper serves on Hardin-Simmons University's Institutional Review Board, as governmental liaison for the Texas Physical Therapy Association Midwest District, and helped establish a Parkinson's program at the Fletcher Fitness Center.