Reva Rauk, PT, PhD, MMSc, NCS
After nearly 40 years in the physical therapy world—and 30 of those spent shaping students at the University of Utah—Dr. Reva Rauk is stepping into retirement at the end of 2025. It’s hard to sum up the impact she’s had, but one thing is certain: her work in clinical education has left a lasting mark, both on the university and on the profession as a whole.
Building Bridges in Clinical Education
Reva has spent her career making sure students, clinical instructors (CIs), and clinical sites are all on the same page—working together to create meaningful, hands-on learning experiences. She’s been the backbone of clinical education in the department, making sure students have placements that prepare them for real-world patient care. And if you’ve ever taken a Clinical Instructor Credentialing Program (CCIP) course in Utah, chances are you’ve benefited from her expertise. Her dedication to training CIs has elevated clinical education across the state and beyond.
One of her biggest contributions was rethinking the clinical education structure at the University of Utah. She helped transition the program to three longer full-time clinical experiences after students finished their didactic coursework. This gave students more time to develop their clinical reasoning, patient management, and confidence before stepping into the profession.
Beyond the university, Reva played a key role in reviving the Clinical Education Special Interest Group (SIG) within APTA Utah, bringing together PT and PTA programs across the state. She also helped establish an advisory committee to make sure clinical education keeps evolving to meet the needs of both students and the profession.
More Than Just Technical Skills
Reva has always believed that being a great clinician isn’t just about mastering techniques—it’s about how you connect with patients. She’s been a champion for teaching students the essential skills that make a difference: communication, professionalism, and patient-centered care. Through courses like Health Behavior Change (HBC) and Teaching & Learning (T&L), she’s encouraged students to get comfortable with ambiguity, develop empathy, and truly listen to their patients.
She’s also been a strong advocate for experiential learning, making sure students get hands-on experience with real patients early on. And if you’ve ever received feedback from her, you know it’s always honest, constructive, and meant to help you grow. She pushes students to embrace discomfort because she knows that’s where real learning happens.
A National Voice in Clinical Education
Reva’s influence isn’t just local—it stretches nationwide. Over the years, she’s played a major role in shaping clinical instructor education, contributing to initiatives that have changed the way CIs are trained. A few highlights:
- 2000 – Joined national discussions on CI education
- 2002 – Completed the Train the Trainer course, which changed how she approached teaching
- 2007 – Helped develop the Advanced CI course
- 2017 – Led a full revamp of Level II CI education to reflect modern practice changes
- 2019 – Began working on Level III CI training
- 2026 – The launch of Level III, focused on master adaptive learning and advanced teaching strategies
Looking Ahead
Even though she’s retiring, Reva isn’t stepping away from clinical education entirely. She’s passionate about improving support for students who face financial barriers to clinical placements, and she envisions using alumni networks to expand mentorship and housing opportunities for students training outside their home regions.
Her parting advice to faculty and students? Focus on the essential skills—compassion, communication, and patient-centered care. Trust the process, embrace discomfort, and be open to learning from every experience
As we say goodbye to an incredible educator, we celebrate everything Reva has given to the University of Utah and the physical therapy profession. Her legacy isn’t just in the curriculum changes or the programs she’s built—it’s in the countless students, faculty, and clinicians she’s mentored along the way.