Dr. Dennis O'Connell
Dr. Dennis O’Connell holds a Bachelor of Science degree in physical
education from Manhattan College and a Bachelor of Science in physical therapy from
The University of Texas Health Science Center-San Antonio. He has a Master of
Arts degree from Kent State University, and a Ph.D. in exercise physiology from
the University of Toledo. He has also earned a Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT)
degree from Hardin-Simmons University.
His research has focused on metabolic, cardiopulmonary, and
neuromuscular responses to acute and chronic exercise. “DOC’s” teaching
responsibilities include: Applied Physiology I & II, and Clinical Diagnosis
and Management: Cardiovascular & Pulmonary, and Multiple Systems II. He
currently serves as a reviewer for Medicine
and Science in Sports, Archives of
Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Journal
of Cardiopulmonary Physical Therapy, and Physical Therapy and selected published works can be found in the Journal of Cardiopulmonary Physical Therapy, Archives of Physical Medicine and
Rehabilitation, WORK: Prevention,
Assessment and Rehabilitation, and Perceptual
& Motor Skills Journal. He has authored Special Tests of the Cardiovascular, Pulmonary, and Gastrointestinal
Systems (SLACK Publishing) with Drs. Janelle O’Connell and Martha Hinman.
He is a Fellow of the American College of Sports Medicine, and
a member of the American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine, the American
Physical Therapy Association and the Texas Physical Therapy Association. He is past-president
of The Texas Physical Therapy Education and Research Foundation, the American
Heart Association-Region 16 and past chair of the Abilene Mayor’s Council
on Physical Fitness.
In addition to being a licensed physical therapist, he is
certified in Exercise Test Technology, Ergonomics, and Strength and
Conditioning. He currently serves the community by providing educational
programs to hundreds of individuals with diabetes annually. He is co-founder
of the HSU PT Ministries program and holds an adjunct appointment with
Rocky Mountain University of Health Professions.
PHYT 7303 Applied Physiology I
PHYT 7204 Applied Physiology II
PHYT 7425 Clinical Diagnosis and
Management II: Cardiovascular & Pulmonary
PHYT 7230 Clinical Diagnosis and
Management VIII: Multiple Systems