Assistant Professor of Physical Therapy
Dr. Amy Toonstra joined the Doctorate of Physical Therapy program as a full-time faculty member in 2018. She received her BA and Doctorate of Physical Therapy at the College of St. Scholastica. She became a Board-Certified Clinical Specialist in Cardiopulmonary Physical Therapy in 2015. Dr. Toonstra worked at Johns Hopkins Hospital for over 7 years where she was the ICU Clinical Specialist and director of an accredited Critical Care Fellowship Program for Physical Therapists. She also worked as a clinical mentor for an accredited Acute Care Residency Program. During her time there, she performed and participated in clinical research with patients with critical illness. She has published her research and presented at national and international conferences.
Currently, Dr. Toonstra’s research focuses on the impact of high-intensity inspiratory muscle strength training and perceptions of early mobility in hospital and intensive care. Some examples of recent dissemination include:
- Gustavson A, Patrick A, Ludescher M, Tonkin B, Toonstra A. Building and sustaining organizational capacity for the rehabilitation profession to support long-COVID care. CPTJ. 2023.
- Toonstra, A, Chelstrom, S, Ciesynski, E, Hixson, B, Jensen, M. Public perceptions of mobility and exercise in the hospital and intensive care unit: A prospective descriptive survey. JACPT. 2023; 10-1097.
- Toonstra, A, Lefebvre, K, Denn, J, Goecke, M, Grossoehme, L, Jarocki, E, Leslie, C, Peckumn, R, Rundquist, P, Warfield, S. Impact of blood pressure cuff over-inflation on blood pressure measurements in adults. CPTJ. 2022; 10-1097.
- Gustavson A, Toonstra A, Johnson J, Ensrud K. Reframing hospital to home discharge from “Should we?” to “How can we?”: COVID-19 and beyond. JAGS. 2021; 69(3): 608-609.
Professional Experience
- Johns Hopkins Hospital: ICU Clinical Specialist, Director of Critical Care Fellowship Program
- Concordia University, St. Paul: Assistant Professor
Academic Pedigree
- B.A. in Health Science, College of St. Scholastica
- DPT, College of St. Scholastica
- Board Certified Cardiopulmonary Specialist