04/16/2026
🌟 APTA NV Spotlight 🌟
This week we’re proud to highlight Dr. Merrill Landers, PT, DPT, PhD, FAPTA — a leader in physical therapy research and education.
Dr. Landers serves as Interim Dean of the School of Integrated Health Sciences and Professor in the Department of Physical Therapy at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, where he also directs the Gait and Balance Lab. With over two decades of dedication to Parkinson’s disease research, his work continues to advance our understanding of fear of falling avoidance behavior and the neuroprotective effects of exercise in Parkinson’s Disease. He holds a BS in Exercise Science from Brigham Young University, a DPT from Creighton University, and a PhD in Integrative Physiology from UNLV.
Dr. Landers’s impact is extensive. He has produced more than 100 peer-reviewed publications, over 120 national & international presentations, and more than 15 keynote lectures. He currently serves as an Associate Editor for the Journal of Neurologic Physical Therapy.
Beyond his professional achievements, Dr. Landers is passionate about history (especially Native American, Viking, Celtic, and Anglo-Saxon history), enjoys golf, and is getting back into tennis after playing in college. He’s also a proud dad of four and embracing his life as an empty nester.
Thank you, Dr. Landers, for your continued contributions to the profession and commitment to improving the lives of individuals with neurologic conditions. 👏