Meet Max Baumgartner

Max Baumgartner

Trine University - College of Health Professions
Professor and DPT Program Director
Physical Therapy, University of Toledo; Master in Physical Therapy, University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences; Doctor of Philosophy, Nova Southeastern University's School of Computer and Information Sciences
260-203-2917 | email

Max Baumgartner was appointed the Dean of the Rinker-Ross School of Health Sciences and founding Director of the physical therapy program at Trine in 2013. As Dean, he led the growth of the School of Health Sciences to include not only the Doctor of Physical Therapy program but also the Master of Physician Assistant Studies and the Associate of Applied Science in Surgical Technology. In 2020 he transitioned out of the role of Dean and now serves exclusively as the DPT program director. He is a Board-certified orthopaedic clinical specialist emeritus, a certified manual therapist (MTC), and a fellow of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Manual Physical Therapists (FAAOMPT). During his 31 years as a licensed physical therapist, he has served in a variety of roles. At the Medical College of Ohio's CARF accredited Rehab hospital, he worked with patients with spinal cord injury, stroke, and other neurologic disorders. As the senior physical therapist for the Spine Center at the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill, he collaborated with orthopedic and neurosurgical spine specialists to evaluate and treat a variety of patients with acute and chronic spine conditions. As an on-site consultant and clinician for Walgreens’ regional distribution center, his role was to evaluate, treat, and prevent work-related musculoskeletal injuries. As a physical therapist in both private and hospital-based outpatient clinics, he has worked to reduce pain and improve the mobility of individuals in every age group.

Dr. Baumgartner has 23 years of academic experience including serving as a faculty member and department chair. He served as an assistant professor at the University of Findlay from 1999-2004. He was Chair of the Physical Therapist Assistant program at Owens Community College before joining the faculty at the University of Toledo in 2007.