Biography

Dr. Burns joined the URI faculty in 2021. After graduating from Springfield College with a Master of Science degree in Physical Therapy, he furthered his education earning a post-professional Doctor of Physical Therapy degree with a certification in Sports Physical Therapy from the University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences. Dr. Burns served as a Physical Therapist in the United States Navy for 28 years through a combination of active duty and reserve service. He has also been a private practice owner for the past 20 years. He is a board-certified clinical specialist in both Orthopaedic and Sports Physical Therapy. In addition to his areas of specialization, he also has interests in the areas of manual therapy, post-surgical rehabilitation, clinical education, human anatomy, and musculoskeletal ultrasound. At the university, he directs the department’s Physical Therapy Clinic that provides comprehensive outpatient Physical Therapy services to the university community and clinical education opportunities for the students in our program. His current teaching assignments include PHT 500L: Human Anatomy Laboratory, PHT 574: Sports Physical Therapy, PHT 655: Diagnostic Imaging, and various clinical experiences in the program’s clinical education continuum.