Biography
Dr. Rose Vallejo received her Bachelor of Science in Physical Therapy from California State University, Long Beach in 1994. She began her career at Rancho Los Amigos National Rehabilitation Center, where she completed advanced training in neurologic rehabilitation and became a board-certified neurologic clinical specialist. During her time at Rancho, she served as the Physical Therapy Clinical Supervisor for the Neurology and Adult Brain Injury Units, developing deep expertise in the care of individuals with complex neurologic conditions.
In 2003, Dr. Vallejo transitioned to Casa Colina Centers for Healthcare, where she held the role of Rehabilitation Director. After relocating to New Mexico in 2006, she practiced in a variety of clinical settings and went on to earn her Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) from A.T. Still University. Dr. Vallejo joined the University of New Mexico Division of Physical Therapy in 2015 as adjunct faculty and was appointed Assistant Professor in 2017. She currently teaches across multiple areas of the DPT curriculum, including neurologic physical therapy, gait analysis, administration and supervision, and clinical Spanish for physical therapists. She also provides clinical care one day per week at the UNM Nene and Jamie Koch Comprehensive Movement Disorders Clinic, where she specializes in working with individuals with Parkinson’s disease, stroke, multiple sclerosis, traumatic brain injury, and other complex neurologic conditions. She is a certified PWR!Moves therapist.
Her research interests include gait analysis in individuals with neurologic diagnoses and education scholarship focused on culturally responsive teaching strategies and equitable instructional design. She is passionate about improving clinical reasoning and critical thinking among students through innovative, inclusive, and evidence-based pedagogy.
Dr. Vallejo is currently pursuing her Doctor of Education (EdD) in Educational Leadership at the University of New Mexico, with a focus on leadership in health professions education. She also teaches in the UNM Health Sciences Center’s Office for Continuous Professional Learning, where she facilitates workshops for faculty on evidence-based teaching practices.
Dr. Vallejo actively contributes to professional service at both the institutional and national levels. She serves as Co-Chair of the American Physical Therapy Association’s Academy of Neurologic Physical Therapy Annual Conference Planning Committee, Co-Chair of the UNM Health and Safety Advisory Committee and is an appointed member of the UNM Faculty Senate Teaching Enhancement Committee.
Areas of Specialty
Neurologic Physical Therapy
Parkinson's Disease
Specialized Wheelchair Seating and Positioning
Clinical Gait Analysis
Culturally Responsive Teaching and Learning in Physical Therapy Education
Certifications
Board Certified Neurologic Clinical Specialist Board Certified Assistive Technology Professional
Gender
Female
Languages
- English
- Spanish
Courses Taught
PT 609L:Management of Neurologic Dysfunction I (taught from 2018 - present)
PT 605L: Management of Neurologic Dysfunction IV (taught from 2017- present)
PT 680: Administration and Supervision for Physical Therapists (taught from 2015 - present)
PT 641: Clinical Spanish for Physical Therapists (taught from 2015 - present)
PT624L: Specialty Topics in Neurologic Physical Therapy (2024)
PT692: Board Prep (2018 - present)
Faculty Lead for the UNM DPT Service Learning Trip to Guatemala (2015 - 2019)