Eric Sawyer, DPT, PT, OCS, STC

Research Interests

My educational research interests are primarily focused on student debt and financial literacy as it affects current students in the health professions. I have recently completed a multi-institutional study as PI on financial literacy in matriculating DPT students. I recently developed a financial education curriculum and am studying the changes in financial literacy following reception of this content in DPT students.

Publications

• Boncella KL, Oranchuk DJ, Gonzalez-Rivera D, Sawyer EE, Magnusson DM, Harris-Love MO. What is ‘muscle health’? A narrative review and conceptual framework. J Funct Morphol Kinesiol. 2025;10(4):367. doi:10.3390/jfmk10040367.
• Struessel T, Palmer RJ, Eigsti H, Reinking M, Gorman I, Sawyer EE. PT/PTA student debt: confidence in financial knowledge and awareness of APTA's Financial Solutions Center. Rocky Mountain PT Conference; 2025 Oct 3; Golden, CO.
• Sawyer EE, Gorman I, Eigsti H, Palmer RJ, Reinking M, Struessel T. DPT student financial literacy: a multicenter cross-sectional study of student knowledge and preparation. Education Leadership Conference; 2025 Oct 18; Kansas City, KS.
• Sawyer EE, Berry J. Examining financial literacy in final-year physical therapist assistant students: a pilot study. CSM Conference; 2026; Anaheim, CA.
• Sawyer EE. What do recent PT graduates wish they had known about their finances in PT school? A qualitative study to inform development of PT program financial education curricula. GAMER Workshop; 2026 Jan; Charleston, SC.
• Struessel T, Eigsti H, Palmer RJ, Gorman I, Reinking M, Sawyer EE. PT/PTA student debt: confidence in financial knowledge and awareness of APTA's Financial Solutions Center. CSM Conference; 2026; Anaheim, CA.
• Sawyer EE, Jones M, Palmer RJ. Are hybrid DPT students as prepared for clinical practice as residential DPT students? A first-year student assessment. Rocky Mountain PT Conference; 2025 Oct 3; Golden, CO.
• Sawyer EE, Keefer R. Utilizing the acute care competencies to enhance clinical instruction. Bridging the Gap Conference; 2026; Chicago, IL.
• Sawyer EE, Eigsti H, Gorman I, Reinking M, Struessel T. A Financial Literacy Pilot Project: Are Matriculating DPT Students Prepared to Manage Their Debt?. J Allied Health. 2024 Fall;53(3):196-202. PubMed PMID: 39293006
• Sawyer, E. E., Eigsti, H., Gorman, I., Reinking, M., & Struessel, T. (2024). A Financial Literacy Pilot Project: Are Matriculating DPT Students Prepared to Manage Their Debt? APTA Combined Sections Meeting, Boston, MA.
• Patel VV, Sawyer EE, Mintken PE, Michener LA, Cofer CL, Lindley EM. Initial Validation of a Sacroiliac Joint-Specific Disability Questionnaire. Orthopedics. In Press. (2023)
• Patel VV, Sawyer EE, Mintken PE, Michener LA, Cofer CL, Lindley EM. Initial Validation of a Sacroiliac Joint-Specific Disability Questionnaire. Orthopedics. 2023 Nov-Dec;46(6):345-351. PubMed PMID: 37126835
• Hammerich A, Whitman J, Mintken P, Denninger T, Akuthota V, Sawyer E, Hofmann M, Childs J and Cleland J. Effectiveness of Physical Therapy Combined with Epidural Steroid Injection for Patients with Lumbar Spinal Stenosis: A Randomized Parallel-Group Trial. Archives Phys Med Rehabil. 2019. 100(5):797-810.
• Sawyer EE, McDevitt AW, Louw A, Puentedura EJ, Mintken PE. Use of Neuroscience Education, Tactile Discrimination, Limb Laterality and Graded Motor Imagery in an Individual with Frozen Shoulder. JOSPT. 2018; 48(3):174-184.

Practice Locations

UCHealth University of Colorado Hospital (UCH)
12605 E. 16th Ave
Aurora, CO 80045
720-848-0000

Specialty Information

Specialties

• Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Board Certification
• Board Certified in Orthopedics, Board Certification (2020)
• Certified Sports Specialist, Specialized Training (2003)

Conditions & Treatments

• Rehabilitation Therapy - Physical Therapy
• Rehabilitation Therapy