Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Residency
The University of Colorado Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Physical Therapy Residency in Partnership with UCHealth is a post professional training program designed for licensed physical therapists who want to become expert clinicians and future leaders in cardiopulmonary care. Through immersive, mentored clinical experiences and a strong academic foundation, residents refine advanced clinical reasoning, evidence based decision making, and professional confidence across complex and high acuity patient populations.
Residents train across the full continuum of care, with exposure to outpatient cardiac and pulmonary rehab, outpatient heart and lung transplant evaluations, acute care hospital floors, and medically complex patients in a variety of intensive care units. Residents will also receive robust training and hands on experience with mechanical circulatory support devices. Didactic education is delivered by nationally recognized leaders in cardiopulmonary physical therapy, providing residents with direct access to expert instruction, cutting edge research, and thoughtful mentorship. Graduates of the program are prepared to deliver exceptional patient care, contribute to interdisciplinary teams, and advance the field of cardiovascular and pulmonary physical therapy.
Residents train across the full continuum of care, with exposure to outpatient cardiac and pulmonary rehab, outpatient heart and lung transplant evaluations, acute care hospital floors, and medically complex patients in a variety of intensive care units. Residents will also receive robust training and hands on experience with mechanical circulatory support devices. Didactic education is delivered by nationally recognized leaders in cardiopulmonary physical therapy, providing residents with direct access to expert instruction, cutting edge research, and thoughtful mentorship. Graduates of the program are prepared to deliver exceptional patient care, contribute to interdisciplinary teams, and advance the field of cardiovascular and pulmonary physical therapy.
Mission Statement
The University of Colorado Physical Therapy Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Residency in partnership with UCHealth is dedicated to improving lives through the advancement of specialized clinical practice, innovative education, and human connection across the continuum of care. Rooted in evidence-based practice and a commitment to lifelong learning, we prepare residents to lead the future of cardiovascular and pulmonary rehabilitation—improving function, health, and wellness for individuals and society.
Residency Faculty:
Dr. Rebecca Keefer, PT, DPT, CCS
Program Director, Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Physical Therapy Residency
Physical Therapist III, University of Colorado Hospital
Adjoint Senior Instructor, University of Colorado Anschutz
Dr. Rebecca Keefer, PT, DPT, CCS is the Program Director for the University of Colorado Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Physical Therapy Residency in Partnership with UCHealth. Dr. Keefer graduated from Pepperdine University in 2007 with a Bachelor of Science in Sports Medicine. She received her Doctorate in Physical Therapy from the University of Colorado in 2011. Dr. Keefer has been practicing at the University of Colorado Hospital (UCH) for 15 years, primarily in the medical, cardiac, and cardiothoracic ICUs. She became a board-certified specialist in cardiovascular and pulmonary physical therapy (CCS) in 2017 and joined the faculty at the University of Colorado DPT program as Adjoint Senior Instructor in 2023. In her clinical practice, Dr. Keefer is passionate about promoting physical therapy practice in the ICU, improving outcomes for patients who are critically ill, and working closely with the heart and lung transplant teams both inpatient and outpatient. In her faculty role, Dr. Keefer is a member of the clinical education team, co-coordinates Medical Conditions 1, and coordinates the Acute Care Elective at CU DPT. She has presented locally at various rehabilitation conferences, interdisciplinary conferences, and nationally at APTA Combined Sections Meeting and Acute Care Bridge the Gap conferences. She is a leader in the CO APTA as the Chair of the Acute Care SIG (CARE SIG).
Dr. Keefer’s scholarship examines educational strategies that enhance DPT student preparedness for acute and critical care practice, including simulation-based education, competency frameworks, and clinical instructor development. Complementing this work, her clinical scholarship evaluates rehabilitation-focused initiatives in medically complex patient populations, including lung and heart transplant recipients.
Dr. Daniel J Malone, PT, PhD, CCS
Professor, University of Colorado Anschutz
Daniel J. Malone, PT, PhD, CCS is a physical therapy educator, clinician, and leader in cardiovascular and pulmonary physical therapy. He earned his BS in Exercise Science from the University of Pittsburgh, his Master’s in Physical Therapy and PhD in Physiology from Temple University’s School of Medicine. His early career, started in 1992 at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania and included roles as a clinical team leader where he specialized in the rehabilitation management of the cardiothoracic patient including lung transplantation before working extensively in the medical ICU developing early mobilization/ early rehabilitation programs. He continues to advance patient-centered approaches for individuals with complex cardiopulmonary conditions across the continuum of care from ICU to post-acute care (most notably subacute rehabilitation of older adults).
Dr. Malone was faculty at Arcadia, Drexel, and Neumann University before joining the University of Colorado in 2011. He currently serves as Professor in the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation and is Director of the Hybrid PT Pathway. He has coordinated and taught core courses in medical conditions, acute care and physiology while leading accreditation initiatives, curriculum oversight and hybrid pathway development. His professional service to the Academy of CVP PT includes assisting with the specialist exam development, being a member of the nominating committee, Program Chair for 10 years and two-term President and 6-year HOD delegate.
His scholarly record reflects a deep commitment to advancing rehabilitation science, with over 20 peer-reviewed publications, more than 30 peer-reviewed scientific presentations, and 15 book chapters spanning acute & post-acute care, ICU rehabilitation, cardiovascular physiology, and clinical reasoning.
Dr. Kayla Bulter, PT, DPT, NCS
Program Coordinator, Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Physical Therapy Residency
Rehab Educator, University of Colorado Hospital
Affiliate Faculty, University of Colorado Anschutz
Dr. Kayla Butler, PT, DPT, NCS, is the Program Coordinator for the University of Colorado Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Physical Therapy Residency in Partnership with UCHealth. and board-certified Neurologic Clinical Specialist at University of Colorado Hospital. She earned her Doctor of Physical Therapy degree from Texas State University in 2011 and has over a decade of experience across acute care, critical care, inpatient rehabilitation, and outpatient neurologic practice Dr. Butler has contributed to the development and ongoing delivery of neurologic curriculum for an APTA-accredited Acute Care Residency and ICU Fellowship program and currently serves as an affiliate instructor at University of Colorado and Regis University. Her clinical and academic interests include complex critical care rehabilitation, disorders of consciousness, advanced mobility technologies, and clinician education. She is a published co-author in the Journal of Stroke and Cerebrovascular Disease and has presented her work at national and regional conferences, including the APTA Combined Sections Meeting.
Dr. Andrew Barnes, PT, DPT, CCS
Physical Therapist II, University of Colorado Hospital
Affiliate Faculty, University of Colorado Anschutz
Dr. Andrew Barnes, PT, DPT, CCS, is a board-certified cardiovascular and pulmonary physical therapist practicing in inpatient and transplant care at the University of Colorado Hospital Anschutz in Aurora, Colorado. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Exercise Science from SUNY Cortland in 2019 and a Doctor of Physical Therapy degree from University of Vermont in 2022.
Prior to relocating to Colorado, Dr. Barnes practiced at Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center and Mount Ascutney Hospital and Health Center, where he treated patients across acute care, acute rehabilitation, and swing bed settings. His current clinical practice primarily focuses on ICU-level care for patients recovering from cardiac surgery and critical illness, as well as pre–heart and lung transplant evaluations in both inpatient and outpatient settings.
Dr. Barnes has a particular clinical interest in integrating principles of cardiac and pulmonary rehabilitation with strength and conditioning strategies to optimize functional progression during hospitalization. His treatment approach emphasizes promoting an early and safe return to activity and participation following discharge
Since 2024, he has served as Affiliate Faculty in the Doctor of Physical Therapy Program at University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, contributing to the Medical Conditions, Examination and Evaluation, Foundations of Intervention, and Capstone courses. He has presented locally at interdisciplinary conferences on quality improvement initiatives and strategies to reduce the impacts of medical barriers on physical therapy participation in the acute care setting. He also serves as the co-chair of the Colorado APTA Acute Care SIG.
Dr. Rebecca Downey, PT, DPT, CCS
Physical Therapist II, University of Colorado Hospital
Associate Professor, Regis University
Dr. Downey, PT, DPT, CCS earned her Bachelor of Science in Exercise Medicine from Gonzaga University in Spokane, WA in 2006, followed by her Doctorate in Physical Therapy from Regis University in Denver in 2009. She became a Board Certified Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Specialist in 2018.
Her clinical career began in a pediatric setting before she joined the University of Colorado Hospital (UCH) in 2013, where she continues to practice part-time as a senior therapist. During her tenure at UCH, she served as a Clinical Instructor (CI) and Co-SCCE, reflecting her long-standing commitment to clinical education.
Dr. Downey is an Associate Professor at Regis University, where she teaches cardiac and pulmonary content and serves on the Clinical Education Team. She has presented at local and national conferences and has mentored clinicians internationally through Physiopedia. She also volunteers with the FSBPT and ABPTRFE.
Her scholarly interests span multiple areas, including pedagogy in classroom and simulation lab settings, interprofessional education, and cardiovascular and pulmonary rehabilitation.
Dr. Lauren Harper Palmisano, PT, DPT, CCS
Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Rehab Team Lead, University of Colorado Hospital
Lauren Harper Palmisano, PT, DPT, CCS, graduated from the University of Illinois at Chicago with her Doctor of Physical Therapy degree in 2007. Her clinical experience has been primarily in acute hospital and acute rehab settings, with a more recent focus on critical care serving the cardiac and pulmonary patient population. She has been a Physical Therapist at UCHealth since 2014 and in the role of Rehab Team Lead since 2020. She has been a clinical specialist in Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Physical Therapy since 2017. She continues to pursue partnership with the Ethics consult team as well as the Center for Bioethics and Humanities and completed training in Moral Resilience in 2022 and the Clinical Ethics Ambassador Program in 2025. As a Rehab Lead, Lauren serves as liaison between leadership and staff and as ambassador for Rehab Therapy to patients, families, and other members of the care team.Dr. Samantha Trutmann, PT, DPT, CCS
Physical Therapist III, University of Colorado Hospital
Affiliate Faculty, University of Colorado Anschutz
Sam has been practicing at UCH Anschutz since 2021 following her graduation from the CU DPT program. Her practice has primarily focused on patients within the transplant, cardiology, cardiac intensive care, and cardiothoracic intensive care units. In 2023, she became a board certified clinical specialist in cardiovascular and pulmonary physical therapy. Additionally, she is one of the PT Student Coordinators of Clinical Education for UCH Anschutz, and assists in management of PT evaluations for outpatient heart and lung transplant candidates. Prior to moving to Colorado in 2018 for her DPT instruction, she completed her Bachelor’s of Science in Biology at the University of Washington in 2016. To continue her contribution to the field of physical therapy, she has also maintained a position as an adjunct instructor in the CU DPT Program since 2022. The courses she assists in are medical conditions, examination and evaluation, and foundations of intervention.