Norman Belleza PT, DPT, PhD
Graduate College of Health Sciences - Department of Physical Therapy
ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR
EDUCATION:
Doctor of Philosophy in Education with a specialization in Learning, Instruction, and Innovation from Walden University
Doctor of Physical Therapy from Temple University
Master of Physical Therapy from Loma Linda University
Bachelor of Sciences in Life Sciences Loma Linda University
Associate of Arts, General Studies and Pre-Physical Therapy from Washington Adventist University
CERTIFICATIONS: Certified Healthcare Simulation Educator – Advanced® (CHSE-A)
BIOGRAPHY:
Norman Belleza, PT, DPT, PhD is an Associate Professor and completed his Bachelor of Life Sciences and entry-level Master of Physical Therapy from Loma Linda University. Dr. Belleza then received his transitional Doctor of Physical Therapy from Temple University. In addition, he attained his academic terminal degree with a Doctor of Philosophy in Education from Walden University. Dr. Belleza is presenting nationally and internationally, and has numerous publications in the emerging field of simulation in rehabilitation education with a focus on interprofessional education.
Dr. Belleza has served in many academic leadership positions including dual roles as Co-Chair for the College of Health Professions overseeing campuses in five States as well as the Founding Program Director for the PTA program for South University in Virginia Beach, VA from 2011-2014. In the summer of 2014, an opportunity opened on the West Coast for Dr. Belleza to join the DPT residential program at the University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences (USAHS) in San Marcos, California. From 2014-2024, he served as an Associate Professor and the Founding Director of Interprofessional Education. During his time at USAHS, he was the recipient of the 2019 Board Excellence Award—Excellence in Innovation. He also was honored by the University’s President and Chief Academic Officer in November 2022 for excellence in scholarship for the USAHS Scholarship Symposium.
Additionally, Dr. Belleza is one of 102 individuals from 13 countries worldwide to receive advanced credentialing as a Certified Healthcare Simulation Educator – Advanced ® (CHSE–A ®). In recognition of his clinical work, academic leadership, and scholarly contributions, Dr. Belleza was honored to be inducted in the Class of 2024 as a Distinguished Scholar Fellow for the National Academies of Practice. Dr. Belleza is excited to join the 'ohana of Hawai'i Pacific University in Las Vegas and looks forward to continued career growth and to welcome students to this innovative teaching model and hybrid program.
PEER-REVIEWED PUBLICATIONS:
Johnson, M. E., Rodriguez, N. R., Belleza, N. C., & Stark, N. (2024 – accepted in press). Watch a Therapist Get Sued: A Medicolegal Interprofessional Simulation on Rehabilitation Therapy Documentation. Journal of Interprofessional Education & Practice.
Johnson, M., Belleza, N. C., & Ganesan, M. (2024). A Pilot Study on Implementing an Interprofessional Education Model for Developing Rehabilitative Science Student Core Competencies. Journal of Innovation in Health Sciences Education, 1(1): 15– 33. https://doi.org/10.46409/003.WKYQ7087
Belleza, N. C., & Ganesan, M. (2024). Effect of Simulation Learning on Graduate Student Attitudes Toward Interprofessional Teams and the Team Approach to Care. Educational Theory: Research and Practice Journal (accepted, in press).
Pucillo, E. M., Crowder, J. S., Andrea, C. A., Brim, S., Pilgrim, L., & Belleza, N. (2024). A Comparison of Entry-level Physical Therapist Educational Outcomes Before and During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Multi-center Study. Journal of Physical Therapy Education, 0(0): 1–9. https://doi.org/10.1097/JTE.0000000000000327
Belleza, N. (2023). Tomorrow’s health-care workers and leaders need interprofessional education. Inside Higher Education. https://www.insidehighered.com/opinion/views/2023/10/12/health-care-education-must-teach-students-collaborate-opinion?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=1f278e7a40-DNU_2021_COPY_02&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-1f278e7a40-199583325&mc_cid=1f278e7a40&mc_eid=12f0483cee
Belleza, N.C. & Johnson, M. (2023). Designing a Conceptual Framework to Align Learning Objectives to the Interprofessional Education Collaborative Core Competencies: A Narrative Review. Philippine Journal of Physical Therapy, 2(2): 35–50. https://doi.org/10.46409/002.RJJC3239
Puzziferro, M., McGee, E., Baldwin, T., Belleza, N., DeLuca, E., Evener, J., Layne, K., Mathews, J., Reed, R., Ruediger, D., & Somarriba, G. (2021). Delivering Virtual Labs in Rehabilitative Sciences During COVID-19: Strategies and Instructional Cases. Online Journal of Distance Learning Administration.
BOOKS/CHAPTERS:
Belleza, N. C., & Laslovich, J. (2019). National physical therapy examination and board review. Chapter 1: Cardiac, vascular, and pulmonary systems. McGraw-Hill Education.
