Rocky Mountain College Welcomes Pioneering Montana OT Educator Dr. Paula Kitzenberg to OTD Faculty
A Leader in Occupational Therapy Education in Montana
- Establishing and growing the first occupational therapy program in Montana, based in Billings.
- Serving as program director and associate professor for the Billings-based OTD program.
- Providing on-the-ground teaching and mentorship as the primary on-site faculty member—ensuring students had in-person guidance, lab instruction, and clinical preparation in Billings.
A Passion for In-Person, Hands-On OT Education
Global Service and a Heart for OT Mission Work
Beyond her work in Montana, Dr. Kitzenberg is known for her commitment to global occupational therapy service and outreach, particularly through her long-running service mission trips to Peru. She takes an interdisciplinary clinical team, including OT students, high up the Andes Mountains to the impoverished Puno region that has very little healthcare. There, the team will organize clinics for the area villages and the people come out of the mountains to see doctors, nurses, physical therapists, and occupational therapists.
They provide care to people across the lifespan with a wide variety of challenges. They also partner with an organization in that region to provide ongoing follow-up healthcare throughout the year. During the 2026 trip, Dr. Kitzenberg was honored by the Bishop and the Mayor of the region for her dedication to healthcare in the Puno region and for her many years of service.
Reflecting on her time in Peru, she recently wrote:
A Major Addition to Rocky Mountain College’s Occupational Therapy Doctorate Program
Dr. Kitzenberg’s appointment marks a significant milestone for Rocky Mountain College’s Occupational Therapy Doctorate program in Billings, Montana, which was designed from the ground up as a fully in-person, hands-on OTD program preparing students for the growing OT job market across the state and region.
“Paula brings an exceptional combination of clinical expertise, program leadership, sensory integration training, and a deep heart for students and communities,” said Dr. Sutherin. “She helped launch OT education in Montana. Now, joining a fully in-person occupational therapy doctorate program at Rocky Mountain College, she will be able to pour that experience directly into the next generation of occupational therapists.”
Dr. Kitzenberg’s presence on campus will strengthen RMC’s ability to:
- Deliver high-quality, lab-based occupational therapy education in core practice areas.
- Expand fieldwork and capstone opportunities across Montana’s hospitals, clinics, schools, and rural communities.
- Mentor students who aspire to serve in urban and rural Montana settings, as well as in global OT service contexts.
Rocky Mountain College is honored to welcome Dr. Paula H. Kitzenberg as a full-time member of the OTD faculty and looks forward to the many ways she will enrich the RMC Occupational Therapy Doctorate program, the college, and the communities RMC serves throughout Montana and beyond.
