Dr. Kitzenberg is widely recognized for her role in helping launch and lead Montana’s first occupational therapy program in Billings through the University of Mary, where she has served since 2013 as program director and associate professor for the OTD program in Billings. Rocky Mountain College extends deep respect and appreciation to the University of Mary for its pioneering work in bringing OT education to Montana and for the impact that Dr. Kitzenberg and their program have had on the state’s occupational therapy workforce.
“University of Mary’s OT program opened the door for occupational therapy education in Montana, and Paula has been at the heart of that effort from the beginning,” RMC OTD Program Director Dr. Corwin Sutherin added. “We are grateful for the foundation that has been built and honored that Paula has chosen to bring her experience and passion to Rocky Mountain College as we continue to grow OT education in Billings and across Montana.”
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A leader in occupational therapy education in Montana
Dr. Kitzenberg brings more than a decade of program leadership and a career grounded in both clinical excellence and academic innovation in occupational therapy. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Occupational Therapy from the University of North Dakota and her Master’s in Health Administration from Montana State University–Billings, strengthening her understanding of both clinical practice and healthcare systems in Montana. She later completed her Post Professional Occupational Therapy Doctorate at the University of Utah.
She received specialized training in sensory integration and obtained SIPT certification through the University of Southern California, further deepening her expertise in pediatric and neuro-sensory occupational therapy practice. Since the onset of her career in higher education, Dr. Kitzenberg has played a central role in:
- 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
While Dr. Kitzenberg has excelled in hybrid and distance OT education, she has long envisioned finishing her career as part of a fully in-person occupational therapy faculty team.
“My dream is to be a part of an in-person faculty team teaching occupational therapy,” Dr. Kitzenberg shared. “There is no replacement in the OT field for hands-on education. Occupational therapy is a very involved and hands-on career, and that is why I’m so excited to be part of the Rocky Mountain College OTD family—teaching in a fully in-person program, in state-of-the-art lab spaces, alongside colleagues and students every day.”
At Rocky Mountain College, Dr. Kitzenberg will teach and mentor OTD students in a fully in-person occupational therapy doctorate program, making extensive use of RMC’s modern, hands-on OT lab spaces and simulation environments. Her experience with curriculum design, clinical leadership, pediatric services, and program administration will support RMC OTD’s continued growth as a clinically grounded, practice-ready OT education program in Montana.
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:
“Each year, this experience leaves a lasting impact on all of us. The challenges faced by the people in the region of Peru are very significant but they have so much joy, resilience, love and faith. The people we serve are always so kind and appreciative. They teach us what it truly means to be grateful and it has a lasting impact on me and the entire team.”
Her leadership in organizing the Peru donation drives that include medicines, adaptive equipment, and a host of other essential supplies in order to provide student-led occupational therapy interventions abroad reflects the same values that guide Rocky Mountain College’s focus on service, community engagement, and working with underserved populations in Montana and internationally.
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.
