Maria Cauilan Aguila

PT, DPT

Dr. Cauilan Aguila is the Capstone Coordinator, University of Montana/Rehab Essentials Philippines Based Transitional DPT Program. She also serves as an Adjunct Instructor in Therapeutic Exercises for the Doctorate Program in Physical Therapy at Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences in Newark, New Jersey; Visiting Faculty of the FEUNRMF School of Physical Therapy, Philippines. She is equally passionate in teaching and mentoring physical therapy students and practicing clinicians, having conducted several workshops and lectures in physical therapy related topics in both clinical and non-clinical matters. In addition, Dr. Cauilan Aguila, advocates movement for health, wellness and disease prevention in culturally diverse communities. Certified by Applied Prevention and Health Promotion Therapies.

In addition to teaching, Maria Cauilan Aguila is the practice owner of Life in Motion Physical Therapy, a community outpatient orthopedic facility in Jersey City, NJ. She has over 16 years of experience in orthopedic and acute care through examination, evaluation, diagnosis, prognostication and intervention of movement dysfunction through plans of care which combines interventions based on evidence, sound clinical judgments and functional meaningful goals while building excellent rapport with patients for effective patient education and adherence to PT care. She has authored several publications, is a prolific speaker and was Featured in APTA Magazine for Internationally Educated PTs, November 2020; Featured Interview in APTA Magazine, December 2020.

She was elected in the Council of Directors as Director at Large for the American Physical Therapy Association NJ Chapter (APTANJ) from 2017-2019 term; 2019-present. Plus, she is a Founding Officer and Current President of the FUTURE Foundation, a non- profit International Alumni organization of the FEUNRMF School of PT. Currently she is also a working member of the APTA’s Staff Work Group for Internationally Educated PTs. Maria is also the recipient of several awards including Societal Impact Award by the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) in 2019, the Rutgers School of Health Related Professionals Most Distinguished Alumni Award in 2019, FEU-NRMF’s Most Outstanding in Career Achievement Award, 45th Foundation Anniversary in 2016, and the American PT Association of NJ and American Filipino PT’s Challenge Coin Award for helping move the PT Profession forward.