A Rehabilitation Legacy in the UP

Driven by a desire to provide care in areas that need it most, Terry Tripp, PT, MPT, Cert. MDT, AT-R, Oakland University physical therapy graduate, started his own business in his hometown of Marquette, Michigan. Now, he has endowed a scholarship to give back and encourage more therapists to practice in rural communities.

After earning a Bachelor’s in Sports Medicine from Central Michigan University in 1992, Tripp realized that he had a strong desire to work with patients of all ages — not just athletes — which led him to pursue a career in physical therapy. Drawn to Oakland University by its strong background in manual therapy, Tripp soon started the Master’s of Physical Therapy program and graduated in 1995. “The best part of my time at OU was gaining deep educational experience in all aspects of physical therapy,” Tripp said. “And then of course, the community of Rochester is just a beautiful location and the bonds I developed with everyone in my class were incredible.”

After graduating, Tripp spent a few years working downstate but knew he wanted to return to his home in Marquette, located in the Upper Peninsula (UP) of Michigan. “I earned this advanced degree, so I wanted to be able to provide for our community,” Tripp said. After working for a small private therapy clinic in town for a few years, Tripp started thinking about opening his own business and diversifying the care provided to patients. 

Well-prepared through the clinical skills and business knowledge he gained from his physical therapy education at OU, Tripp co-founded UP Rehab Services in 2005 with occupational therapist Eric Paulitch, OTR, and accountant Russell Tripp. UP Rehab Services provides physical therapy, occupational therapy, hand therapy, speech therapy, aquatic therapy and athletic training to Michigan’s UP. The company, which now offers therapy in five hospitals across the UP and facilitates care in over 20 nursing homes, is one of the largest therapist-owned therapy companies in the state of Michigan. “This growth has come simply from the care that our team provides and our patient care outcomes,” Tripp explained. “People start selecting you as their provider, and then start talking about UP Rehab Services. I am so thankful for all of the UP Rehab team members who provide exceptional therapy each and every day to the people we serve.”

Providing physical therapy and additional rehabilitation services in a rural area, such as Michigan’s UP, is rewarding but not without challenges. “You’re bringing the best care to an area that may not have that care,” Tripp said. “Some people have to drive 30 to 40 miles to get to a therapist. But in these small little pockets, you can provide the care closer to home.” However, the physical therapy profession is facing a shortage of providers, and rural areas are being hit the most. 

To make a greater impact and encourage more physical therapists to work in rural areas, Tripp made a generous donation for an endowed scholarship for the Oakland University Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) program. “Education is expensive, and we have such a shortage of physical therapists, especially in areas like the UP,” Tripp said. “If we can help our fellow colleagues that are going through the education that I once had, I think it’s going to make a difference. I received such a great education during my time at OU, and it would be nice if we could offset the debt that some of these therapists are accumulating.” 

Tripp loves the area of Marquette and the UP, and encourages therapists to consider providing care in these areas. “In addition to serving communities in need, it’s a great area to be in,” Tripp said passionately. “You get away from the busyness of town but still have things like nice restaurants and an international airport. And of course, we have the great outdoors — hiking and biking, downhill skiing, and water sports with the beautiful Lake Superior. You can truly get the best of both worlds.”

Tripp lives in Marquette, MI, and enjoys spending time with his wife, Sarah, and his three adult children, Natalie, Kathryn and Matthew. In his free time, he likes playing golf, traveling, hunting and reading.

Learn more about Oakland University's Physical Therapy program.