
Lisa Murray
This spring, Lisa Murray will celebrate a milestone in her two-year pursuit of a Physical Therapist Assistant program in Pierce County. Thirteen students will start the program’s first Pierce County cohort. The students will take online classes through Whatcom Community College, Pierce’s partner in this effort, and attend weekend lab sessions in the exercise science lab at Pierce College Fort Steilacoom.
For Lisa, who teaches health and physical education classes at Pierce, she’s proud to give students access to another health care career option.
“Being a physical therapist assistant is one of the most rewarding experiences you can have. That’s why I’m so passionate about this program,” explained Lisa, who, earlier in her career, worked in a position comparable to what is now a physical therapist assistant. “You’re helping people get better, restoring their mobility and independence, and making them healthier, and the return on your investment is big. You can make really good money and it’s two-year degree.”
Of course, getting to this point turned out to be more than Lisa initially anticipated. Asked to do a feasibility study on starting a PTA program, Lisa first met with local physical therapists to assess their needs. She found a group of professionals ready and willing to help in any way she needed.

Lisa Murray teaches health and wellness classes at Pierce College Fort Steilacoom.
“We’ve had an outpouring of support from the community,” she explained. “Our community partners have donated thousands of dollars in equipment. At least one local office has offered scholarships for its employees. The work will be here for students when they finish the program.”
Through her commitment to Pierce College’s mission of creating quality educational opportunities for a diverse community of learners, Lisa has been instrumental in the success of the PTA program in Pierce County, according to Jo Ann Baria, dean of workforce education for the Pierce College District.
“Lisa took this project on and has gone way beyond our expectations. Her organizational, analytical, and communication skills have been exceptional,” she said. “Words are really inadequate to describe the amount of effort and passion she brought to this project. That we can now offer this program to Pierce County students is due to Lisa’s strong efforts and commitment.”
Lisa is actively recruiting students for the next Pierce County cohort group. She personally meets with interested students, reviews their transcripts, and helps with the competitive application process. Contact her at (253) 964-6482 or lmurray@pierce.ctc.edu.