Kris Cooper PT, DPT, OCS, MTC, FAAOMPT completed his Master's degree in Physical Therapy at Grand Valley State University in 1999. He started his professional career in Chicago, where he took an enormous amount of post-graduate coursework and was board certified by the American Board of Physical Therapy Specialties as a Clinical Specialist in Orthopaedics (OCS) in 2001. He continued his post-graduate training with the Oa Grimsby Institute (OGI), completing a certification program in Manual Therapy and a year-long residency in Orthopaedic Manual Physical Therapy (OMPT) to earn his Doctorate in Physical Therapy (DPT) in 2004. He continued on with a post-doctoral fellowship in OMPT, becoming recognized as a Fellow in the American Academy of Orthopaedic Manual Physical Therapy (FAAOMPT) in 2006. During his time in Chicago, he began lecturing at professional meetings and teaching weekend continuing education courses to physical therapists. He also spent three years as the team physical therapist for the Chicago Cubs. 

Kris and his lovely wife Lisa (a classmate in the GVSU PT program) moved to Kalamazoo, MI in 2007 and are extremely proud of their two sons in college (one at GVSU). Kris is the manager of NovaCare Rehabilitation in Kalamazoo and treats patients full-time at this busy outpatient orthopedic practice. His clinic serves as the official physical therapy partner for Western Michigan University (WMU) Athletics and he works closely with their medical staff to keep their student athletes on the field. He continues as an educator and mentor for physical therapists both locally and around the United States through online programs, weekend seminars and long-term courses. He provides guest lectures in both the Department of Physical Therapy and Department of Exercise Sciences at WMU. 

Receiving the Dan Vaughn Distinguished Physical Therapy Award is a special honor for Kris as Dan served as a key role model and mentor who strongly influenced both the path of his career and his caring approach to treating patients.