Lutterman named to state board

Physical therapist Dennis Lutterman of Brainerd was appointed last month to the newly formed Board of Physical Therapy. The appointment was made by Gov. Jesse Ventura.

The nine-member board was established in May of 1999. It formerly operated under the Minnesota Board of Medical Examiners. It evaluates the qualifications of license applicants and takes disciplinary actions when necessary.

Lutterman has been a physical therapist for 34 years, 30 of those years in Brainerd. He is the director of the Rehabilitation Department at St. Joseph's Medical Center. His term goes through 2003.

Lutterman said he expects the job to be a challenge since this will be the first board.

"We really want to control our own people with our own licensing board," he said.

The board includes four physical therapists, one physician, one physical therapy assistants and three public members.