Dr. Hamilton Mills is a native to the Baton Rouge area, having been raised in Sunshine, LA, just outside city limits. He obtained his Doctor of Physical Therapy from LSU Allied Health in Shreveport, LA. Upon graduation, he was selected by his physical therapy program’s faculty to be inducted into the Alpha Eta Honor Society, and he was nominated as the program’s selection for the school wide Dean’s Award. During his time in school, he was also elected by his classmates to be the Louisiana State Delegate for the LA APTA Student Special Interest Group in addition to representing his class as the Student Liaison for the LA PT Board. 

Dr. Mills had his first encounter with physical therapy when he tore his ACL in high school and went through 9 months of rehab. However, his most pivotal experience came with a low back injury after a weightlifting competition in college. For six months, he couldn’t sit down, lay on his back, walk, bend over, or any number of things without debilitating pain. He struggled with this pain until he decided to go see his cousin who was a physical therapist (guess who?!). His physical therapist reassured him that everything was going to be ok and quickly guided him to a manageable state with a specific and purposeful exercise intervention.

Through this experience, Dr. Mills learned empathy for patients by learning how to be a patient. In contrast, he grew a confidence in the physical therapy profession and its ability to treat patients effectively. It was this exposure to PT that affirmed Dr. Mills’ decision to be a part of the profession, so that he could help people in all walks of life. Dr. Mills believes the human body is resilient, strong, and capable of returning to movement after injury when given the appropriate exercise intervention. He seeks to help people return to these movements, as he was once helped himself.