UF physical therapy faculty member dies at Shands

Mark H. Trimble, an assistant professor in the University of Florida College of Health Professions’ department of physical therapy, died Sat. (Feb. 10) at Shands at UF after suffering a ruptured brain aneurysm. He was 42 years old.

Trimble joined the UF faculty in 1994 as an assistant professor with a concentration in orthopedics. His research focused on the nervous systems in people with spinal cord injury. He established an orthopedic program that incorporates a problem solving approach to case studies and a student peer review system for class assignments.

He had published more than 40 neuroscience and physical therapy papers and served on 15 masters and 10 doctoral committees in the departments of physical therapy and exercise and sports sciences. Trimble received the 1999 College of Health Professions Teaching Excellence Award.

Trimble was born in Middletown, Ohio. He received his bachelor of science in physical therapy degree from the University of Evansville in 1981, his master of science in exercise science degree from the University of Arizona in 1987 and a doctorate of philosophy in human performance and neuroscience from Indiana University in 1994.

A memorial service will be held at 3 p.m. Wednesday at the Trinity United Methodist Church in Gainesville, Florida. In lieu of flowers, contributions to the Dr. Mark H. Trimble Memorial Scholarship Fund may be made payable to the UF.

Trimble is survived by his wife, Shelley; two children, Jessica and Lucas; his parents, William and Barbara Trimble of Middletown, Ohio; and two sisters, Robyn Trimble of Ohio and Kristin Wiseman of Arizona.