Ruth Price

Ruth (Hiatt) Price graduated from the Salt Lake campus of the Utah College of Massage Therapy in January of 1997. Soon after graduating, Ruth started a private practice, A Professional Touch in Orem, Utah, which she has continued to maintain. She also began teaching at the Utah Valley campus in October of 1997, only ten short months after her own graduation.

Through her private practice, Ruth began working with two plastic surgeons in Utah Valley. Working mostly with patients having had abdominoplasty and/or liposuction, Ruth found that she could "help with the scar tissue build-up that can occur after having surgery," relieving pain and emotional trauma through the healing process. "I also act as a support for my patients, by coaching them on how to best care for themselves throughout their recovery process."

One of Ruth's clients that had been through major surgery stated, "It has been the greatest thing for me, to know that I have someone who is helping me get through [the surgery and recovery process] emotionally and who’s touch is so healing."

In November of 1999, Ruth was offered and accepted the position of Branch Campus Director for the Utah Valley campus of the Utah College of Massage Therapy Family of Schools. As a Branch Campus Director, Ruth oversees all operations of the campus, including the Community Outreach Program. The following letter is from an individual that was deeply affected by the Community Outreach Program and Ruth’s knowledge and mastery of massage therapy and her compassion as a whole:

"Very few people have struck me as you have. Your sincere interest in people is remarkable. Through my conversations with you, I can tell that you are a very caring and loving individual. I have listened to your students and have felt this interest first-hand. I would like to thank you… for the individual attention that I always feel…

"In March of 2000, I entered the Moab Half-Marathon. I am not new to running; in fact I have been running for close to seven years now. I understand the principles of warm-up, stretching, recovery and race strategy. I am totally consumed by running; it occupies a great part of my life.

"During the weeks before the event, I trained religiously and specifically for this race. If there was ever a race I wanted to win… this was the one. I was at the bottom of my age group and knew I could come up with a first place [position.]

"The morning of the race I was ‘pumped.’ I think I had so much adrenaline coursing through my veins that I was walking six inches above the ground. Before the race, (in retrospect) I failed to follow my pre-race warm-up and got caught up in the hype and conversation with friends. My planned 2-mile jog turned into a little walk and much talk. I was cold that morning and I felt a little twinge in my hamstrings. Since I figured on a win, I lined up near the front of the line (which is not unusual for me), but something just didn’t feel right. The adrenaline rush was something else as the gun fired and we were all off. I bolted out… running out of my league with the leaders.

"The race starts out with a small hill and a then a very steep downhill. When I hit the downhill, I felt a very strong pull, bilaterally in both medial and lateral quads. Right there I knew that there were going to be major problems; by the time I had reached the first mile marker, I was totally locked up and could barely raise either of my legs. The testosterone was still rushing and I still had the desire to win but the legs would hear of no such thing. For the next 12 miles, I limped, stretched, ran, cried… and pushed my body through the worst hour and a half of my life.

"At the finish line, I barely was able to stand. I knew that Ruth and the crew would be very close, and that was my first thought… to find [the UCMT Community Outreach Team] and get some help. I found the tents and the tables. I could not even raise my voice… I looked at Ruth and she looked at me. No words were needed… she cleared off a table and began to work her magic…

"The cramping in my legs was almost unbearable; I have never experienced that much pain. It was like a giant press was twisting and pulling every fiber in my legs. I am a medically trained individual. I hold a master’s degree in Medical Technology and have been very active in hospital life, especially in the [emergency room.] I knew after a few minutes what was going on. Lucky for me so did Ruth. Here came the bananas and the water… I knew that I had to get all the water I could down. I was drifting in and out of consciousness and there was nothing that I could do except rely on you special people. Then the cold hit… I thought that the cramping was bad and then there came the chills. This was a entirely new experience… was I dying, was I freaking out, what… was happening? I felt the weight of coats and blankets and anything that would hold the heat; it felt so good.

"I was feeling a little better when all of a sudden I heard the words ‘Gary, can you hear me? Gary can you hear me? What is your name?’ I was OUT OF IT and there was nothing I could do. The next words I heard were ‘let’s get him in the ambulance.’ This was getting serious now and I was scared as hell. I managed to get enough of me together to tell them to please just let me stay there. I didn’t want any part of any hospital; I knew what happens there. All this time Ruth and the crew were pulling, stretching and kneading those fatigued muscles… I started to warm up and the cramping began to subside. I have no idea how long it had been but I was told it was for the better part of an hour that this had been going on. The recovery was really surprisingly fast, once the chilling and cramping had passed….

"What [UCMT students are taught] may just seem [like] ordinary push, pull, knead, massage but I am here to tell you that had it not been for your program and your being there in Moab that day, things would have been very different. I was in trouble and it was because of some very skilled and trained people that I was able to come out of it…. You perform a vital service and are really needed in the sports world.

"After the incident, I was instructed that I would report to where [Ruth] was staying and get in the swimming pool where the cool water cold do it’s natural therapy on my recovering legs… and after the time in the water, a [full-body] massage… I’m not kidding when I tell you that I seriously thought that I would need crutches… After [Ruth] got through with me the pain was practically gone, I got up from the table and walked out to the car feeling like I had run an easy 10K.

"Once again, please let me say thank you and how much I appreciate the people at UCMT… You have the training and knowledge to affect others. This is a special talent and one that can never be taken from you… See you in the next race, I always look to see if you’re there.

"Very sincerely, Gary Pierce"