Karen Stevens serves as an Assistant Program Director and Associate Professor in the Department of Physical Therapy. She is a Bard-Certified Clinical Specialist in Orthopedic Physical Therapy. Her primary area of teaching is in the area of orthopedic physical therapy, including courses in kinesiology, anatomy, and clinical skills. Her current area of research emphasis is in the area of anatomy education and foot and ankle assessment and function. She has received research funding from the Illinois Physical Therapy Association.

Research Interests

• Foot strength, mobility, and function
• Educational research in the areas of: anatomy, curriculum, and simulation

Selected Publications and Presentations

• Stevens K, Kuntz J. Musculoskeletal Clinical Anatomy for Second Year Physical Therapy and Medical Students: Two Methods during COVID-19. Poster Presentation. American Physical Therapy Association; Combined Section Meeting. San Antonio, TX; February, 2022.
• Stevens K, Brinkerhoff M, Cravens J, Gross B, Kadushin I, Parek M, Stankoskey S, Varnas A & Turrentine N. Muscle Activation in Healthy Adults During a Foot Strength Test in Sitting and Standing. Poster Presentation. American Physical Therapy Association; Combined Sections Meeting. Orlando, FL (virtual); February, 2021
• Stevens K, Fabbri D, Falciano C, Herberg S, Kras J, Pohl A, Tessler A. Influence of gender, body mass index, and foot length on foot strength. Med Sci in Sport and Exerc. 2020;52(5);supplement.
• Stevens K, Henderson H, Hawthorne K, Carlson J. A comparison of methods for setting passing scores in standardized simulated patient experiences in physical therapist education. J Phys Ther Educ. 2013;27(3):78-81.
• Frownfelter D, Stevens K, Massery M, Bernardoni G. Do abdominal cutouts in thoracolumbosacral orthoses increase pulmonary function? Clin Orth Rel Res. 2013;472(2):720-726.

Education

• Transitional Doctor of Physical Therapy
  Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science
  North Chicago, Illinois
• Master of Science, Physical Therapy
  Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine
  Chicago, IL
  Research Practicum
  Northern Arizona University, Thomas McPoil PhD, PT
  Flagstaff, Arizona
• Bachelor of Science Degree, Physical Therapy
  Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine
  Chicago, Illinois
• Bachelor of Arts, Physical Anthropology
  Northwestern University,
  Evanston, Illinois

Certification

• American Board of Physical Therapy Specialties (ABPTS) Certified Clinical Specialist in Orthopedic Physical Therapy

Honors and Awards

• College of Health Professions (CHP) Outstanding Educator Award
  Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science
  September, 2020
• Timothy R. Hansen Mentoring Award
  Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science
  April 2019
• Rosalind Franklin Award for Excellence in Teaching
  Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science
  April 2017
• CHP Outstanding Faculty Teacher Award
  Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science
  April 2017
• Best Platform Presentation for the College of Health Professions
  69É«ÇéƬMS All School Research Consortium – speaker Katherine Kalter
  “Interrater and Intrarater Reliability of a New Measure of Midfoot Mobility: A Pilot Study”
  March 18, 2015
• Lake County Cares “I Care” Award
  Health Reach Providers
  2014
• CHP Research Award
  Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science
  2014
• CHP Educator Award
  Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science
  2009
• Golden Apple Award
  Physical Therapy Program
  Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science (formerly Finch University of Health Sciences/The Chicago Medical School)
  1998-1999, 2001-2002, 2002-2003, 2004-2005
• College of Allied Health Professions Educator of the Year
  Midwestern University
  1997

Professional Society Membership

• American Physical Therapy Association (APTA)
  • APTA Academy of Orthopedic Physical Therapy
  • APTA Academy of Education
• American Association of Clinical Anatomists (AACA)
• American Association for Anatomy (AAA)
• American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine (AIUM)