Dr. Sarah Blanton is an Associate Professor of Rehabilitation Medicine at Emory University School of Medicine, Division of Physical Therapy. She graduated from the University of Virginia in 1987 with a BA degree in biology, from Emory University in 1992 with her masters in physical therapy and received her clinical doctorate in physical therapy in 2003. She has a specialty certification in Neurology through the American Board of Physical Therapy. After nine years working in neurologic rehabilitation at Emory Center for Rehabilitation Medicine, she served as project coordinator for several research studies, including two multi-site, NIH-funded national clinical trials. In 2006, Dr. Blanton joined the faculty of the Emory Doctor of Physical Therapy program and her teaching has included geriatrics, mental health, cultural diversity and neurorehabilitation. Dr. Blanton’s current research focus includes stroke survivor and family quality of life, including depression, fatigue, caregiver/family functioning and post-stroke education. The long-term goals of her research efforts are to develop methods to support family focused rehabilitation approaches that facilitate the active integration of the caregiver throughout physical therapy practice.
Dr. Blanton’s interest in the Journal of Humanities in Rehabilitation stems from her ongoing exploration of the intersections of creativity and spirituality to gain insight into the human experience of suffering, joy and mystery. In her teaching, she has found the use of narrative to be an exceptionally powerful tool to foster reflection and personal insight for both students and patients. In her research, she is incorporating multi-media formats to develop family education interventions in the home environment. A photographer since childhood, she has enjoyed sharing her artwork through exhibits at Emory University, speaking with chaplaincy students on “Reflections of Art and Spirituality in Appalachia” and as a guest contributor to the Public Radio show, On Being.
Dr. Carey received BS and MS degrees in Physical Therapy and a PhD in Physical Education/Kinesiology all from the University of Minnesota. He currently is a Professor in the Program in Physical Therapy at the University of Minnesota. He has held previous faculty positions in Physical Therapy at the University of Puget Sound (1978-79), College of St. Scholastica (1979-80), University of Minnesota (1980-88 and 1994-present), and Mayo School of Health-Related Sciences (1988-1994). He teaches anatomy and principles of motor recovery from stroke. His research focuses on transcranial magnetic stimulation to promote recovery of hand function following stroke. He is a member of the University of Minnesota’s Academy of Distinguished Teachers and the Medical School’s Academy of Medical Educators, as well as being a Catherine Worthingham Fellow in the American Physical Therapy Association. His interest in the Journal of Humanities in Rehabilitation stems from working with people with stroke and his prior volunteering at the Center for Victims of Torture in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Dr. Bruce Greenfield is a Professor in the Division of Physical Therapy and the School of Medicine and Senior Fellow in the Center for Ethics at Emory University. Dr. Greenfield is a well-known physical therapy educator and qualitative researcher. He serves on the APTA Ethics and Judicial Committee, and on the editorial boards of the Journal of Physical Therapy Education and the Journal of Orthopedic and Sports Physical Therapy. At Emory, Dr. Greenfield is a member of the Emory University Hospital Ethics Committee. For many years, Dr. Greenfield was an orthopedic clinical specialist and edited two text books on the rehabilitation of the knee and shoulder published by F.A. Davis. His current areas of research are exploring the use of narrative and reflection in clinical practice, and exploring ethical reasoning and ethical issues in clinical practice. His interest in the Journal of Humanities in Rehabilitation stems from his passion to incorporate the use of narrative in his teaching and to increase awareness of the need for the humanities in the study of ethics in the PT profession.
Dr. Jensen is Dean of the Graduate School and College of Professional Studies, Vice Provost for Learning and Assessment, Professor of Physical Therapy, and Faculty Associate, Center for Health Policy and Ethics, Creighton University. Dr. Jensen is a leader known nationally and internationally for her scholarly contributions related to expert practice, clinical reasoning, professional ethics, and interprofessional education. Dr. Jensen has served on several editorial boards and is currently deputy editor for Physiotherapy Research International, Associate Editor for Physiotherapy Theory and Practice and on the Editorial Board of Qualitative Health Research. Dr Jensen has coauthored 10 books, most recently the third edition of Handbook of and Learning for Physical Therapists; Realizing Exemplary Practice-based Education; Leadership in Interprofessional Health Education and Practice; Expertise in Physical Therapy Practice (2nd edition), and Educating for Moral Action: A Sourcebook in Health and Rehabilitation Ethics. She serves as a member of the Board of Directors for the American Interprofessional Health Collaborative. She is currently leading a national study of excellence and innovation in physical therapist education funded by the American Physical Therapy Association. Dr. Jensen received her PhD in educational evaluation with a minor in sociology from Stanford University. She holds a master’s degree in physical therapy from Stanford University and a bachelor’s degree in education from the University of Minnesota. Dr. Jensen is a leader known nationally and internationally for her scholarly contributions related to expert practice, clinical reasoning, professional ethics, and interprofessional education. As a qualitative researcher, she brings to the Journal of Humanities in Rehabilitation a passionate commitment to uncovering the essential human (contextual) elements of patient care and exploring ways to prepare mindful practitioners.
Dr. Zoher Kapasi is the Dean of College of Health Professions at the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston, South Carolina. Before becoming the dean, Dr. Kapasi served as the Director and Professor in the Division of Physical Therapy and Vice Chair of Education of the Department of Rehabilitation Medicine at Emory University School of Medicine in Atlanta, Georgia. He received his Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees in Physical Therapy from the University of Bombay, India, Ph.D. in Anatomy/Immunobiology from Medical College of Virginia, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia and Executive MBA from the Goizueta Business School, Emory University, Atlanta. He did post-doctoral work in Immunology at Basel Institute for Immunology, Switzerland and Medical College of Virginia. After graduation, his research focused on age-related changes in immune function and the effects of exercise and nutrition on the immune system. Currently, Dr. Kapasi serves on the editorial board of the Journal of Humanities in Rehabilitation. Dr. Kapasi has taught human anatomy, advanced human anatomy, and business management for the physical therapist in the physical therapy program. In 2014, Emory University School of Medicine conferred the Dean’s Teaching Award to Dr. Kapasi. In 2017, Emory University conferred the Emory Williams Distinguished Teaching Award and the Atlanta Business Chronicle awarded the Health Care Heroes Allied Health Professional Award. An active member of the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA), Dr. Kapasi has served as the secretary of American Council of Academic Physical Therapy and currently chairs the Education Leadership Partnership of the American Physical Therapy Association.
Nancy Kirsch received her PT degree from Temple University, her Master’s degree in Health Education from Montclair University, her PhD in health sciences concentration in ethics from Rutgers University (formally UMDNJ) and a Doctor of Physical Therapy from Massachusetts Institute of Health Professions(MGH). In addition she has a certificate in Health Care Administration from Seton Hall University and a certificate in Ethics from the Kennedy Institute of Bioethics at Georgetown University.
She has practiced in a variety of settings including inpatient rehabilitation, acute care, long term care, and home care. She owned a private practice for twenty years. Currently, she is the Director of the Doctor of Physical Therapy Program at Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey.
Nancy has been a member of the New Jersey Board of Physical Therapy Examiners since 1990(over the course of two different appointments), and was chairperson of the board for 12 years.
Nancy has been involved with the Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy in the following capacities. She served two terms on the Finance committee and served on
several task forces. Currently, she is Board liaison to the Licensure Compact Task Force. She was elected to the FSBPT Board of Directors in 2009 and currently serves as Vice President.
Nancy has been active in the American Physical Therapy Association since she was a student, and served a five year term on the APTA Ethics and Judicial Committee, including a term as chairperson. She is also a past chair of the APTA Reference Committee. Nancy served the New Jersey Chapter as Secretary and President and as chief delegate to the House of Delegates. She recently served the national association as a member of the ethics document revision task force, and the Standards of Practice Task Force.
Nancy’s interest in the Journal of Humanities in Rehabilitation developed from her work with students and clinicians in ethical decision making and the exploration of the factors that help to develop mature ethical reasoning in health care providers. She is particularly interested in how practicing clinicians can remediate unethical behaviors and develop skills for ethical decision making that provides practical guidance using reflection and introspection.
Laura Lee (Dolly) Swisher, PT, M.Div., Ph.D. is the Coordinator of Professional Education and Professor at the University of South Florida (USF) in the School of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Sciences. She is also the Assistant Dean for Interprofessional Education in the USF Morsani College of Medicine. Dr. Swisher is a 1986 physical therapy graduate of the University of Tennessee, Memphis. She received the M.Div. from Andover Newton Theological School and a doctoral degree from Tennessee State University, writing her dissertation on moral development. Dr. Swisher’s professional experience includes clinical work in the outpatient, subacute, and inpatient settings. She is a former member and Chair of the Ethics and Judicial Committee of the American Physical Therapy Association, served as Co-Chair of the Task Force to Revise the Core Ethics Documents, and is a member of the Central Panel of the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education. Dr. Swisher is the author of journal publications, books, and book chapters about ethics, professionalism, ethics education, and interprofessional education.
Dr. Swisher is known for her scholarship in ethics, professionalism, and interprofessional education. She brings to the Journal of Humanities in Rehabilitation a commitment to developing an awareness of the human moral foundation for care and professionalism.
Member since 2019 | JM14274
