Faculty Profile for Dr. Karen Ann Gibbs

profile photo for Dr. Karen Ann Gibbs
Dr. Karen Ann Gibbs
Professor — Department of Physical Therapy
WILW 352
phone: (512) 716-2666

Selected Scholarly/Creative Work

  • Gibbs, D., Gibbs, K., & Hewitt, B. (2023). Health information management and physiotherapy faculty collaboration to discover the use of health informatics hiding in plain sight in an entry-level DPT program. Health Information Management Journal (HIMJ), 53(1), 34–40. https://doi.org/10.1177/18333583231194750
  • Wendland, D., Panasci, K., Mantanona, J., Martinez, H. A., Powers, M. G., Sausman, R. L., & Gibbs, K. A. (2025). Beyond the case study: ideas for fun and creative wound management lab activities in entry-level health professions education. Advances in Skin & Wound Care. https://doi.org/10.1097/ASW.0000000000000255
  • Panasci, K., Wendland, D. M., & Gibbs, K. A. (2025). Implementing the 2023 Entry-Level Physical Therapist Curriculum Recommendations for Integumentary/Wound Management in Doctor of Physical Therapy Education. Journal of Physical Therapy Education. https://doi.org/10.1097/JTE.0000000000000392
  • Gibbs, K. A., & Lawson, D. (2024). Chapter 16: Electrical Stimulation. Invited & Peer-reviewed. Major revisions for 3rd edition with new co-author. In Text and Atlas of Wound Diagnosis and Treatment (pp. 487–500). McGraw Hill.
  • Gibbs, K. A., & Hamm, R. L. (2024). Chapter 18: Low-Frequency Ultrasound. Invited & Peer-reviewed. Major revisions for 3rd edition. In Text and Atlas of Wound Diagnosis and Treatment (pp. 527–541). McGraw Hill.

Selected Awards

  • Award / Honor Recipient: 2024 Award of Excellence in Academic Education, American Physical Therapy Association's Academy of Clinical Electrophysiology and Wound Management. 2024 - 2025
  • Award / Honor Nominee: College of Health Professions Faculty Excellence in Scholarship - Nominated by Dr. Lois Stickley. 2024
  • Award / Honor Recipient: Award of Excellence in Service, American Physical Therapy Association's Academy of Clinical Electrophysiology & Wound Management. 2023
  • Award / Honor Nominee: College of Health Professions' Faculty Excellence Award in Service. 2023
  • Award / Honor Recipient: Hall of Fame, East Tennessee State University, College of Clinical & Rehabilitative Health Sciences. 2021 - 2022

Selected Grants

  • Lester, Mark E, Gibbs, Karen A. (Supporting). Turn On, Tune In, Fall Down? Influence of Ambulatory Turn Magnitude and Attention Sharing on Gait Characteristics and Fall Risk, Research Enhancement Program, Texas State University, $16000. (Submitted: October 9, 2019, Funded: January 15, 2020 - May 31, 2021). Grant.
  • Gibbs, Karen (Principal). AAWC Scholarship Award/Teaching Grant, Association for the Advancement of Wound Care, Private / Foundation / Corporate, $700. (Submitted: 2017, Funded: 2018 - 2019). Grant.
  • Gibbs, Karen (Principal). AAWC Scholarship Award/Teaching Grant in support of integumentary teaching and curriculum development in Malawi, Africa, Association for the Advancement of Wound Care (AAWC), Private / Foundation / Corporate, $2630. (Submitted: January 1, 2012). Grant.
  • Gibbs, Karen (Principal). CAPD Travel & Small Projects Grant for conference attendance associated with development of new course, Integumentary Physical Therapy, University of the Pacific, Department of Physical Therapy, Stockton, CA, Institutional (Higher Ed), $838. (Submitted: 2003). Grant.

Selected Service Activities

Co-Chair
Research Committee, Academy of Clinical Electrophysiology and Wound Management (Invited)
2025-Present
Member
Academy of Clinical Electrophysiology and Wound Management's Wound Management Residency Task Force (Invited)
2024-Present
Member
Physical Therapy Department Chair Search Committee
2024-Present
Member
Lewis University Doctor of Physical Therapy Department's Advisory Board (Invited)
July 2024-Present
Chair
American Board of Physical Therapy Specialties Wound Management Specialty Council (Council Member 2023-2024, appointed Chair 2025-present))
2023-Present