Biography and education
Karen Gibbs, PhD, PT, DPT, MSPT, CWS, is a Professor and Interim Chair of the Department of Physical Therapy at Texas State University. Dr. Gibbs is a licensed physical therapist and holds the multidisciplinary Certified Wound Specialist (CWS) certification through the American Board of Wound Management. She earned a PhD in adult, professional, and community education and a DPT and MSPT in physical therapy following a foundational undergraduate degree in health education.
Her research on entry-level wound management education for physical therapists is published in scholarly journals and represented in several textbook chapters. She is an active member of the American Physical Therapy Association and has served in various state and national leadership roles within the Academy of Clinical Electrophysiology and Wound Management (ACEWM) and is an ACEWM past president. She currently serves as the Wound Management Specialty Panel Chair for the American Board of Physical Therapy Specialties. Dr. Gibbs is a frequent national speaker on the topic of wound management and has participated with Health Volunteers Overseas in Malawi, Africa.
Her research on entry-level wound management education for physical therapists is published in scholarly journals and represented in several textbook chapters. She is an active member of the American Physical Therapy Association and has served in various state and national leadership roles within the Academy of Clinical Electrophysiology and Wound Management (ACEWM) and is an ACEWM past president. She currently serves as the Wound Management Specialty Panel Chair for the American Board of Physical Therapy Specialties. Dr. Gibbs is a frequent national speaker on the topic of wound management and has participated with Health Volunteers Overseas in Malawi, Africa.
Featured grants
- Lester, Mark E, Percent Contribution: %10, Gibbs, Karen A. (Supporting), Percent Contribution: %10. 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.
Featured scholarly/creative works
- 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, 38(4), 196–203. 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, D. L., & Gibbs, K. A. (2025). Chapter 1: The US Healthcare Delivery System. Invited & peer-reviewed. Revision for 7th edition. In Health Information Management: Concepts, Principles, and Practice (pp. 4–36). Chicago, IL: AHIMA Press.
- Gibbs, K. A., Panasci, K., Mantanona, J., Martinez, H., Powers, M. G., Sausman, R. L., & Wendland, D. M. (2023). The Revision of Integumentary/Wound Management Education Recommendations for Entry-Level Physical Therapists: A Delphi Study. Journal of Clinical Electrophysiology & Wound Management, 2(1). https://doi.org//10.55566/JCEWM-D-23-00007
- 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
Featured awards
- Award / Honor Recipient: 2024 Award of Excellence in Academic Education, Awarded at the 2025 Combined Sections Meeting of the American Physical Therapy Association's Academy of Clinical Electrophysiology and Wound Management. 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
Featured service activities
- Other
Journal of Clinical Electrophysiology and Wound Management (JCEWM)
- Chair
College Curriculum Committee (Appointed)
- Member
University Curriculum Committee (Appointed)
- Other
Academy of Clinical Electrophysiology & Wound Management's Delegate to the American Physical Therapy Association's House of Delegates (Elected)
- Co-Chair
Research Committee, Academy of Clinical Electrophysiology and Wound Management (Invited)
- Member
Lewis University Doctor of Physical Therapy Department's Advisory Board (Invited)