Karen M Blood
Clinical Associate Professor of Physical Therapy
Karen Blood is a Clinical Associate Professor in the Physical Therapy Department at Quinnipiac University, teaching in the content areas of physical therapy process, pathophysiology, applied pharmacology, acute care and cardiopulmonary physical therapy, and geriatrics.
She earned a BS in Exercise Science from Sacred Heart University in 2001 and went on to receive her MS in Physical Therapy in 2003. Karen received her Doctor of Physical Therapy degree in 2014 from Northeastern University. She completed her Doctor of Health Science degree at the University of Bridgeport with a focus on healthcare education in 2021. Her dissertation work focused on resilience training in physical therapy students. She has been recognized by the American Board of Physical Therapy Specialties as a Certified Geriatric Clinical Specialist since 2011.
Karen has over 20 years of experience in inpatient care in both sub-acute and acute care environments. She has a passion for working with older adults, especially those with complex medical diagnoses.
Karen is a member of the American Physical Therapy Association and the CT Chapter of the APTA, serving as a member of the state Programming Committee and as the co-chair for the Geriatric Special Interest Group. At the national level, she serves on the Committee of Content Experts for the American Board of Physical Therapist Specialists and the chair of the Academic Education Committee for the Academy of Geriatrics, a committee that recently led the way in revising the Essential Competencies in the Care of Older Adults at the Completion of Entry-Level Physical Therapy Education.
She earned a BS in Exercise Science from Sacred Heart University in 2001 and went on to receive her MS in Physical Therapy in 2003. Karen received her Doctor of Physical Therapy degree in 2014 from Northeastern University. She completed her Doctor of Health Science degree at the University of Bridgeport with a focus on healthcare education in 2021. Her dissertation work focused on resilience training in physical therapy students. She has been recognized by the American Board of Physical Therapy Specialties as a Certified Geriatric Clinical Specialist since 2011.
Karen has over 20 years of experience in inpatient care in both sub-acute and acute care environments. She has a passion for working with older adults, especially those with complex medical diagnoses.
Karen is a member of the American Physical Therapy Association and the CT Chapter of the APTA, serving as a member of the state Programming Committee and as the co-chair for the Geriatric Special Interest Group. At the national level, she serves on the Committee of Content Experts for the American Board of Physical Therapist Specialists and the chair of the Academic Education Committee for the Academy of Geriatrics, a committee that recently led the way in revising the Essential Competencies in the Care of Older Adults at the Completion of Entry-Level Physical Therapy Education.
Education
- BS, Sacred Heart University
- MS, Sacred Heart University
- DHS, University of Bridgeport
- DPT, Northeastern University
Organization
- Physical Therapy
Office Location
- Medicine, Nursing, Health Sci 372-L
Mail Drop
- NH-HSC
Quinnipiac Today
Experience
Quinnipiac University
Clinical Assistant Professor
Hamden, CT
2018 - 2018
Sacred Heart University
Lab Assistant, Exam & Documentation III
Fairfield, CT
2017 - 2017
Sacred Heart University
Supplemental Learning Lab Instructor, Exam & Documentation II
Fairfield, CT
2017 - 2018
Sacred Heart University
Senior Tutor, Structure & Function II
Fairfield, CT
2017 - 2018
Sacred Heart University
Tutorial Leader, Structure & Function III
Fairfield, CT
2017 - 2017
Sacred Heart University
Lab Assistant, Exam & Documentation II
Fairfield, CT
2016 - 2018
Sacred Heart University
Tutorial Leader, Structure & Function II
Fairfield, CT
2016 - 2018
Sacred Heart University
Supplemental Learning Lab Instructor, Eval & Intervention III
Fairfield, CT
2016 - 2017
Sacred Heart University
Lab Assistant, Eval & Intervention III
Fairfield, CT
2015 - 2017
Sacred Heart University
Senior Tutor, Structure & Function III
Fairfield, CT
2015 - 2015
Griffin Hospital
Physical Therapist
Derby, CT
2015 - Present
Sacred Heart University
Tutorial Leader, Structure & Function III
Fairfield, CT
2012 - 2015
Sacred Heart University
Tutorial Leader, Structure & Function III
Fairfield, CT
2010 - 2010
Glendale Center
Physical Therapist
Naugatuck, CT
2010 - 2011
Sacred Heart University
Tutorial Leader, Structure & Function I
Fairfield, CT
2007 - 2008
Bethel Healthcare Center
Physical Therapist/CCCE
Bethel, CT
2003 - 2016
Selected Publications
Peer Reviewed Journal
Development of the Revised Entry-Level Essential Competencies in the Care of Older Adults: Linking Domains of Competence, CAPTE Standards, and the Geriatric 5Ms.
Blood, K., Mierzwicki, JT., Billek-Sawhney, B., Dehner, LR., Heitzman, J., Dawson, N., Hartley, GW.
Journal of Geriatric Physical Therapy (2025)
Peer Reviewed Journal
Survey of Geriatric Competencies and Curricular Models in Entry-Level DPT Programs in the United States
Mierzwicki, JT., Blood, K.
Journal of Geriatric Physical Therapy (2025)
Peer Reviewed Presentations
The Sweet Spot: Where the 5Ms Meet the Domains of Competence
Blood, K., Heitzman, J., Dehner, L., Dawson, N., Staples, W., Billek-Sawhney, B.
APTA Combined Sections Meeting, Houston, TX (2025)
Non-Peer Reviewed Presentation
The 5M model: What it means for geriatric physical therapy education and practice
Blood, K
Quinnipiac University (2024)
Peer Reviewed Presentations
Leveraging Collaboration to Achieve the Aims of a Vision for Excellence in Physical Therapy Education
Chesbro, S., Norris, T., Blood, K., Furze, J., Rowe, R., Engelhard, C
APTA Combined Sections Meeting, Boston, MA (2024)
Peer Reviewed Poster
Curriculum and Geriatric Competencies in Entry-Level DPT Programs in the United States
Mierzwicki, J., Blood, K.
APTA Combined Sections Meeting, Boston, MA (2024)
Peer Reviewed Presentations
It May be Their Meds: The Role of the Physical Therapist in Deprescribing
Blood, K
APTA CT Annual Fall Conference, Storrs, CT (2024)
Non-Peer Reviewed Journal
T and OT in the ED: Interdisciplinary Session Introduces Med Students to Value of Working With Multidisciplinary Team
Kurkurina, E., Diercks, L., Balint, S., Meriano, C., Blood, K.
SAEM Pulse 26-27 May/June (2023)
Conference Presentation
Entry-Level Competencies in Geriatric PT: Where Do We Go From Here?
Heitzman, J., Blood, K., Staples, W.
APTA Combined Sections Meeting, San Diego, CA (2023)
Non-Peer Reviewed Presentation
The Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment
Lawrence, R., Blood, K
APTA CT Geriatric SIG (2023)
Peer Reviewed Poster
Effects of Gratitude Journaling on Burnout and Perceived Stress Levels in First- and SecondYear Doctor of Physical Therapy Students
Blood, K., Adams, M., Reigel, K., Reyes, A., Vargo, S.
APTA CT Annual Fall Conference, North Haven, CT, Quinnipiac University (2023)
Non-Peer Reviewed Presentation
Journal Club: Roundtable Discussion on the Guiding Principles for Best Practices and Review of Ageism
Villano, D., Blood, K.
(2022)
Conference Presentation
Walking away from negativity and moving forward with treating older adults with dementia
Munda, J., Blood, K.
APTA CT Fall Conference , West Hartford, CT (2022)
Chapter
Clinical Cases for Physical Therapists: Studies Across the Medical Continuum
Blood, K., Pata, R., Ferrero, S.
Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer 1st 221-240 New York, NY (Thieme 2021)
Conference Presentation
Are We Doing Enough? The Importance of Optimizing Musculoskeletal System Health Across the Care Continuum and Lifespan: A Cross SIG Collaboration
Carroll, K., Blood, K., McGreevy, B
Northeast Physical Therapy Conference (2021)
Conference Presentation
Successful Aging through Person and Situation Specific Fitness Screens and Annual Examinations
Puthoff M, Studer M, Camp K, Blood K
Combined Sections Meeting , Denver, CO, APTA (2020)
Conference Presentation
Ready, Steady, Go: Fall Assessment for the Busy Clinician
Rodriguez, S., Blood, K., Miles, J., Ronald, L.
CT APTA Annual Conference , Fairfield, CT (2019)