Karla A. Bell, PT, DPT, PhD, FNAP

• DEI Strategy & Planning (DiversityFirst) 2023
• Geriatric Certified Clinical Specialist, American Board of Physical Therapy Specialists (ABPTS) Emeritus

• Population Health and Provider Discrimination in Healthcare and Behavior Change
• Interdisciplinary faculty, staff, and clinician professional development in sexual and gender minority health
• Inclusive cultural competency/humility curriculum integration in the health professions
• Sense of Belonging in Health Professions students in academic and experiential learning
• Psychological Safety and Academic culture/climate

Jefferson Educator Grant, 2025-26

$6,000

Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center
NIH-NCI P30 Supplement (2022-23)
Role: External Advisory Panel Member

Regis University
Provost Scholar Award
Role: Co-PI
Title: LGBTQIA+ Barriers in Physical Therapy: A National Study
Amounts: 2020-21 $5,000; 2019-20 $7,500

Jefferson College of Rehabilitation Sciences
Dean’s Grant Award (2019-2020)
Title: A Pilot Faculty Development Program for Implementing Sexual and Gender Minority Content into Health Professions Education
Role: Co-PI
Amount: $9,500

• Bell KA. Taking Action for LGBTQ+ Advocacy and Inclusion in Practice and Education: Are you Ready? Workshop. 2025 Philadelphia Trauma Training Conference.
• Echols A, Via M, Zapletal A, Bell KA. SGMET: Past to Present Day Evolution. Poster. 2025 Jefferson Faculty Days.
• Bell KA, DiDonato S, Granda-Cameron C. Transforming Academic Nursing: Educating Educators About Health Equity for LGBTQ+ Communities. Poster. 2025 NLN Nursing Education Research Conference (NERC).
• Whitfield-Harris L., Bell KA, Granda-Cameron C, DiDonato S. Exploring a Nursing School Culture Using A SCARF Model Approach. Podium Presentation. 2025 AACN Access, Connection, Engagement (ACE) Symposium.
• Bell KA, Adams T, Operacz R. The Move to a Structural Competency Approach in Physical Therapy Education: What, Why, How. 2024 APTA ELC.
• Bell KA, Fromm N. Promoting Inclusive Teaching Through a Faculty Development Process. 2024 APTA ELC.
• Bell KA, Zapletal AL. Professional Development Program: Sexual & Gender Minority Education & Training (SG-MET): 3-Year Outcomes. 2024 Jefferson Faculty Days. Poster.
• Zapletal A, Bell KA. Professional Development Program: Sexual & Gender Minority Education and Training: 3-Year Outcomes. 2024 AOTA INSPIRE Conference. Poster.
• Nguyen M K, Anthony S P, Manganiello M P, Bell KA, Papanagnou D. Evaluating an Interactive Module’s Ability to Enhance Medical Student Knowledge and Comfort When Communicating with LGBTQIA2S+ Patients. AAMC Learn Serve Lead 2024. Poster.
• Granda-Cameron C, Bell KA, DiDonato S. Transforming Academic Nursing: Educating Educators About Health Equity for LGBTQ+ Communities. AACN Diversity Symposium. Feb. 2024.
• Rainer S, Bell KA. Empowering Equity: Integrated LGBTQ+ Clinical Curriculum for Nurse Practitioner Students and Faculty. 2024 Virtual Clinical Education Conference: Advancing Clinical Experience: Embracing Partnerships, Diversity, and Innovation in Nursing Clinical Education. Duke University.
• Magnusson D, Bell KA, Williams York B, Shields R, Fritz J, Patel R, Matthews D, Prusynski R, Kennedy K. Physical Therapy Journal Special Issue Preview: Addressing Health Disparities in Physical Therapist Practice. APTA CSM 2024.
• Bell KA, Zapletal A. Impact of An LGBTQ+ Interdisciplinary Professional Development Program in Higher Education. APTA Educational Leadership Conference 2023.
• Vitente A, Bell KA, Sutkowi-Hemstreet A, Condran C, Porter I, Miller T. Beyond the Binary: Empowering Physical Therapy Educators to Create Inclusive Spaces for LGBTQIA+ Students and Faculty. APTA Educational Leadership Conference 2023.
• Papa E, Bell KA, Weeks-O’Neal N, Rizvi A, Bannister R. It’s Just Demographics, What’s the Fuss?: Promoting Inclusive Research through Intentional Data Collection. APTA CSM 2023.
• Mulligan N, Hofmann M, Bell KA, Condran C, Miller T, Klutz T, Liddell M, Saul J, Stevens K. LGBTQ+ Barriers in Physical Therapy Education and Practice: A Qualitative Study from the Patients’ Perspective. Poster. APTA CSM 2023.
• Zapletal A, Bell KA. Professional Development Program for Higher Education: Reported 6-month Post Program Impact. AOTA Education Summit 2022.
• Adams T, Bell KA, Hofmann MC, Kennedy K. DEI Assessment, Accountability, and Action: Moving from “Talk” to “Walk” in Clinical Settings. CPTA 2022 Conference.
• ACAPT and APTE. A Vision for Excellence in Physical Therapy Education: A 2022 Action Update. Role: Facilitator for DEI discussion. APTA ELC 2022.
• Sebelski C, Bell KA, Jernigan S, Colgrove Y, Jensen G, Segal R, Austin T, Kluding P, Wainwright S. Supporting Development of Education Researchers: Leadership Matters. APTA ELC 2022.
• Bell KA, Zapletal A. Impacting SGD Student Experiences With a Professional Development Program. AAC & U Conference on Diversity, Equity, and Student Success. 2022.
• Hofmann MC, Bell KA, Condran C, Mulligan N. Enhancing LGBTQ+ Cultural Responsiveness in Physical Therapy: Awareness of Individual and Structural Barriers. APTA Combined Sections Meeting. Educational Session. 2022.
• Hofmann MC, Bell KA, Condran C, Mulligan N, Eng JK, Clark H, Hill F, Scarince H, Gulik E, He V, Lemberger E. LGBTQ+ Cultural Competence Barriers in Physical Therapy: The Clinician's Perspective. APTA Combined Sections Meeting. Poster Presentation. 2022.
• Poole A, Bell KA, Brown DS, Condran CW, Covington K, Hibbard S. An Exploration of Doctor of Physical Therapy Students’ Belongingness in Clinical Education. Educational Session. APTA ELC 2021.
• Vause Earland T, Zapletal A, Toth-Cohen S, Bell KA. Sexual and Gender Minority Training, Mentoring, & Education for Interprofessional Health Faculty: Innovations to Promote Inclusion Teaching. AOTA Inspire 2021.
• Adams T, Bell KA, Kennedy K, Hofmann M. DEI Assessment, Accountability and Action: Moving from “Talk” to “Walk” in Academic and Clinical Settings. CSM 2021.
• Jensen GM, Segal R, Chesbro SB, Bell KA, Sebelski CA, Osborne R, Jernigan S. Blazing the Trail: Developing the Next Generation of Education Researchers. CSM 2021.
• Thorpe J, Carney A, Craig B, Bell KA. Impact of Cultural Competence & Cultural Humility Education in Healthcare Professions: A Systematic Review. CSM 2021.

• American Physical Therapy Association
• National DEI Committee, member (2021-2024)
• Academy of Innovation and Leadership: Co-Chair, PT Proud LGBTQ+        Catalyst Group (2018-2021)
• Content Expert Reviewer, Guidelines for Recognizing and Providing Care     for Survivors of Intimate Partner Violence (2015)
• Education Section: Conference abstract reviewer (2015-2020)
• American Board of Residency and Fellowship Education: Residency Review Subcommittee (2009-2013)
• United Way of Delaware
• Co-Chair, Pride Council’s LGBTQ Health Equity Task Force (2016-2018)

• Inducted as Distinguished Fellow of the Physical Therapy Academy of the National Academies of Practice, 2025
• Jefferson College of Population Health Award for Dissertation Research Excellence, 2024
• Social Responsibility Award by Academy of Leadership and Innovation Global Health SIG (for APTA CSM Poster), 2023
• 2nd Place Health Equity Award at Health Equity and Quality Improvement Summit, Jefferson (Poster), 2023
• Invited IGNITE talk at Keynote: APTA Educational Leadership Conference, 2022.
• APTA Health Policy Administration R. Charles Harker Public Policy Maker Award, 2021.
• Chosen Participant, Grantsmanship and Mentorship in Educational Research (GAMER). American Council of Academic Physical Therapy (ACAPT), 2018
• Recipient, University of Delaware Louis L. Redding Diversity Award, 2014 
• Recipient, Signe Brunnstrom Award for Excellence in Clinical Education, American Physical Therapy Association (APTA), 2012