Karla A. Bell, PT, DPT, PhD(c)
She / Hers / They / Them
Associate Professor, Department of Physical Therapy
Associate Professor, Jefferson College of Nursing
Co-Founder, Sexual & Gender Minorities Education & Training (SG-MET), Jefferson Enterprise Professional Development Program

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Karla A. Bell, PT, DPT, PhD(c)
She / Hers / They / Them
Associate Professor, Department of Physical Therapy
Associate Professor, Jefferson College of Nursing
Co-Founder, Sexual & Gender Minorities Education & Training (SG-MET), Jefferson Enterprise Professional Development Program
Board Certification
Board Certified Geriatric Specialist Emeritus
Education
PhD candidate, Thomas Jefferson University, College of Population Health
DPT, University of Massachusetts-Lowell
MSPT, University of Massachusetts-Lowell
BS, University of Pittsburgh
Research Interests
- Health profession faculty development in sexual and gender minority health
- Inclusive cultural competency/humility curriculum integration
- Sexual and gender minority health disparity/equity
- Support and retention of sexual and gender minority health professions students
Select Publications
- Nguyen M K, Anthony S P, Manganiello M P, Bell KA, Papanagnou D. (September 10, 2023) An Interactive Module to Enhance Clinical and Non-clinical Communication Skills With LGBTQIA2S+ Patients. Cureus 15(9): e44999.
- Poole, Ashley K. PT, DPT; Hibbard, Susan T. PhD; Bell, Karla A. PT, DPT, PhD(c); Brown, Dawn S. PT, DPT, EdD; Condran, Chris PT, DPT, EdD; Covington, Kyle PT, DPT, PhD. An Exploration of Doctor of Physical Therapy Students' Belongingness in Clinical Education: A Validation Study. Journal of Physical Therapy Education 37(3):p 211-219, September 2023.
- Bell KA, Hofmann MC, Condran C, Garcia H. (2022). Health Disparities. In G Garner & J Tatta (Ed.). Integrative and Lifestyle Medicine in Physical Therapy (pp. 320-339). Minneapolis, Minnesota: OPTP Publishing.
- LaNoue, M, Casola A, Moeller P, Casey D, Bell KA. Self-Reported Childhood Sexual Abuse and Other Adverse Childhood Experiences in an International Sample of Transgender and Gender-Questioning Adults. Academy Health Annual Meeting 2020.
- Zapletal, OTD, OTR/L, CLA, A.; Vause-Earland, PhD, OTR/L, T.; Toth-Cohen, PhD, OTR/L, S.; and Bell, PT, DPT, GCS, K. A., "Faculty Development As a Tool to Impact Culturally Competent Care of Sexual and Gender Minorities" (2020). Sex and Gender Health Education Summit 2020 – Virtual Meeting. 2.
- Bell KA. Part of the Solution to Address Sexual and Gender Minority Health and Health Care Disparities: Inclusive Professional Education. Delaware Journal of Public Health (DJPH) June 2019:5(3); 56-6
- Wruble Hakim W, Moffat M, Becker E, Bell, KA, Manal TJ, Schmitt L, Ciolek C. Application of Educational Theory and Evidence in Support of an Integrated Model of Clinical Education. JOPTE 2014:28 (supplement 1); 13-21.
Grants & Contracts
Sidney Kimmel 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
Select presentations
- 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 SectionsMeeting. 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.
- Chen Y, Wen H, Niemeier J, Ahmad M, Mark V, Bell KA. Sex and Gender Influences on Health and Function: What Rehabilitation Professionals Need to Know. ACRM 2020.
- Bell KA, Zapletal A, Earland T, Toth-Cohen S. Impacting LGBTQ+ Health Outcomes Through Faculty Development Education and Training. APTA ELC 2020.
- Bell KA, Hofmann M. LGBTQ+ Healthcare Disparities: Recommendations for Impact from Clinical/Academic Levels. APTA ELC 2020.
- Hofmann M, Mulligan N, Bell K, Condran C, Eng J, Hill F, Scarince H, Gulik E, He V, Lemberger E. LGBTQ+ Barriers in Physical Therapy: The Clinician’s Perspective. 2020 APTA Colorado Chapter Rocky Mountain Annual Conference, Poster Presentation.
- Bell KA, Hofmann M. LGBTQ+ Cultural Humility and Climate: Educator & Student Perspectives. Educational Session APTA CSM 2020.
- Academy of Pediatrics, Bell KA, Hofmann M. Hot Topics in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion for Pediatric PT/PTAs and Their Clients. Educational Session APTA CSM 2020.
- Kennedy K, Bell KA, Hofmann M, Adams T. Better Together in DEI: Fostering Inclusivity in Institutions and Organizations. Educational Session APTA CSM 2020.
- Hofmann M, Bell KA, Condran C, King A, Eng J, Miller T. LGBTQ+ Brave Space Training: Encouraging Difficult Dialogues in Physical Therapy Practice. Preconference Workshop APTA CSM 2020.
- Bell KA, Zapletal A, Vause Earland T, Toth-Cohen S. Pilot Faculty Development Program: Sexual & Gender Minority Education for Health Professions Curriculum. Ed Session. AOTA Educational Summit 2019.
- Beltran A, Brubaker E, Felder RE, Kerstetter AL, Ward KL, Bell KA. Identifying Best Practices for Delivery/Content of Sexual and Gender Minority Cultural Competency Education in Health Care: A Systematic Review of the Literature. Poster, APTA CSM 2019
- Clark H, He V, Hill F, Hofmann M, Bell KA, Lemberger E. LGBTQIA+ Barriers in Physical therapy: Clinician, Educator, and Student Perspective. APTA CSM 2019
- Bell KA, LaLonde A, Bryan D. Unchecked Box: Addressing Needs of Trans and Gender Nonconforming DPT Students. APTA CSM 2018
- Abbruzzese LD, Bell KA. Aging and LGBT Patients: Breaking The Silence! APTA CSM 2017.
- Bell KA. Linking Cultural Competency with Health Disparities in the LGBTQ Population AND Why PT Should Care. California Physical Therapy Association Annual Conference 2017.
- Bell KA. The Foundation of Culturally Competent Communication for Patient Care with our Patients Who are LGBTQ. 6th Annual Johns Hopkins Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Clinical Showcase 2016.
- Bell KA. Intersectional Cultural Competency Curricular Changes for Rehab Professionals and Nursing. GLMA National Conference 2016
- Bell KA, Rodden T. LGBT Cultural Competence in Health Care: A Community Engagement Perspective: Educational Session. APTA CSM 2016.
- Bell KA, Gregore D. Transforming and Implementing Intersectional Cultural Competency Curricular Changes to Improve Health Care Delivery for LGBTQ Patients: Educational Session. APTA Educational Leadership Conference 2015.
Select Professional & Community Service
American Physical Therapy Association
National DEI Committee, member (2021-present)
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)
Awards and Honors
- 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