EdD, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA - 2024
DPT, University of Colorado, Denver, CO - 2008
BA, English, minor, Biology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC - 2002
Rebecca Operacz PT, DPT, EdD
She / Her / Hers / Herself
Teaching Associate Professor, Department of Physical Therapy
Contact Information
She / Her / Hers / Herself
Teaching Associate Professor, Department of Physical Therapy
Education
Publications
- Operacz, R., MacFarlane, S., Lee, V., Banks, K., Romano, G., Parrott, JS. (2026). Verticalization Therapy as an Early Mobilization Intervention in the Critically Ill Population: A Retrospective Record Review. Journal of Acute Care Physical Therapy. 10.1097/JAT.0000000000000283, April 23, 2026. | DOI: 10.1097/JAT.0000000000000283
- Stitt, A.; Operacz, R. A Qualitative Investigation of Parent Perceptions of Home Exercises for Congenital Muscular Torticollis. Children, 2024, 11: 689.
- Rotz ME, Calligaro IL, Kaplan LI, Lu X, Sinnott MC, Spadone S, Vernon R, Zhao H, Idahosa CN. Design and evaluation of an interprofessional education workshop series for preclinical and prelicensure health professional students. Curr Pharm Teach Learn. 2021 Jul;13(7):885-894.
- Bjork, EN, Patel, RM, Operacz, R, Melvey, DB, Garcia, L. (2025). A Model for Teaching Social Determinants of Health in Doctor of Physical Therapy Programs. The Internet Journal of Allied Health Sciences and Practice. Jul 28; 23(3), Article 14.
Select Presentations
Operacz, R., Virag, B.J., Johnson, G.E., Hawkins, E.J., Magee, J.L. (2026, February). Bridging the Classroom and the Clinic: Leveraging Emerging Clinicians’ Training to Address Patients’ Social Needs. Educational session, Combined Sections Meeting of the American Physical Therapy Association, Anaheim, CA
Operacz, R., Matthews, N.D., Sutkowi-Hemstreet, A. (2025, October). Make an Impact, Avoid Creep: Threading Social and Structural Determinants of Health in PT Education. Educational session, Education Leadership Conference of the American Physical Therapy Association, Kansas City, MO.
Bell, K., Adams, T., Operacz, R. (2024, October). The move to a structural competency approach in physical therapist education: What, why, and how. Educational session, Education Leadership Conference of the American Physical Therapy Association, Oakland, CA.
Board Certification
Board-certified Clinical Specialist in Neurologic Physical Therapy (NCS)
Research & Clinical Interests
With two decades of higher education teaching experience and clinical practice, Dr. Operacz effectively connects the classroom and the clinic for her learners. Recognizing the complexity and challenge of clinical practice and the cognitive hurdles students must face when entering the clinical setting, Dr. Operacz’s scholarship focuses on teaching and assessment strategies to optimize learners’ competence as they enter the clinical space. Her current research endeavors include inter-professional education and its impact on learners and learners’ perceptions of competence with the upstream systemic, structural, and social drivers that impact the health of clients and communities.
Additional Training
- Teaching for Equity Institute, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, 2022
- Higher Education Teaching Certificate, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, 2021
- Yoga Alliance Registered Yoga Teacher (RYT 200), Nourishing Storm Yoga Studio, Hatboro, PA, 2020
- American Board of Physical Therapy Specialties – Board Certified in Neurologic Physical Therapy, 2015