PHYSICAL THERAPY FACULTY AND STAFF

Karen Wientjes, PT, DPT, PhD, MPH

Professor

B.S.P.T.,University of Scranton
M.P.H., West Chester University
D.P.T., Neumann University

Ph.D. SaybrookUniversity

Certified Wound Specialist (CWS®)

Email: wientjek@neumann.edu
Phone: 610-361-2466

Dr. Karen Wientjes is a PA-licensed Physical Therapist and a Certified Wound Specialist® through the American Board of Wound Management. She has been teaching at Neumann for over 25 years. She is an active member of the Neumann community having served in various capacities, including Faculty Senate President, curriculum committee, academic policy committee, human resource committee, institutional review board, and the Middle States review committee. In addition to teaching at Neumann University, Dr. Wientjes is a per diem therapist in the skilled nursing, sub-acute, and outpatient settings. She also provides volunteer physical therapy and mentorship to DPT students at the pro bono PT clinic at Our Lady of Angels convent on Neumann’s campus. She has been actively involved with the APTA on various levels, having served as a Program Chair and a consultant for the development of curriculum guidelines and wound care coding initiatives. A past President for the American Board of Wound Management, she is currently the Exam Chair, overseeing the development and administration of interprofessional woundcertification exams. Dr. Wientjes enjoys providing service through mission work in Peru and Haiti. She has presented nationally and internationally, as well as published articles on wound care, pain management, and integrative strategies for wound healing. Her current areas of research include wound bed preparation, wound measurement, and a mind-body-spirit approach to overall well-being.

Instructor for the following courses:

PT 516: Fundamental Physical Therapy Skills

PT 519: Physical Agents

PT 619: Clinical Reasoning I

PT 714: Wound Management

PT 719: Clinical Reasoning II

PT 720: Administration and Management

PT 742: Mentored Experience I

PT 743: Mentored Research Experience II

PT 744: Mentored Research Experience III

Recent presentations and publications:

Wientjes K, Seaner, N. Effects of a Mindfulness Training Program with Doctor of Physical Therapy Students. Poster presented at: APTA Combined Sections Meeting in Houston, TX. February 14, 2025

Selby-Silverstein,L., Mahoney, E., Shaughnessy T.J., Wientjes, K. (2024). Diabetic Foot Ulcer-Beyond Wound Closure: Clinical Practice Guideline (CPG+). https://www.apta.org/patient-care/evidence-based-practice-resources/cpgs/diabetic-foot-ulcer-beyond-wound-closure-clinical-practice-guideline

Wientjes K. Healthcare and Healing Traditions of Amazonia. Educational session at: Neumann University, Franciscan Institute Program, Aston, PA. October 3, 2024

Wientjes K. Soft Tissue Infections Associated with People Who Inject with Drugs. Virtual educational session for: Southeast District of the American Physical Therapy Association, Pennsylvania. September11, 2024

Wientjes K, Anderson H. IncorporatingSelf-care and Mindfulness Strategies to Reduce Anxiety in DPT Students. Educational session at: Neumann University Faculty Symposium, Aston, PA. May 14, 2024

Wientjes K. Managing Pediatric Wounds. Educational session at: National Institute of Rehabilitation, Lima, Peru. March 6, 2024

Wientjes K., Arizini C., DiSanto D. The Lived Experiences of People with Chronic Lower Extremity Wounds. Research platform presented at: APTA Combined Sections Meeting in Boston, MA. February 17, 2024

Wientjes K, Shaughnessy T. On the Rise: Soft Tissue Infections Associated with People Who Inject Drugs. Educational session at: APTA Combined Sections Meeting in Boston, MA. February 15, 2024

Wientjes K. The Relationship Between Psychosocial and Emotional Factors and Wound Healing Characteristics in Patients with Leg Ulcers. Poster presented at: Symposium for Advanced Wound Care in Washington DC. April 28,2023

Wientjes K. Incorporating Mindfulness-Based Techniques to Enhance Wound Healing. Educational session at: APTA Combined Sections Meeting in San Diego, CA. February 23, 2023

Wientjes K, Puliti L, Hoertz E. The Relationship Between Psychosocial and Emotional Factors and Wound Healing Characteristics in Patients with Leg Ulcers. Poster presented at: APTA Combined Sections Meeting in San Diego, CA. February 23, 2023

Wientjes, K., McKee, J. Advanced Modalities for Chronic Wounds. Webinar: Virtual Wound Rounds. . April 22, 2021

Wientjes K. Hypnotic Suggestions for Wound Healing. E-Poster presented at: American Society of Clinical Hypnosis (ASCH) 2021 Annual Meeting. March 4-7, 2021

Dr. Casey Herrmann is a PA-licensed Physical Therapist and has been a faculty member at Neumann University since 2024. She received her Bachelor’s Degree in Nutritional Sciences from Texas A&M University, Master’s Degree in Exercise & Health Sciences from University of Houston- Clear Lake, and Doctor of Physical Therapy degree from University of the Sciences. She then continued her studies with a clinical residency in Cardiovascular & Pulmonary Physical Therapy at UT Southwestern. Dr. Herrmann has been recognized as a Board-Certified Clinical Specialist in Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Physical Therapy as well as a Certified Lymphedema Therapist. In addition to teaching at Neumann University, Dr. Herrmann works at GSPP Rehabilitation, Pennsylvania Hospital as an acute care physical therapist. She serves as Vice-Chair of the Acute Care Special Interest Group of the APTA-PA, literature appraiser for the heart failure clinical practice guideline, peer reviewer for the entry-level physical therapy competencies for oncologic PT, and is a member of the Specialization Academy of Content Experts for the Cardiovascular and Pulmonary section of the American Board of Physical Therapy Specialists. Her research interests include early mobility in the intensive care unit, cardiac rehabilitation, and lymphatic interventions in the neonatal population.

Instructor for the following courses:

PT 626: Cardiopulmonary Physical Therapy

PT 508: Exercise Physiology

PT 742: Mentored Research Experience I

PT 743: Mentored Research Experience II

PT 744: Mentored Research Experience III

PT 619: Clinical Reasoning I

PT 719: Clinical Reasoning II

Publications:

Bayliss J, Herrmann C et al. Impact of pre-admission observation hours on key physical therapist clinical education stakeholders: quantitative analysis. Journal of Physical Therapy Education. 2022; 36(4): 341-347.

Bayliss J, Herrmann C et al. Impact of pre-admission observation hours on key physical therapist clinical education stakeholders: qualitative analysis. Journal of Physical Therapy Education. 2022; 36(2): 107-114.

Recent presentations:

Herrmann, C., Rogers, J., Ruiz, A. Safety of lymphatic management in the neonatal intensive care unit: A case report. Presented at the American Physical Therapy Association Combined Sections Meeting, Houston, TX. February 2025.

Herrmann C, Fluehr L, Dietrick C. To Move or Not to Move: Case Reflections of Patients with Advanced Mechanical Circulatory Devices. Acute Care SIG for APTA-PA. May 2024.

Awards:

Exceptional Student Professional Service Award, Alpha Eta Honor Society, October 2021

· Awarded to an honor society member who demonstrates exceptional service

within and beyond their program of study and confines of their institution in addition to demonstrating membership in professional societies and leadership positions in those societies.

Alumni Association Award for Samson College, University of the Sciences, May 2021

· Awarded to the Samson College of Health Sciences graduate with the highest grade point average.

Packman Family Award in Physical Therapy, University of the Sciences, May 2021

· Awarded to the DPT student with the highest grade point average in the professional curriculum.

John E. Kramer Award, University of the Sciences, May 2021

· Awarded to one non-traditional student in recognition of academic excellence.

PPTA Student Leadership Award, Pennsylvania Physical Therapy Association, October 2020

· Awarded to one DPT student in Pennsylvania based on leadership, dedication to the physical therapy profession and community, and APTA involvement.

Emerging Leader Award, University of the Sciences, June 2020

· Among three students selected at the University of the Sciences for demonstration of

leadership qualities.

Dr. Selby-Silverstein is a Professor Emeritus at the Neumann University Physical Therapy 
Program. She was a full-time, core faculty member of the Physical Therapy Program for 25 
years from 2000 to 2025. Prior to that, she was a member of the faculty of the Physical Therapy 
Program at Thomas Jefferson University, where she also served as Director of the Human 
Performance Laboratory. Dr. Siverstein received a Bachelor’s Degree in Physical Therapy from 
Ithaca College, a Master’s Degree in Developmental Disabilities from New York University, and 
a PhD in Pediatric Physical Therapy from Hahnemann University (now Drexel University),
Her primary areas of interest include research and foot biomechanics/orthotics. In the area of 
research, she is a former National Institutes on Disability Rehab Research Switzer Fellow. Her 
research related to feet, orthoses, biomechanics, and gait has been funded, presented, and 
published. Most recently she has been active in APTA Evidence Based Practice Special interest 
group (Research Section), and the Foot and Ankle Special Interest group (Academy of 
Orthopedic Physical Therapy).
At Neumann, she taught the research courses, PT581 -–Research in Physical Therapy and PT583 
-–Intro to Evidence-Based Research and was instrumental in developing the research curriculum, 
including the mentored research experience in which students work with a faculty mentor to 
develop and complete a research project during their final year of didactic work. Dr. Silverstein
was also responsible for developing the Research Symposium, in which the students present their 
projects to the faculty, fellow students, and family members. This in turn has led to many 
students presenting their research at state or national conferences.
In the area of foot biomechanics/orthotics, her doctorate work focused on foot and ankle 
biomechanics during gait and the effect of foot orthoses. Her research was conducted in the Gait 
Study Center of the PA College of Podiatric Medicine. This lead to her PhD from Hahnemann 
University. She is active in the Foot and Ankle Special Interest group (Academy of Orthopedic 
Physical Therapy) and served as an author of the "Foot and Ankle Curricular Guidelines for 
Physical Therapist Professional Degree Programs. She has special interest in optimizing 
biomechanical alignment using orthoses and footwear adaptation and prescription of AFOs and 
has authored and presented a course on orthotics for MedBridge.
At Neumann, she taught the orthotic interventions course, PT770 – Orthotic Interventions in 
Physical Therapy. She has also brought her knowledge of foot biomechanics to other courses, 
including PT683 – Tests & Measures, PT742 – Mentored Research Experience, and PT719 –
Clinical Reasoning. 
Dr. Silverstein also has strong interests in the areas of neurologic physical therapy and pediatric 
physical therapy. She has been a Board-Certified Clinical Specialist in Neurologic Physical 
Therapy since April 10, 1990, being one of the first physical therapists to achieve this 
certification. She has also published research in the area of treatment of infants with torticollis. 
Clinically, Dr. Silverstein has been a physical therapist in rehabilitation settings, gait laboratories, 
developmental centers, early intervention settings, school-based settings, home care, and 
outpatient physical therapy settings. Currently, she sees self-pay private patients in her home 
office including patients who want custom casted foot orthoses. 
In addition to her work as a physical therapist, Dr. Silverstein is an Independent Certified 
OPTAVIA Coach through the MacDonald Center for Obesity Prevention and Education