Elke Schaumberg

Elke Schaumberg, Ph.D., graduated with her master’s in physical therapy from the University of Colorado—Health Sciences Center in 1995, after completing a bachelor’s degree in science at the University of Colorado in Boulder, in Kinesiology with an emphasis in Religious Studies. After 10 years of practice in outpatient physical therapy, where she treated individuals with longstanding pain conditions, Schaumberg completed her t-Doctor in Physical Therapy at Simmons College. In 2020, she completed her PhD in Physical Therapy at Texas Woman’s University in Houston. Schaumberg’s research interests are centered around the following primary topic areas: 1) the assessment practices (to include assessing for a history of trauma/abuse) of physical therapists when evaluating individuals with chronic pain, 2) physical therapy interventions (to include the use of CBT techniques) aimed at reducing the central mediation of the pain experience, 3) educational interventions aimed at improving the pain and trauma literacy of physical therapists, and 4) equity in physical therapy admissions practices. Elke’s research has been accepted for presentation internationally, at the International Association for the Study of Pain’s World Congress; nationally, at the American Physical Therapy Association’s Combined Sections Meeting and Educational Leadership Conference, and locally, through the New Hampshire Musculoskeletal Institute’s Fall Symposium and Lifespan’s Annual Research Day. Schaumberg was an Assistant Professor at Franklin Pierce University in the Doctor of Physical Therapy program, where she developed and taught Franklin Pierce’s first Pain Science class, served as Research Track Coordinator, and taught in the Foundational courses. She is currently an Assistant Professor at Johnson & Wales in the developing Doctor of Physical Therapy program.

Education

• Ph.D. Texas Woman’s University, Houston, Texas, Physical Therapy, 2016-May2020
• DPT Simmons College, Boston, Massachusetts, Physical Therapy, 2009 to 2011
• M.S. University of Colorado-Health Sciences Center, Denver, Colorado, Physical Therapy, 1993 to1995
• B.S. University of Colorado-Boulder, Boulder, Colorado, Kinesiology, 1987 to 1991

Teaching Interests

Foundational sciences to include pain science.
Clinical courses related to the management of patients with orthopedic movement based disorders.
Research courses

Scholarly Interests

Schaumberg’s research interests are centered around the following primary topic areas:
1) the assessment practices (to include assessing for a history of trauma/abuse) of physical therapists when evaluating individuals with chronic pain,
2) physical therapy interventions (to include the use of CBT techniques) aimed at reducing the central mediation of the pain experience,
3) educational interventions aimed at improving the pain and trauma literacy of physical therapists, and
4) equity in physical therapy admissions practices.

Courses

• Physiology of Health and Wellness
• Capstone Research 1
• Capstone Research 2
• Critical Inquiry 2
• Pain Science
• Pharmacology