Karla A. Bell, PT, DPT, PhD

• DEI Strategy & Planning (DiversityFirst) 2023
• Board Certified Geriatric Specialist Emeritus 

• Interdisciplinary faculty and staff professional development in sexual and gender minority (SGM) health
• Inclusive cultural competency/humility curriculum integration in the health professions
• Sexual and Gender Minority Population Health and Provider Behavior Change
• Sense of Belonging in Health Professions students in academics and experiential learning

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, 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.
• 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 KA, 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. Educational 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.

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)

• 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