Elke Schaumberg

Assistant Professor

JWU Faculty Since 2023

caroline cerio

Contact Info

Email
elke.schaumberg@jwu.edu
Phone
401-598-1381
Campus
Providence

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

"Movement is life. Movement is the song of the body"

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
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Professional Affiliations

APTA, Academy of Orthopedics
APTA, Academy of Education
APTA Research Section
APTA Academy of Orthopedics, Pain Special Interest Group
International Association for the Study of Pain
ACAPT

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Dissertations And Theses Advised

  • Dissertation Committee member- Olga McSorley, EdD(c) Career Aspirations of Entry-level Physical Therapists: Application of the Social Cognitive Career Theory= Career Self-Management Model.


Q&A with Elke

At JWU, education is not confined to the four walls of the classroom. You’re not going to spend four years with your nose buried in a book, learning theories you may never get a chance to apply — you’re going to get out there and apply them, be it through internships, group projects, leadership opportunities, competitions and more.

How Did You Get Started?

I have always been interested in the resiliency of the human spirit- both physical and emotional resilience. From a young age, I wanted to know everything I could about how the human body worked. After seeing a physical therapist as a young adult, I became intrigued by the profession because physical therapists harness the healing capacity in their patients to restore function and quality of life after illness or injury. Also, as physical therapists you commit to lifelong learning about the functioning of the human body.

What Is Your Favorite Teaching Moment?

I have had so many favorite teaching moments, so it is hard to pick just one. One of my favorite moments in teaching is when you can get students to forget about the test and the grade and focus on learning for the sake of learning. Seeing students make higher-level connections where they are pulling information out of silos and applying what they've learned to real-life patient scenarios is a close second.

What Advice Do You Have For Incoming Freshmen?

Fully embrace this time. Stay open to new experiences while at the same time committing yourself to your studies.

What College Do You Teach In?

College of Health & Wellness