Elke Schaumberg (she/her)
Associate Professor College of Health & Wellness Physical Therapy Providence
Biography and Expertise
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 Ph.D. 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. Her 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 & Educational Leadership Conference, and locally, through the New Hampshire Musculoskeletal Institute’s Fall Symposium and Lifespan’s Annual Research Day.
Schaumberg served as an assistant professor at Franklin Pierce University in their Doctor of Physical Therapy program, where she developed and taught their first Pain Science class, served as Research Track Coordinator, and taught in the Foundational courses. She is currently an assistant professor at Johnson & Wales University in the developing Doctor of Physical Therapy program.
Education
PhD
Texas Woman’s University
DPT
Simmons College now University
MS
University of Colorado Health Sciences Center now CU Denver
BS
University of Colorado- Boulder campus
Graduate Certificate in Medical Physiology
University of Florida
Physical Therapist
Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies Division of Professions and Occupations
Licensed Physical Therapist
Rhode Island Department of Health
Academy of Education
Academy of Research
Academy of Orthopedics and Pain Special Interest Group
American Physical Therapy Association
International Association for the Study of Pain
Schaumberg, E. & Landers, M. & Reisman, D. & Westlake, K. & Souza, R. & Tucker, C. & Miller, S. & Samulski, B.
Improving the culture of scholarship in physical therapy programs
American Council of Academic Physical Therapists
Mitchell, K. & Ellison, J. & Schaumberg, E. & Gleeson, P. & Bickley, C. & Naiki, A. & Travis, S.
Examining Demographic and Preadmission Factors Predictive of First Year and Overall Program Success in a Public Physical Therapist Education Program
Journal of Physical Therapy Education
35
3
203-209
Pain Misunderstood- Interprofessional Expert Pain Panel.
Panel Presentation
APTA RI Professional Development
APTA RI
Providence
RI
One Vision, Many Paths: Advancing the Culture of Scholarly Inquiry Across Physical Therapy Education
webinar
One Vision, Many Paths: Advancing the Culture of Scholarly Inquiry Across Physical Therapy Education
American Council of Academic Physical Therapists
One Vision, Many Paths: Advancing the Culture of Scholarly Inquiry Across Physical Therapy Education. Educational Leadership Conference.
Lecture
Education Leadership Conference 2025
American Council of Academic Physical Therapy (ACAPT)
National Session Presentation
Kansas City
MO
United States
Creating a safe, empowering workplace culture: An interprofessional perspective on utilizing a trauma-informed approach
Lecture
Combined Sections Meeting 2025
American Physical Therapy Association
National Combined Sections Meeting
Houston
United States
Strategies for Delivering Sensitive Content in PT Education: A Trauma-Informed Approach
Lecture
APTA Educational Leadership Conference 2024
American Physical Therapy Association Academy of Education
National Physical Therapy Educator Conference
Oakland
United States
Integrating IPA Opportunities into Physical Therapy Education for the PT/PTA Team using the IPEC Core Competency Framework
Lecture
Educational Leadership Conference 2024
American Physical Therapy Association Academy of Education
National Physical Therapy Educator Conference
Oakland
CA
United States
Mechanism-Based Pain Typing in Adults with Chronic Pain
Lecture
Rhode Island APTA Professional Development Course Series 2024
Rhode Island American Physical Therapy Association
Regional course series
Providence
RI
United States
Multidimensional Assessment and Nonpharmacologic Treatments of Chronic Pain in Older Adults
Lecture
Rhode Island Geriatric Center Education Center Education Series 2024
Rhode Island Geriatric Center Education Center
Interprofessional lecture
Kingston
AR
Aquatic Therapy as an Alternative Therapy Method for Patients with Lower Limb Amputation: A Systematic Review
Poster
Combined Sections Meeting 2023
American Physical Therapy Association
National Conference
Boston
MA
Barriers and Facilitators to Interdisciplinary Wound Care Management in the United States
Poster
Combined Sections Meeting 2024
American Physical Therapy Association
National Conference
Boston
MA
Effects of Virtual Reality on Motor Control and Function in Children with Spastic Cerebral Palsy
Poster
Combined Sections Meeting 2024
American Physical Therapy Association
National Conference
Boston
MA
Physical Therapy Students’ Perspectives on Professionalism
Poster
Combined Sections Meeting 2024
American Physical Therapy Association
National Conference
Boston
MA
Responsive Teaching and Coaching: Importance of A Trauma-Informed Approach to Student Wellness
Lecture
Combined Sections Meeting 2024
American Physical Therapy Association
National Conference
Boston
MA
Aerobic Exercise Protocols to Assess Exercise-Induced Hypoalgesia in Adults with Chronic Pain: A Systematic Review
Poster
Combined Sections Meeting 2024
American Physical Therapy Association
National Conference
Boston
MA
Effects of lab simulation on DPT students’ self-efficacy and preparedness for clinical experience.
Poster
Combined Sections Meeting 2024
American Physical Therapy Association
National Conference
Boston
MA
Effects of sleep on recovery following an elective orthopedic surgery: A systematic review
Poster
Combined Sections Meeting 2024
American Physical Therapy Association
National Conference
Boston
MA
Shared Decision-Making and Interprofessional Wound Management Teams: A Descriptive Study on Collaborative Practice
Poster
Combined Sections Meeting 2024
American Physical Therapy Association
National Conference
Boston
MA
Perspectives on the Weighting of Academic and Non-Academic Criteria among Individuals Involved in DPT Admissions
Poster
Educational Leadership Conference 2023
American Council of Academic Physical Therapy
National Conference
Philadelphia
PA
Effects of lab simulation on DPT students’ self-efficacy and preparedness for clinic
Poster
Educational Leadership Conference 2023
American Council of Academic Physical Therapy
National Conference
Philadelphia
PA
Influences on Physical Therapists’ Decision-Making to Explore Pain Perceptions during the Evaluation
Poster
30th Lifespan Research Day 2023
Lifespan
Local
Providence
United States
Predictors of Psychosocial History-Taking Practices of Physical Therapists who Evaluate Adults with Chronic Pain
Poster
Lifespan Conference 2023
Lifespan
Local
Providence
RI
United States
Comparison of Clinical Patient Outcomes of Telehealth Physical Therapy vs. Traditional Outpatient Physical Therapy: A systematic review
Poster
Combined Sections Meeting 2023
American Physical Therapy Association
National Conference
San Diego
CA
Holistic Admissions Practices of Doctor of Physical Therapy Programs and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
Poster
Combined Sections Meeting 2023
American Physical Therapy Association
National Conference
San Diego
CA
History Taking in Adults with Chronic Pain Utilizing the Biopsychosocial Model
Lecture
29th Fall Symposium
New Hampshire Musculoskeletal Institute
Regional
Nashua
United States
Mechanism-based Pain Typing and the Examination of the Adult with Chronic Pain Presentation by Elke Schaumberg PT, MS, DPT, PhD
Lecture
29th Fall Symposium
New Hampshire Musculoskeletal Institute
Regional
Nashua
Investigating the Psychosocial History-Taking Practices of Physical Therapists in the United States who Evaluate Adults with Chronic Pain
Panel Presentation
Annual Texas Woman’s Research Day
Texas Woman University
Houston
United States
Influences on Physical Therapists’ Decision-Making to Explore Pain Perceptions during the Evaluation
Poster
Combined Sections meeting 2021
American Physical Therapy Association
virtual conference (COVID)
Predictors of Psychosocial History-Taking Practices of Physical Therapists Who Evaluate Adults with Chronic Pain
virtual poster presentation (Covid)
Combined Sections Meeting 2021
American Physical Therapy Association