Dawn Magnusson

Dawn Magnusson serves as Associate Professor and Section Director of Student Affairs at the University of Colorado School of Medicine's Department of Physical Therapy, while directing the innovative DPT-MPH Dual Degree Track that integrates clinical practice with public health training. Her leadership extends to core faculty responsibilities shaping curriculum and student affairs within the Physical Therapy program.

Her academic foundation includes a PhD in Population Health Sciences with Cultural Anthropology minor (2014), Capstone Certificate in Global Health (2012), and MS in Physical Therapy (2000) from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, complemented by a BA in Biology from Lawrence University (1995). She maintains active clinical licensure in Wisconsin and Colorado through 2025.

Dr. Magnusson's research program pioneers population health approaches in physical therapy, with emphasis on reducing health disparities through community-based participatory methods. Her work investigates unmet therapy needs among children with developmental delays, racial/ethnic disparities in pediatric services, and community-driven interventions for health equity. Recent projects translate research into practice through caregiver decision tools and curriculum innovations that address social determinants of health.

Analysis of her 2022-2025 publications reveals three dominant trends: 1) Health disparities in rehabilitation across practice, education, and research domains; 2) Integration of population health frameworks into physical therapy education and telehealth competencies; 3) Community-engaged approaches to prosthetic care decision-making and early intervention systems. These span rehabilitation science, public health, and health services research with strong policy implications.

Key recognitions include:

• APTA Section on Pediatrics Dissertation Award (2015)
• Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Culture of Health Leaders Semi-Finalist (2016)
• APTA Social Responsibility Research Award (2016)
• Multiple UW-Madison awards for global engagement and research excellence (2010-2013)

Her grant portfolio features Robert Wood Johnson Foundation support and Global Health Institute funding for community-based projects in Colorado and Belize. As DPT-MPH Director, she mentors students in health equity research while leading initiatives like the TIGRR program that build global rehabilitation capacity. Her work with the Colorado Early Intervention Program demonstrates commitment to translating research into systems-level improvements for children with special healthcare needs.

Dr. Magnusson actively collaborates within the CU Rehabilitation Sciences Program and interdisciplinary teams focused on interagency collaboration. Current projects include developing community-driven decision support tools, analyzing telehealth competencies, and implementing population health frameworks across clinical and educational settings to address health disparities at structural levels.