Aaron Hartstein

Aaron Hartstein is an Associate Professor and Interim Director of the Division of Physical Therapy at Shenandoah University’s School of Health Professions. He has been employed since 2014 and holds clinical expertise in orthopedic manual physical therapy, clinical reasoning, and residency/fellowship education. His work integrates virtual reality into physical therapy pedagogy and emphasizes evidence-based practice.

• BA, West Virginia University (2002)
• MPT, West Virginia University (2003)
• DPT, Shenandoah University (2017)
• Ph.D. in Health Sciences, University of South Dakota (2021)

Hartstein’s research explores virtual reality simulation in physical therapy education, chronic pain management, and diagnostic reasoning. He investigates how technology enhances clinical training and addresses bias in patient recruitment.

His publications focus on simulation-based learning, orthopedic rehabilitation, and neurodynamic mobility. Key trends include bridging technology and clinical education, optimizing diagnostic reasoning frameworks, and advancing pain neuroscience applications.

• Beb Cash Award for Outstanding Contribution to Clinical Practice (2015)
• Mary Lou Barnes Award for Professional Service (2016)
• Distinguished Dissertation Award (2021)
• Innovator Award (APTA Physical Therapy Learning Institute, 2021)
• Novice Scholar in Distance Simulation (2022)
• Influencer Award (APTA Physical Therapy Learning Institute, 2023)