Salome Brooks

Salome Brooks serves as Program Director and Associate Professor in the Department of Physical Therapy within Franklin Pierce University's College of Health & Natural Sciences. With extensive leadership in physical therapy education, she emphasizes practical, patient-centered approaches that prepare students for dynamic clinical roles through innovative pedagogical methods and professional development frameworks.

Her academic credentials include:

• EdD in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies from Southern Connecticut State University (2004-2011)
• MA in Motor Control and Education (Concentration: Motor Learning) from Teachers College, Columbia University (1999-2004)
• MBA with Health Care Administration concentration from Sacred Heart University (1985-1990)
• BS in Physical Therapy from Quinnipiac College (1978-1982)

Dr. Brooks' research program integrates qualitative and mixed-methods approaches across professional practice development, geriatrics, and neurological rehabilitation. She pioneers novel interventions including NAO Humanoid Robotics for Parkinson's Disease treatment while examining cultural humility through actor training and improvisation techniques. Her work bridges clinical practice with educational theory to enhance patient communication and professional identity formation, particularly focusing on social determinants of health in aging populations and minority recruitment in healthcare education.

Analysis of her 2011-2021 publications reveals consistent focus on diversity initiatives in physical therapy education, evidenced by studies on holistic admission strategies and underrepresented minority retention. Concurrently, she develops innovative pedagogical models for interprofessional collaboration and research preparation, while extending investigations into geriatric well-being through community engagement frameworks like social knitting groups. Her scholarship demonstrates increasing integration of humanities-based approaches into clinical education.

As Program Director, Dr. Brooks provides academic oversight while serving on national bodies including the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award Board of Examiners (2019) and ACAPT Consortium for Humanities, Ethics and Professionalism (2019-present). Her professional service spans the American Council on Education's Office of Women in Higher Education (2010-2019), Gerontological Society of America (2005-2012), and current board membership with NYSARH and Common Ground Health for Rural Communities (2023), reflecting sustained commitment to healthcare education equity and community health initiatives.