Karla Ann Bell

Dr. Karla A. Bell is a Professor at Jefferson College of Rehabilitation Sciences, Thomas Jefferson University and co-creator and co-lead of a national professional development program titled Sexual and Gender Minority Education and Training (SGMET). She has 28+ years (18+ in academia) in the profession with experience in multiple settings and has held dual-board certifications. Dr. Bell holds a PhD in Population Health, and she is a Distinguished Scholar Fellow with the National Academies of Practice. Her collaborative interdisciplinary research focuses on sense of belonging in students, professional development in the areas of LGBTQIA+ health and cultural humility, provider behavior change to help mitigate LGBTQIA+ healthcare disparities, and structural competency as a necessary professional education and leadership lens. She has served in leadership and service roles with APTA as co-creator PT Proud and as an inaugural member of APTA’s national DEI committee.