Sara Kathryn Arena

Dr. Sara Arena, PT, MS, DScPT, is Professor and Director of the Physical Therapy Program at Oakland University. She has more than 35 years of clinical experience across hospital, home health, and community-based settings, with academic expertise in cardiopulmonary physical therapy, health promotion, and prevention-focused care. Her research focuses on health-promoting and prevention-focused physical therapy practice across the lifespan, with emphasis on cardiopulmonary-related interventions and fall prevention in older adults. She has secured nearly $1 million in grant funding to support community-based and prevention-focused initiatives, including a current collaboration with the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services and Michigan 2-1-1 to develop a statewide evidence-informed fall prevention resource hub. Dr. Arena has presented nationally on fall prevention, community health, and physical therapy education, and her scholarship has been recognized with multiple awards from