Karen Westervelt
Clinical Associate Professor
Osher Center for Integrative Health Education Director
310H Rowell Hall
106 Carrigan Drive
Burlington, VT 05405
United States
- Integrative Health and Wellness Coaching Certificate; Vanderbilt University
- Ph.D.; Bond University, Australia
- Fellow of the American Academy of Orthopedic Physical Therapy
- Certified Mulligan Practitioner (CMP)
- National Board Certification as an Orthopedic Clinical Specialist
- M.S., Movement Science and Rehabilitation; University of Vermont
- Postgraduate Certification in Health Science Specializing in Manipulative Physiotherapy; Auckland University of Technology, New Zealand
- Athletic Training Certification, University of Vermont
- B.S., Physical Therapy; University of Vermont
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Areas of expertise
Health & wellness coaching, integrative health, physical therapy, athletic training, kinesiology and biomechanics, injury prevention, orthopedic manual therapy, international health care collaborations, mentoring techniques for new clinicians and clinicians in rural settings, travel study.
BIO
Dr. Karen Westervelt is a physical therapist, a certified athletic trainer, and board-certified Health & Wellness Coach. She is a Fellow of the American Academy of Orthopedic Manual Physical Therapy and a national board-certified orthopedic clinical specialist. She received advanced training in manual and manipulative therapy from the Auckland University of Technology, New Zealand and completed her Ph.D. in Physiotherapy from Bond University, Australia. Her Ph.D. research focused on the area of post-professional education for health care providers. Most recently Dr. Westervelt completed her integrative health and wellness coaching training at Vanderbilt University and is a board-certified health and wellness coach.
Dr. Westervelt is the Education Director for the Osher Center for Integrative Health at UVM, and is excited to be introducing students from many different disciplines to an integrative health approach to the delivery of health care. She is an advocate for salutogenesis.
Dr. Westervelt teaches interprofessionally within the College of Nursing and Health Sciences. She teaches integrative health and health and wellness coaching classes for undergraduate and continuing education students. She also teaches foundational skills and musculoskeletal evaluation & treatment for students in the Doctor of Physical Therapy program, where she has been teaching since 1996.
Dr. Westervelt supervises graduate and undergraduate students involved in research in the areas of clinical mentoring, integrative health, health and wellness coaching, employee wellbeing, and the scholarship of teaching. Dr. Westervelt is a strong advocate for travel study. In 2013, she established UVM's first faculty-led physical therapy program abroad to New Zealand and Australia (PT 352 - International Collaborative in Manual Physical Therapy) in collaboration with the physiotherapy schools at Auckland University of Technology and Bond University. She also designed RMS 191 - Exploring the Therapeutic Effects of Icelandic Thermal Springs, a faculty-led travel study course for students interested in Integrative Healthcare.
Dr. Westervelt has been a practicing physical therapist and athletic trainer for over 30 years. She has focused her career on the care and prevention of musculoskeletal injuries. She is a United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee Sport Medicine volunteer, and supports the United States Biathlon Association Team.
Courses
- DPT 410 – Fundamentals of Clinical Practice
- DPT 413 – Movement Systems III
- DPT 421 – Musculoskeletal Eval and Treatment II
- DPT 493, 494, 495 – Doctoral Research
- DPT 7040 – Health Promotion in Physical Therapy
- DPT 7100 – Fundamental Skills in Physical Therapy
- EXMS 263 – Fitness for Special Populations
- HLTH 098 – Restore, Rejuvenate, Energize
- HLTH 187 – Health Coaching Immersion Introduction
- HLTH 287 – Health Coaching Immersion Advanced
- HLTH 3859 – Health and Wellness Coaching
- HLTH 3860 – Advanced Health and Wellness Coaching
- PT 328 – Research Independent Study
- PT 340 – Patient Management Fundamental Skills Lab
- PT 344 – Patient Management Musculoskeletal #1 Lab
- PT 347 – Patient Management CardioPulm
- PT 349 – Patient Management Musculoskeletal #2
- PT 395/352 – International Collaboration in Manual Therapy
- RMS 095/175 – Applied Kinesiology
- RMS 191 – Exploring the Therapeutic Effects of Icelandic Thermal Springs (faculty-led program abroad)
- RMS 213 – Biomechanics
Awards and Achievements
- 2020 Kroepsch-Maurice Excellence in Teaching Award Nominee
- 2020 Recipient of the CNHS Dean Award for Innovation in Teaching
- 2018 Academy of Orthopedic Physical Therapy of the APTA Gould Teaching Award Nominee
- 2016 Kroepsch-Maurice Excellence in Teaching Award Nominee
Bio
Dr. Karen Westervelt is a physical therapist, a certified athletic trainer, and board-certified Health & Wellness Coach. She is a Fellow of the American Academy of Orthopedic Manual Physical Therapy and a national board-certified orthopedic clinical specialist. She received advanced training in manual and manipulative therapy from the Auckland University of Technology, New Zealand and completed her Ph.D. in Physiotherapy from Bond University, Australia. Her Ph.D. research focused on the area of post-professional education for health care providers. Most recently Dr. Westervelt completed her integrative health and wellness coaching training at Vanderbilt University and is a board-certified health and wellness coach.
Dr. Westervelt is the Education Director for the Osher Center for Integrative Health at UVM, and is excited to be introducing students from many different disciplines to an integrative health approach to the delivery of health care. She is an advocate for salutogenesis.
Dr. Westervelt teaches interprofessionally within the College of Nursing and Health Sciences. She teaches integrative health and health and wellness coaching classes for undergraduate and continuing education students. She also teaches foundational skills and musculoskeletal evaluation & treatment for students in the Doctor of Physical Therapy program, where she has been teaching since 1996.
Dr. Westervelt supervises graduate and undergraduate students involved in research in the areas of clinical mentoring, integrative health, health and wellness coaching, employee wellbeing, and the scholarship of teaching. Dr. Westervelt is a strong advocate for travel study. In 2013, she established UVM's first faculty-led physical therapy program abroad to New Zealand and Australia (PT 352 - International Collaborative in Manual Physical Therapy) in collaboration with the physiotherapy schools at Auckland University of Technology and Bond University. She also designed RMS 191 - Exploring the Therapeutic Effects of Icelandic Thermal Springs, a faculty-led travel study course for students interested in Integrative Healthcare.
Dr. Westervelt has been a practicing physical therapist and athletic trainer for over 30 years. She has focused her career on the care and prevention of musculoskeletal injuries. She is a United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee Sport Medicine volunteer, and supports the United States Biathlon Association Team.
Courses
- DPT 410 – Fundamentals of Clinical Practice
- DPT 413 – Movement Systems III
- DPT 421 – Musculoskeletal Eval and Treatment II
- DPT 493, 494, 495 – Doctoral Research
- DPT 7040 – Health Promotion in Physical Therapy
- DPT 7100 – Fundamental Skills in Physical Therapy
- EXMS 263 – Fitness for Special Populations
- HLTH 098 – Restore, Rejuvenate, Energize
- HLTH 187 – Health Coaching Immersion Introduction
- HLTH 287 – Health Coaching Immersion Advanced
- HLTH 3859 – Health and Wellness Coaching
- HLTH 3860 – Advanced Health and Wellness Coaching
- PT 328 – Research Independent Study
- PT 340 – Patient Management Fundamental Skills Lab
- PT 344 – Patient Management Musculoskeletal #1 Lab
- PT 347 – Patient Management CardioPulm
- PT 349 – Patient Management Musculoskeletal #2
- PT 395/352 – International Collaboration in Manual Therapy
- RMS 095/175 – Applied Kinesiology
- RMS 191 – Exploring the Therapeutic Effects of Icelandic Thermal Springs (faculty-led program abroad)
- RMS 213 – Biomechanics
Awards and Achievements
- 2020 Kroepsch-Maurice Excellence in Teaching Award Nominee
- 2020 Recipient of the CNHS Dean Award for Innovation in Teaching
- 2018 Academy of Orthopedic Physical Therapy of the APTA Gould Teaching Award Nominee
- 2016 Kroepsch-Maurice Excellence in Teaching Award Nominee
Publications
Publications
- Whitman S, Westervelt K, Weinand RL, Sibold J, Thompson T, O’Farrell K, and Wolever R. Health and Wellness Coaching in Clinical Care: A Call to Action. Journal of Integrative and Complementary Medicine. October 30, 2025. (Impact Factor 1.7)
- Rose GL, Smith AM, Mossburg J, Westervelt K. Impact of an Employee Health and Wellness Coaching Program on Self-Reported Stress, Physical Health, and Mental Health in Hospital and University Employees. Global Advances in Integrative Medicine and Health. 2025;14. (Impact Factor 1.3)
- Parker, J, Westervelt, K, Sibold J, Kasser S. (March 2025) Screen time, Physical Activity, and Anxiety in Honor’s College Students During the Covid-19 Pandemic. American Journal of Undergraduate Research Volume _22_Issue 1. 135.
- Westervelt, Karen; Smith, Alyssa; Sibold, Jeremy; Falconer, Sara; Huffert, Kyler; Mossburg, Jurdan; Pelkey, Ashley; Whitman, Abigale; Woods, Ashlyn; Rose, Gail. A Win Win Opportunity? A Model Health and Wellness Coaching Program to Support Employee Health and Student Experience. American Journal of Health Promotion. 2025;0(0). (Impact factor: 2.5).
- Smith A, Adler S, Prelock P, Sibold J, Westervelt K, Wolever R. Integrative Health and Wellness Coaching: A Call to Action to Address a Research Gap for Individuals with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities. Journal of Integrative and Complementary Medicine. November 6, 2024.
- Sibold J, Whitman S, Westervelt K. An Evidence Based Rationale for Health and Wellness Coaching as a Complementary Certification in Undergraduate Health Education. American Journal of Lifestyle Medicine. 2023;0(0).
- Westervelt K, Rose G, Avery S, Celley A, Cho J, Donoghue R, Goodrich B. Employee Group Coaching Program for University and Hospital Employees during Covid-19: A Feasibility Study. Global Advances in Health and Medicine. 2023; Oct.18
- Parker, J, Westervelt, K, Sibold J, Kasser S. (2022) Screen time, Physical Activity, and Anxiety in Honor’s College Students During the Covid-19 Pandemic. Under review at the Journal of Undergraduate Research & Scholarly Excellence.
- John S., Westervelt, K., Kasser S. (2021) Issue 1, Volume 11. Incorporating Nutrition into Physical Therapy Practice: An Exploratory Study on Education and Attitudes. International Journal of Health, Wellness and Society.
- Westervelt, KC, Kunker, K, Patel, R, Smith, E, Wolitzer, K. (2020) Clinical Mentoring for Physical Therapists Experiencing Professional Isolation. Journal of Physical Therapy Education.
- Westervelt, K.C., Chenette, J., Merkel, L., Sibold, J.S., Crane, L.H., Hing, W. (2018) Postprofessional Physical Therapist Education: A Report from Two Regions of the World. Journal of Physical Therapy Education 32(3) 2018 DOI:10.1097/JTE 00000000000000036
- Westervelt, K.C., Banks, L.M., Carney, C.A., Kunker, K.A.; Magoon, A.B., McGovern, M., Sibold, J.S., Crane, L.H., Hing, W.A. (2018) An Online Model of International Clinical Mentoring for Novice Physical Therapists. Journal of Manual and Manipulative Physical Therapy 4/16/18. DOI:10.1080/10669817.2018.1447789
- Westervelt, K., Ellis C, Ellis L., Quanstrom A., Wallingford K., Maltby H., Hing, W. (2016) International Collaboration in Manual Physical Therapy: An Educational Model. Journal of Physical Therapy Education 30(4).
- Westervelt, K., Crane, L., Sibold, J., Hing, W., (2017). Physical Therapist Postprofessional Education in the United States and in Australia. Published online Physical Therapy Reviews 23 June 2017. DOI:10.1080/10833196.2017.1336839.
- Westervelt, K., Chenette, J., Merkel, L., Crane, L., Sibold, J., Hing, W., (2017). Postprofessional Physical Therapist Education: A Survey from Two Different Regions of the World. Manuscript accepted for publication by Journal of Physical Therapy Education.
- Westervelt, K.C., Banks, L.M., Carney, C.A., Kunker, K.A.; Magoon, A.B., McGovern, M., Sibold, J.S., Crane, L.H., Hing, W.A. (2017) An Online Model of International Clinical Mentoring for Novice Physical Therapists. Under review at the Journal of Manual and Manipulative Therapy.
- Westervelt, K., Ellis C, Ellis L., Quanstrom A.,Wallingford K., Maltby H., Hing, W International Collaboration in Manual Physical Therapy: An Opening of Ideas and Opportunities. Abstract. JMMT October 2015.
- Westervelt, K., John S., Kasser S. (2020 Accepted, being processed).
Incorporating Nutrition into Physical Therapy Practice: An Exploratory Study on Education and Attitudes. International Journal of Health, Wellness and Society. - Westervelt, KC, Kunker, K, Patel, R, Smith, E, Wolitzer, K. (2020 accepted, being processed) Clinical Mentoring for Physical Therapists Experiencing Professional Isolation. Journal of Physical Therapy Education.
- Mackie, K., Kasser, S, Sibold, J, Westervelt K (2020) Yoga for State Anxiety Reduction in University Students. Poster presentation at the International Congress on Integrative Medicine and Health (April 2020) and abstract published in the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine and Global Advances in Health and Medicine.
Associations and Affiliations
- Osher Collaborative Member
- Academic Consortium of Integrative Medicine and Health
- American Physical Therapy Association Orthopedic Section Member and Education Section Member
- American Academy of Orthopedic Manual Physical Therapy
- American Physical Therapy Association, Vermont Chapter Education Committee