DEBRA F STERN, PT, DPT, DBA, CLT, CEEAA, CFPS

Debra Stern, PT, DPT, DBA, CLT, CEEAA, CFPS, is a full-time professor in the level Physical Therapy program at Nova Southeastern University (NSU) in Ft. Lauderdale. Her clinical experience has focused on geriatric rehab with an emphasis on balance integrity and fall prevention. Formerly the Director of Clinical Education, she is now actively engaged in community outreach that includes screening aging adults for balance integrity and fall risk. Dr. Stern initiated and serves as a faculty Clinical Instructor in a unique interprofessional clinical experience in the NSU Diabetes Optometry Clinic in a collaborative model. She served as the Physical Therapy representative in the Geriatric Education Center at NSU and is now the physical therapy representative in the HRSA funded South Florida Geriatric Workforce Enhancement Program (GWEP) grant. In her role in the GWEP, Dr. Stern provides education on balance and fall risk screening to medical residents, fellows and attending physicians, as well as other health professionals. She also provides education to medical and pharmacy students and other health professionals, including occupational therapists, physical therapists, and nurses. Most recently, she recorded a presentation for physicians and other healthcare professionals for a national hospital corporation on prevention of falls in inpatient settings. As a long-time expert in risk management, Dr. Stern provides required Florida education on Prevention of Medical Errors, in which fall prevention is included. Dr. Stern is actively involved in ongoing research involving clinical education, interprofessional education, aging adults, diabetes and fall prevention, and has shared her expertise nationally and internationally.