Background
Kendra Gagnon, Ph.D., P.T., is the founding director of the Johns Hopkins Doctor of Physical Therapy Program, and is a clinical associate professor within the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine.
A 2020 graduate of the American Physical Therapy Association Fellowship in Higher Education Leadership, Dr. Gagnon received her Master of Physical Therapy degree at the University of Missouri-Columbia in 2001 and her doctorate in rehabilitation science from the University of Kansas Medical Center in 2009. She has been a physical therapist educator since 2005, teaching pediatric and professional development curricular content at both entry- and post-professional levels.
Dr. Gagnon’s clinical expertise is in pediatrics, and her background includes clinical practice and research in neonatal intensive care, early intervention and school-based environments. She is active in the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) Academy of Pediatric Physical Therapy, and has held various state and national professional leadership roles, including in the APTA House of Delegates and on the board of directors of APTA Pediatrics. She serves on the Finance Committee for the American Council of Academic Physical Therapy, and is the digital media editor for Pediatric Physical Therapy.
Innovation in physical therapist education is the focus of Dr. Gagnon’s recent research. She is passionate about humanizing online learning, building community among remote teams and learners, and building smart and inclusive solutions for in-person, online and remote education and work. Her work appears in several peer-reviewed journals, including Physical Therapy & Rehabilitation Journal (PTJ), Journal of Physical Therapy Education, Pediatric Physical Therapy, Advances in Neonatal Care, Journal of Allied Health and Occupational and Physical Therapy in Pediatrics.