Kripa Dholakia, PT, DHSc, PCS, MA
- Assistant Professor
Affiliated Programs
About Me
I joined the IPTE faculty in July 2019. I am a clinician with over 20 years of experience in pediatric PT in the medical and community setting. I have a board-certified clinical specialization in pediatric physical therapy. I am a member of American Physical Therapy Association's staff work group for Internationally Educated PTs and a member of the Global Health SIG of the HPA Section. My travels as a PT to several countries informed my doctoral scholarship. My research explored the ethicality of International Service-Learning (ISL) experiences offered by DPT programs to advocate for a more just model of ISL that focuses on patient beneficence. I teach Neuro I, Lifespan II, and the pediatric elective courses. I received my bachelors' degree in physical therapy from Mumbai University, India, and my advanced master's degree and DHSc from Drexel University School of Nursing and Health Professions.
Area of Expertise
My clinical experience is working with the pediatric client, especially in the inpatient rehab setting. I have extensive work experience within a medical model as well as in the community setting as an early interventionist.
Research Interests
My doctoral scholarship work explored the ethicality of International Service-Learning (ISL) as a teaching model. My interest lies in Global Health and disability issues in low- and middle-income countries.
Publications
- Campbell, SL, Dholakia, K, Sturgill, L. and Wellmon, R (in press) Preparing Students for the National Physical Therapist Examination (NPTE): One Program's Experience with Using the Practice Exam and Assessment Tool (PEAT) as a Graduation requirement. Internet Jouranl of Allied Health Sciences and Practice.
- Dholakia K, Wilgens, A, Robertone, P, Ebaugh, D; Uncovering Ethical Dilemmas in International Service-Learning: A Grounded Theory, Journa lof Physical Therapy Education: June 2021 - Volume 35 - Issue 2 - p128-137 doi: 10.1097/JTE.0000000000000179
In the Media
Noteworthy
- Physical Therapy Professor Receives Fulbright U.S. Scholar Award
Kripa Dholakia, assistant professor in the Institute for Physical Therapy Education, has received a Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program award to Rwanda for the 2024-2025 academic year from the U.S. Department of State and the Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board. As part of this grant, Dholakia will spend 10 months from September 2024 to July 2025 in Kigali at the University of Rwanda. She will teach content related to her clinical expertise in pediatric physical therapy.
Dholakia joined Widener’s physical therapy faculty in 2019 with more than 20 years of experience in pediatric physical therapy in the medical and community setting. Following her doctoral scholarship, which explored the ethics of international service-learning as a teaching model, Dholakia’s research investigates global health and disability issues in low- and middle-income countries.
Share link: https://www.widener.edu/news/noteworthy/physical-therapy-professor-receives-fulbright-us-scholar-award
Kripa Dholakia, an assistant professor in the Institute for Physical Therapy Education, co-authored a research report in the Journal of Physical Therapy Education on ethical dilemmas in International Service-Learning (ISL). Titled “Uncovering Ethical Dilemmas in International Service-Learning: A Grounded Theory,” the study used a constructive theory ground approach to understand the experiences, perceptions, and insights of faculty, students, and alumni who attended an ISL experience as well as to analyze the participants’ ethical nature. Ten students, six faculty members and five alumni from varying doctor of physical therapy programs across the country travelled to Central America to take part in an ISL program to identify potential ethical misconduct. The groups’ experience indicated that further research is needed to identify best practices for future ISL experiences to prevent future ethical dilemmas from arising.