Laurel Daniels Abbruzzese, PT, EdD, MS
- Associate Professor of Rehabilitation and Regenerative Medicine (Physical Therapy) at CUMC
Overview
Dr. Laurel Daniels Abbruzzese (she/her) is Professor of Rehabilitation and Regenerative Medicine in the Programs of Physical Therapy at the Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons. She currently serves as Director of the Performing Arts Fellowship Program and Director for Equity and Justice in Curricular Affairs.
Dr. Abbruzzese brings more than 30 years of clinical experience in physical therapy and over 20 years of experience as an educator. She has been recognized as a Columbia University Provost Senior Faculty Teaching Scholar and was inducted into the Virginia Apgar Academy of Medical Educators VP&S. She also completed the American Physical Therapy Association Fellowship in Higher Education Leadership.
Dr. Abbruzzese serves as a board member of the Physical Therapy Learning Institute and contributes nationally to professional education and workforce development. She is faculty for the APTA Geriatrics Certified Exercise Experts in Aging Adults (CEAA®) course series and serves on the Equity in Motion Steering Committee and the 5P-Professional Advisory Board.
Nationally, Dr. Abbruzzese is recognized as a Distinguished Scholar and Fellow of the National Academies of Practice, an organization dedicated to advancing interprofessional education and collaborative practice. She was the inaugural recipient of the Emerging interprofessional National Academies of Practice Member of the Year Award. Dr. Abbruzzese also serves as an Associate Editor for the Journal of the Interprofessional Education and practice.
Academic Appointments
- Associate Professor of Rehabilitation and Regenerative Medicine (Physical Therapy) at CUMC
Administrative Titles
- Director, Columbia University Irving Medical Center/Westside Dance Physical Therapy Performing Arts Fellowship, Programs in Physical Therapy
Credentials & Experience
Education & Training
- BA, 1991 Psychology, Columbia College-Columbia University
- MS, 1994 Physical Therapy, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons
- EdM, 2000 Movement Science (Motor Learning & Control), Columbia University, Teachers College
- EdD, 2004 Biobehavioral Sciences, Columbia University, Teachers College
Committees, Societies, Councils
Columbia University Irving Medical Center Columbia Commons Interprofessional Steering Committee
Performing Arts SIG-Fellowship Chair, American Physical Therapy Association
PT Proud LGBTQ Catalyst Group Education Task Force, American Physical Therapy Association
Certified Exercise Expert for Aging Adults (CEEAA®) Faculty
Columbia College Women, Board of Directors
5P-Society Professional Advisory Board
NJ Ross Scholars Board, St. Paul's School
Honors & Awards
Columbia University Provost Senior Faculty Teaching Scholar (2022-2023)
2023 American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) Fellowship in Higher Education Leadership
2022 National Academies of Practice (NAP) Emerging Interprofessional National Academies of Practice Member of the Year
2022 Columbia University Provost Senior Faculty Teaching Scholar
2021 Columbia College Alumni Association (CCAA) President's Cup
2017 Distinguished Scholar & Fellow, National Academies of Practice (NAP) and the Physical Therapy Academy
2017 Columbia University Community Based Participatory Research Scholar
2001 National Institutes of Health, National Institute of Aging, F31 predoctoral fellowship
2000 Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Gates Millennium Scholar
Research
Research Interests
- Adolescent Dancers
- Cri du Chat Syndrome
- Interprofessional Education and Collaborative Practice
- Older Adults
Grants
Co- Investigator - Association of Academic Physiarists (AAP) Mission Innovation Grant: "A New Lens: Reframing Disability Education in Medical School Through an Arts-Informed Approach." 12/1/2025- 12/31/2026 PI: Kaile Eison, DO
Principle Investigator - Columbia University Office of the Provost: "Fostering Inclusive Excellence in Health Professions Education: Developing a Collaborative Teamwork Curriculum for Diverse Teams." 7/1/2024-6/30/2026
Co-Investigator - AAMC NEGEA Medical Education Scholarship Research and Evaluation. "Building the Capacity of Healthcare Professionals Towards Anti-Racist and Inclusive Interprofessional Care." 7/1/2024-6/30/2025; PI: Hetty Cunnigham, MD
Co-Investigator - Columbia University Office of the Provost: Innovative Course Module Design "Interprofessional Fall Risk Assessment Module for Primary Clerkship". 6/31/2022-07/31/2023; PI: Natasha Mehta, MD
Co-Principal Investigator - Virginia Apgar Academy of Medical Educators - Apgar Education Research Grant "Building the Capacity of Healthcare Professionals Toward Anti-Racist and Inclusive Interprofessional Care" 12/31/2019-12/31/2018; Hetty Cunnigham, MD
Co-Principal Investigator 12/31/2017-12/31/2018 $30,000
Irving Institute for Clinical and Translational Research - Pilot Grant Opportunity in Community Based Participatory Research. Funding agency: The National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (NCATS)
“Facilitators and Barriers to Participation in Evidence-based Programs in Urban Senior Centers serving LGBT older adults” Community Partner - SAGE (Services & Advocacy for GLBT Older Adults) & Phyllis Simon
Co- Investigator 12/31/2017-12/31/2018 $15,000
Irving Institute for Clinical and Translational Research - CaMPR (Collaborative and Multidisciplinary Pilot Research) Phase I Award. Funding agency: The National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (NCATS)
“Using Narrative Medicine to Address Weight Bias Across the Health Professions: Toward Improved Health Care for Persons with Obesity” PI: Sharon Akabas
Co- Investigator 6/01/2018-6/30/2019 $75,000
Irving Institute for Clinical and Translational Research - CaMPR (Collaborative and Multidisciplinary Pilot Research) Phase II Award. Funding agency: The National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (NCATS)
“Using Narrative Medicine to Address Weight Bias Across the Health Professions: Toward Improved Health Care for Persons with Obesity” PI: Sharon Akabas
Selected Publications
1. Bisop, KL, Abbruzzese LD, Thurston, L, Maxwell, B, Simon, P, Adeniran, R, Oluwole-Sangose, O, Dunleavy, K, Pfeifle, A, Smith, S. Becoming an anti-racist interprofessional healthcare organization: our journey. JIEP. Epub March 2022. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.xjep.2022.100509.
2. Schaeffer, M, Abbruzzese LD, Tawa Z, Schultz K, Binney J, Bronner L. Inter-and-Intra-Rater Reliability of Hand Held Dynamometry for Lower Extremity Strength Testing in Pre-Professional Dancers. Journal of Dance Medicine & Science. 2021; 25(2):86-95. doi:10.12678/1089-313X.061521c. Epub 2021 Mar 29. PMID: 33781377.
3. Abbruzzese LD, Yamane N, Fein D, Naigles L, Goldman S. Assessing Child Postural Variability: Development, Feasibility, and Reliability of a Video Coding System. Physical & Occupational Therapy In Pediatrics. 2021;41(3):314-325. doi: 10.1080/01942638.2020.1833272. Epub 2020 Oct.16. PMID:33063576.
4. Abbruzzese LD, Ruggeri AR, Esquerre JC, Patel P, Raske L. Feasibility and Reliability of Functional Mobility Measures in Children with Cri Du Chat (5P-) Syndrome. Pediatric Phys Ther. 2020;32 (2):161-167. doi: 10.1097/PEP.000000000000681.
5. Goldman S, McCullough AK, Young SD, Mueller C, Stahl A, Zoeller A, Abbruzzese LD, Rao AK, Montes J. Quantitative gait assessment in children with 16p 11.2 syndrome. J Neurodevelop Disord. 2019;11(26):1-5. https://doi.org/10.1186/s11689-019-9286-9. Epub 2019 Oct 27.
6. Abbruzzese, L.D. & Simon, P. Special concerns for the LGBT aging patient: What rehab professionals should know. Curr Geri Rep. 2018; 7: 26. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13670-018-0232-6. Epub 2018 Jan 30.
7. Kwong, J., Bockting, W., Gabler, S., Abbruzzese, L., Towe, A., Simon, P., Bonaparte, S., Malark, A., Weber, T., Fialko, J., Hall, P. Development of an Interprofessional Collaborative Practice Model for Older LGBT Adults. LGBT Health. 2017. (Special Issue on LGBT Aging; http://online.liebertpub.com/doi/pdf/10.1089/LGBT.2016.0160)
8. Abbruzzese LD, Salazar R, Abuchon M, Rao A. Temporal and spatial gait parameters in children with Cri Du Chat Syndrome under single and dual task conditions. 2016; 50:47-52. doi: 10.1016/j.gaitpost.2016.08.006. Epub 2016 Aug 5.
9. Pivko S, Abbruzzese LD, Duttaroy P, Hansen RL, Ryans K. The Effect of Physical Therapy Students' Clinical Experiences on Clinician Productivity. J Allied Health. 2015; In Press.
10. Abbruzzese LD, Rao AK, Bellows R, Figueroa K, Levy J, Lim E, Puccio L. Effects of manual task complexity on gait parameters in school-aged children and adults. Gait Posture. 2014 Sep;40(4):658-63. doi: 10.1016/j.gaitpost.2014.07.017. Epub 2014 Jul 28.
11. Wong, CK and Abbruzzese, LD (2011) Case Report: Collaborative Learning Strategies Using Online Communities. JPTE, 25 (3), 79-84.
12. Abbruzzese LD.The Tinetti Performance-Oriented Mobility Assessment Tool. American Journal of Nursing.1998: 98(12):16J-16L.