Danielle C. Struble-Fitzsimmons, PT, DPT, PhD

  • Assistant Professor of Rehabilitation and Regenerative Medicine (Physical Therapy) at CUMC
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Overview

Danielle Struble-Fitzsimmons is an Assistant Professor of Rehab & Regenerative Medicine (PT) and Director of Clinical Education at Columbia University. She received a BS, MPT, and DPT from the University of Scranton and a PhD in Health Science from Seton Hall University. She is a Certified Lymphedema Therapist-Lymphology Association of North America. Danielle has 20+ years of patient care and leadership experience working in outpatient and inpatient settings in the NY/NJ area. In the clinic, Danielle spearheaded multiple quality improvement initiatives to enhance the delivery of PT services and promote interprofessional practice. She held multiple part-time DPT faculty roles (Mercy University, New York Medical College) prior to joining the Columbia University faculty in 2022. She was the recipient of a Columbia University Provost Grant for a project entitled, "Incorporating Simulation and Case-Based Learning Strategies to Improve DPT Integumentary Education." She has presented at local, state, and national conferences in her research areas of clinical education, lymphedema management, cardiopulmonary dysfunction, and mental health.

Faculty Spotlight: Danielle Struble-Fitzsimmons on Incorporating Simulation and Case Studies in Physical Therapy to Improve Inclusivity and Student Learning

Dr. Danielle Struble Fitzsimmons, PT, DPT, PhD appointed as the Assistant Director of Clinical Education

Academic Appointments

  • Assistant Professor of Rehabilitation and Regenerative Medicine (Physical Therapy) at CUMC

Administrative Titles

  • Assistant Director of Clinical Education

Gender

  • Female

Credentials & Experience

Education & Training

  • Certified Lymphedema Therapist, Lymphology Association of North America
  • BS, 2000 Health Sciences, Magna cum laude, The University of Scranton, Scranton, PA
  • MPT, 2001 The University of Scranton, Scranton, PA
  • DPT, 2006 Summa cum laude, The University of Scranton, Scranton, PA
  • PhD, 2018 Health Sciences, Movement Science specialization, Seton Hall University, South Orange, NJ

Honors & Awards

  • May 2015 - Friend of Nursing Award. Presented by the Department of Nursing, New York-Presbyterian Hospital/Westchester Division.
  • September 2011 - Physical Therapy Day Award. Presented by Unit 2 North, Geriatrics, New York-Presbyterian Hospital/Westchester Division.
  • May 2001 - Outstanding Graduate in Physical Therapy, The University of Scranton.

Research

Selected Publications

Struble-Fitzsimmons, D., Feld-Glazman, R., Dominick, E., et al. (2021). A retrospective quality improvement study to describe operational management strategies in an inpatient rehabilitation facility during the COVID-19 pandemic. Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, 102: 2482-8.

Vaidyan, D., & Struble-Fitzsimmons, D. (2020). Using quality improvement methodology to standardize procedures of the 6 minute walk test on an inpatient cardiopulmonary program. Journal of Gerontology and Geriatric Medicine, (6)6, 81-84.

Struble-Fitzsimmons, D., Pinto Zipp, G., DeLuca., & Zhang, N. (2020). Exploring the relationship between timed up and go test times and falls in an inpatient geriatric psychiatry unit: A retrospective case-control study. Journal of Geriatric Physical Therapy, 43(3), E25-E30.

Struble-Fitzsimmons, D., Oswald, A., & DiPersia, E. (2019). Patient location and mobility factors associated with falls on an inpatient geriatric psychiatry unit. Activities, Adaptation & Aging, 43(4), 276-283.

Interview. (2017, May 1). Benefits of physical exercise for mental health patients. LoHud, The Journal News. Retrieved from http://http://www.lohud.com/

Struble-Fitzsimmons, D., Giordano, K., DiPersia, E. (2012). Interactive patient safety group to prevent falls in geriatric psychiatry unit. (abstract). New York Presbyterian Healthcare System Quality Symposium Proceedings, p. 113.

Struble, D.C. (2001). Secondary lymphedema and breast cancer. Rehabilitation Oncology, 19(1), 6-14.