Associate professor Sue Klappa earned her Master of Physical Therapy degree at the College of St. Catherine. Sue earned her PhD in Education, Curriculum & Instruction: Family, Youth, and Community from the University of Minnesota. She also holds a M.A. degree in Physical Education from the University of Minnesota.
Sue joined the DPT Program faculty in 2005. Her clinical expertise is primarily in the areas of outpatient orthopedics, acute care, and aquatic therapy. Sue teaches course content in cardiac rehabilitation, acute care, complex medical and trauma care, and physical therapy for persons with amputation. She also teaches the global health course for the public health program.
Sue has a passion for the role of physical therapy in the international community and has traveled to the Dominican Republic (DR), Honduras, Venezuela, Mexico, and Haiti as a physical therapist. Sue has also been involved in leading PT clinics in urban barrios, rural campo regions of the DR, in local Haitian bateys (communities), and in rural Honduras. She has also been involved with Physicians for Peace and their Walking Free Program in the DR and Haiti.
Sue's research interests include studying the influence of international immersion experiences in preparing PT clinicians. She is also interested in education in the community, health and wellness, disability awareness, and how service learning influences civic engagement of Physical Therapists. Sue recently wrote a book entitled, "Experiences of Physical Therapists Not-Knowing During International Service Work: The Essence of Not-Knowing."