Carolyn Shisler

Professor Shisler brings over 30 years of clinical experience to her role as Associate Professor and Program Director for the Physical Therapist Assistant Program. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Physical Therapy from Marquette University and a Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Cincinnati.

Her teaching focuses on acute care physical therapy and the medically complex patient. Her recent work emphasizes enhancing collaboration and communication within the PT-PTA team. She has developed intraprofessional learning experiences with local DPT programs and completed her master’s thesis on PT-PTA collaboration in the acute care setting.

Professor Shisler is passionate about sharing her love for patient care and the physical therapy profession with her students. She advocates for the vital contributions of PTAs in clinical practice and strives to instill a patient-centered approach in future clinicians. 

At the university level, Professor Shisler was accepted into the Academy of Fellows for Teaching and Learning in 2024 and co-created the Teaching and Learning Community of Practice at UC Clermont. 

At a national level, Professor Shisler teaches the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) Level 1 and Level 2 Clinical Instructor Credentialing courses and she is active in the APTA Academy of Education PTA Educator Special Interest Group. She represents PTA education on the APTA's Collaborative for Physical Therapy Education.

In addition to her academic responsibilities, she continues to practice at The Christ Hospital in the acute care and inpatient rehab settins. 

Bachelor of Science: Marquette University Milwaukee, WI, 1992 (Physical Therapy)

Masters of Education: University of Cincinnati Cincinnati, OH, 2019 (Curriculum and Instruction)

Areas of Practice and Interest include:

• Critical Care/Intensive Care Unit 
• Clinical Education of PT and PTA students
• Training Clinical Instructors to be better teachers
• Interprofessional Education
• Intraprofessional Education (Building the PT-PTA Team)
• Readiness for physical therapist assistants to be entry-level in the acute care setting upon graduation
• Mental Health education for PT practitioners 

1995 -2015 Senior Physical Therapist, Site Coordinator for Clinical Education, The Christ Hospital, Cincinnati, OH

2015 -To Present Physical Therapist, PRN, The Christ Hospital, Cincinnati, OH

1992 -1995 Physical Therapist, University Hospital of Cleveland, Cleveland, OH

2024 Academy of Fellows for Teaching and Learning

1992 -To Present: APTA Member Member of the American Physical Therapy Associate, Ohio Physical Therapy Association, and the Southwest District of the Ohio Physical Therapy Association

Co-chair UC Clermont Teaching and Learning Community of Practice University of Cincinnati, Clermont

2022 Physical Therapy Faculty Lead for International Service Trip Prepares and mentors PT and PTA students on a service trip to provide physical therapy services in Mexico as a collaboration between the University of Cincinnati and The Palace Foundation.,

Carolyn is an APTA Trainer for both the Level 1 and Level 2 Credentialed Clinical Instructor Programs. Please refer to https://www.apta.org/Educators/ClinicalEducatorDevelopment/ for more information on the Clinical Instructor Credentialing Programs,