Tamara N. Gravano

Tamara N. Gravano is a board-certified geriatric physical therapy clinical specialist and the DPT program director at Temple University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She earned her BHS, MSPT, and transitional DPT from the University of Miami in Coral Gables, Florida, and an EdD in leadership studies from Marshall University. Dr. Gravano is one of the first two graduates of the first geriatric physical therapy residency program and earned the Emerging Leader Award from the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA), earned the APTA Lucy Blair Service Award, and is a recipient of the Joan Mills Award from the Academy of Geriatric Physical Therapy.

Dr. Gravano has extensive experience in professional and postprofessional program development and has served her profession on many APTA committees: former director on the board of APTA-Geriatrics, former director of professional development for APTA-Education, a past chair of the American Board of Physical Therapy Specialties Geriatric Council, a former board member of the American Board of Physical Therapy Residency and Fellowship Education (ABPTRFE), and a former item writer for the national physical therapy board examination of the Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy (FSBPT). Dr. Gravano is the codirector and faculty member for the APTA-Geriatrics Certified Exercise Expert for Aging Adults (CEEAA) program and the Advanced Credentialed Exercise Expert for Aging Adults course series and is a certified level 1 clinical instructor trainer for the APTA.

Dr. Gravano has taught geriatrics and integumentary system courses for more than 15 years. She practices per diem in outpatient and skilled nursing settings. She has contributed to four book chapters, authored eight peer-reviewed publications, and presented more than 40 peer-reviewed presentations nationally and internationally on the topics of leadership development and geriatric rehabilitation.