Robin
Zappin
PT, Ed.D
Doctor of Physical Therapy
Assistant Professor of Physical Therapy
Biography
Robin Zappin, PT, EdD is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Physical Therapy at Alvernia University. A licensed physical therapist since 1989, she brings extensive clinical experience in burn rehabilitation and home care to her teaching and mentorship. Her academic interests focus on communication, social determinants of health, health literacy, cultural humility, global citizenship, and community-based global learning. Dr. Zappin encourages students to view each patient as a whole person, understanding their unique perspectives on health and wellness and working collaboratively toward shared goals.
Since 2020, Dr. Zappin has led the Alvernia University Allied Health Interdisciplinary Team (AU AHIT), an interprofessional initiative involving faculty, clinicians, and students in physical therapy, occupational therapy, and speech-language pathology from multiple universities. Under her leadership, AU AHIT has expanded its partnerships and programming in Belize, delivering sustainable, equitable rehabilitation and education in collaboration with local communities through community-based global learning (CBGL) principles.
At Alvernia, she teaches courses in acute care physical therapy and patient-centered care, with a focus on health literacy, effective communication, and cultural humility. Her research explores student development in cultural humility and global citizenship, as well as the sustainability and ethics of fair-trade learning within international service-learning contexts.
People don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care.”
— Theodore Roosevelt
Ed.D Applied Physiology 2004 Teachers College, Columbia University
MA Applied Kinesiology 1995 New York University
BS Physical Therapy 1989, Boston University
United States have proficient health literacy which has been linked to poor health outcomes. This implies that 9 out of 10 adults receiving physical therapy are unable to manage their exercise and education programs. How effective are Doctor of Physical Therapy programs in teaching the use of plain language and cultural and linguistic competency? Are these skills modeled by practicing physical therapist?
Maritz CA, Zappin R. Creation of a Model to Promote the Development of Professional Behaviors in Students. J Faculty Dev, 2007, 21:3, 193-200.
Silverberg, Robin. Lombardo Gateano, Gorga Delia, Nagler Willabald, Yurt Roger, Himmel Harvey. “Gait Variables following Burn Injuries to the Lower Extremity”. Journal of Burn Care Rehabilitation. Journal of Burn Care Rehabilitation 21(3) (2000):259-267.
Gorga Delia. Johnson Joanne, Silverberg Robin, Bentley Anne, Nagler Willabald, Yurt Roger. “The Physical, Functional and Developmental Outcomes of Pediatric Burn Survivors (6 Months – 6 Years Old) One Year Post Burn”. Journal of Burn Care Rehabilitation 20(2) (1999):171-179.
Silverberg Robin. Knothe Barbra.: Establishing Standards of Care in Burn Rehabilitation. In Serghiou M, Staley M (eds). Proceedings of the Physical and Occupational Therapy Special Interest Group Meeting: Journal of Burn Care Rehabilitation 19 (1998): 147-150.
Silverberg Robin, Johnson Joanne, Moffat Marilyn. "The Effects of Soft Tissue Mobilization on Range of Motion, Scar Pliability, and Vascularity: Results of Pilot Study.” Journal of Burn Care Rehabilitation 17 (1996): 252-259.
Johnson Joanne. Silverberg Robin. "Serial Casting of the Lower Extremity to Correct Contractures During the Acute Phase of Burn Care". Physical Therapy. 75 (1995): 262-266.
Silverberg Robin. Johnson Joanne, Gorga Delia, Goodwin Cleon, Nagler Willabald. "A Survey of the Prevalence and Application of Chest Physical Therapy in the U.S. Burn Centers”. Journal of Burn Care Rehabilitation 16 (1995): 154-159.
Doctor of Physical Therapy Program at Alvernia University is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy (CAPTE), 1111 North Fairfax Street, Alexandria, Virginia 22314; telephone: 703-706-3245; email: accreditation@apta.org; website: http://www.capteonline.org. If needing to contact the program/institution directly, please call 610-568-1546 or email christopher.wise@alvernia.edu.
For more information regarding the process of accreditation, please contact the:
Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education
1111 North Fairfax Street
Alexandria, VA 22314
Phone: 703-706-3245
Email: accreditation@apta.org