Karen A CascardiKaren A. Cascardi, PhD, MS, ATC, PTA, was the director of clinical education and an assistant professor at South University Physical Therapist Assistant Program in West Palm Beach, Florida, for 20 years. In addition to her clinical education responsiilities, her teaching responsibilities in the physical therapist assistant program included therapeutic exercise, kinesiology, habilitation/rehabilitation, and current issues. She completed her bachelor's degree at Ashland College in Ashland, Ohio; her master's of science degree at Indiana State University in Terre Haute, Indiana; her associate's degree in physical therapist assistant at Lynn University in Boca Raton, Florida; and her PhD in health sciences education and research from Touro University International in Cypress, California. She published her dissertation in 2008 (The Relationship of Vestibulo-Ocular Reflex [VOR] Function to Falling in the Past Year Among Physically Active Community-Dwelling Adults 75 Years and Older). Dr. Cascardi's clinical experience spans more than 40 years as a certified athletic trainer and physical therapist assistant mostly in the outpatient setting with specialties in sports medicine, orthopedics, and vestibular rehabilitation. She continues to lecture on balance and vestibular rehabilitation. During her career and now in retirement, she continues to give back to the physical therapy profession by volunteering as an advanced item writer and item writer coordinator for the FSBPT. She was inducted into the Academy of Advanced Item Writers and received the Outstanding Service Award twice. Dr. Cascardi served 6 years on both the Item Bank Review Committee and the Exam Development Committee. She also works with the Area Agency on Aging Healthy Living in West Palm Beach, Florida, and is on the Advisory Council and Strategic Planning Committee. Read More Read Less