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Yvonne M. Colgrove, Ph.D., PT

Yvonne Colgrove portrait
Clinical Associate Professor, Physical Therapy, Rehabilitation Science, and Athletic Training
ycolgrove@kumc.edu

Professional Background

With an education in anatomy and cell biology, Yvonne Colgrove, Ph.D., PT, has been active in a variety of scientific endeavors and is interested in improving function for individuals who suffer from chronic conditions, having worked with patients with Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease and chronic low back pain.

Her clinical background had an emphasis in inpatient rehabilitation, but Colgrove has practiced in multiple settings during years of owing her own business. She started the physical therapist assistant program at Kansas City Kansas Community College.

In 2004, Colgrove joined the faculty in the KU Department of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Science. In addition to serving as director of clinical education, she has taught courses in administration and ethics. She routinely addresses learning issues when physical therapy students are on full-time clinical rotations and manages hundreds of student clinical rotations over the course of a year.

Colgrove is an active member of the American Physical Therapy Association. She has served on multiple committees in the Kansas Physical Therapy Association throughout the years, where she currently serves as ethics committee chair. She has also served on national taskforces/work panels related to clinical education for the American Physical Therapy Association and Academy Council of Academic Physical Therapy.

Academic Background
Colgrove began her education at Benedictine College in Atchison, Kansas, where she earned a bachelor's degree in biology. Subsequently, she transitioned to the field of physical therapy by enrolling at Rockhurst College in Kansas City, Mo., earning an additional bachelor’s degree. After many years in clinical practice, Colgrove earned her doctorate in anatomy and cell biology from the University of Kansas.

Education and Training
  • BA, Biology, Benedictine College, Atchison, Kansas
  • BS, Physical Therapy, Rockhurst College, Kansas City, Missouri
  • PhD, Anatomy & Cell Biology, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, Kansas

Research

Overview

Colgrove's research impacts a broad spectrum; by working in clinical, educational and scientific settings, she is working to broaden the horizons of physical therapy and rehabilitation.

In the field of clinical research, Colgrove is examining how yoga affects physical function, physiology and quality of life in those who suffer from chronic diseases or conditions such as Parkinson’s disease and chronic low back pain. She has also investigated the effectiveness of intensive cognitive training in brain function in people with Alzheimer's disease.

In addition to work in her primary laboratory, the IMPACT Research Laboratory, Colgrove is a founding member of the Leveraging Education And Research iN Physical Therapy laboratory investigating research questions related to clinical education in physical therapy academic programs.

From an educational standpoint, Colgrove has explored different methods of promoting the intraprofessional education of students in physical therapy and physical therapy assistants. She is currently exploring clinical education questions including predictors of student clinical performance and implementation of both integrated clinical experiences within a physical therapy doctoral degree program curriculum and interprofessional learning in clinical practice experiences with multiple health professions.