Karen Kemmis, PT, DPT, MS, GCS, CDE
Dr. Karen Kemmis is a Physical Therapist, Certified Diabetes Educator, and adjunct professor at SUNY Upstate Medical University in Syracuse, New York. Within this position, she has worked at the Syracuse affiliate of the Joslin Diabetes Center and University Endocrinologists for 18 years. She earned bachelor and doctorate degrees in physical therapy at SUNY Upstate Medical University and a master’s degree in exercise physiology from Syracuse University. She specializes in physical therapy and exercise prescription for aging adults, those with diabetes, osteoporosis, orthopedic conditions, runners, and with balance dysfunction and utilizes many techniques including Pilates-based exercise for interventions.
In her position at the Joslin, she teaches diabetes group classes and works with individuals with diabetes and osteoporosis to create an individualized exercise plan. In her position as adjunct professor, she co-teaches entry-level Differential Diagnosis as well as diabetes and osteoporosis sections to the post-professional doctor of physical therapy students. She lectures on exercise prescription for the aging adult.
She is currently a Board member for the American Association of Diabetes Educators (AADE), is co-chair of AADE’s Stakeholders and Member Relations Committee, and is a member of the Governance Committee. She serves on committees and as a frequent resource for the National Osteoporosis Foundation. Dr. Kemmis served on the APTA Section on Geriatric’s Task Force on Exercise Experts for Aging Adult and served as the first co-chair for the Certification Program for Physical Therapists as Exercise Experts for Aging Adults for four years.
Karen Kemmis, PT, DPT, MS, GCS, CDE for President