Faculty

Laurita M. Hack
P.T., D.P.T., Ph.D., M.B.A., F.A.P.T.A.

Dr. Hack received her BA from Wilmington College (Ohio) with a major in Biology and a minor in Religion, an MS degree as the first professional degree in Physical Therapy from Case Western Reserve University, an MBA in health care administration from the Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania, a Ph.D. from the School of Education in higher education administration from Penn, and her Doctor of Physical Therapy degree from the MGH Institute of Health Professions. She has extensive clinical experience in out-patient, nursing home, and home care practice, especially in geriatrics.

Dr. Hack teaches in the areas of clinical decision making, critical inquiry, and health care systems. She received the 1996 APTA Baethke-Carlin Award for Excellent in Academic Teaching.

Dr. Hack's research interests include development of clinical expertise, supply and demand of physical therapy personnel, and the impact of changes in the health care system on the practice of physical therapy. She is involved in an on-going collaborative project on the development of master clinicians with Dr. Shepard and with Dr. Jan Gwyer of Duke University and Dr. Gail Jensen of Creighton University. She has been recognized as a Catherine Worthingham Fellow of the APTA for her outstanding contributions to the profession.

Representative Publications:
Jensen G, Gwyer J, Hack L, Shepard K. Expertise in Physical Therapy Practice, 2nd ed, Elsevier, 2006

Hack, L. Chapter 1: Principles of Therapeutic Intervention with Modalities, in Michlovitz and Nolan, Modalities for Therapeutic Intervention, Fourth Edition FA Davis, 2005.

Hack, L. Practice Policies: their place in practice and in curricula for preparation of Physical Therapists. In Journal of PT Education, Winter, 2004.

Hack L, Invited Commentary; Edwards I, Jones M, Carr J et al. Clinical reasoning strategies in physical therapy. Phys Ther 2004;84: 312-335

Hack, L. On Disparity, in Purtillo R, Jensen G, Royeen C, Eds, Educating for Moral Action: A Sourcebook for Health and Rehabilitation Needs, F. A. Davis Company, 2004.

Hack, L Virtuous Spirit, Journal of Physical Therapy Education, 15 (3),3-8, 2002 Hack LM, Hillyer RW, Kovacek, PR, Business Skills in Physical Therapy: defining your business, APTA, 2003

Gwyer J, Jensen, G, Hack L and Shepard K. Using a Multiple Case Study Design to Develop an Understanding of Expert Practice in Physical Therapy. Chapter in Carpenter C. Evidence-Based Rehabilitations: Informing Practice through Qualitative Research, Harcourt, Spring 2003

Gwyer J, Jensen G, Hack L, Shepard K Using a Multiple Case Study Design to Develop an Understanding of Expert Practice in Carpenter C. Physical Therapy, Evidence-Based Rehabilitations: Informing Practice through Qualitative Research, Harcourt, Spring 2003