Laura A. Baehr is a clinician-scientist accelerating empowerment, access and equity in community-based physical activity programs for people with disabilities and chronic health conditions. She is informed by her interdisciplinary trainings in rehabilitation science, physical therapy and dance to center evidence-based interventions on the lived experience of the individual. Laura earned her PhD in Health and Rehabilitation Science from Drexel University, Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) from Temple University and dual Bachelor of Arts and Sciences in Dance and Neuroscience from Muhlenberg College.
Laura’s research leverages community-engaged practices, mixed methodology, digital health and social networking principles. She has been invited to share her work in both academic and community settings including annual meetings of the American Physical Therapy Association, the American College of Sports Medicine, the American Spinal Injury Association, the Gerontological Society of America, the National Dance Education Organization as well as Columbia University, Northwestern University, Alvernia University and Adaptive Sports Northwest.
Laura’s teaching philosophy is grounded by curiosity and connection. She believes that student engagement is fostered through mutual respect and reciprocal learning. Laura encourages trainees to integrate these same principles. Her approach to education is applied in the community as well as the classroom. For over 10 years she has taught regionally and nationally as an adapted movement instructor informed by mind-body practices including dance, pilates and yoga. She has teaching appointments at the Pennsylvania Center for Adapted Sports and as an inaugural OnDemand fitness instructor for Move United, a national adapted sports organization.
Academic Distinctions
- 2023: Clinician-Scientists Transdisciplinary Aging Research Coordinating Center Health Equity Research Scholar
- 2023: Social Justice Dissertation Award, Drexel University College of Nursing and Health Professions
- 2022: Teaching Assistant Excellence Award, Drexel University Graduate College
- 2021: Person of Purpose, Drexel University College of Nursing and Health Professions
- 2019: Graduation Speaker, College of Public Health, Temple University
Professional Society
American Physical Therapy Association
American Spinal Injury Association
Clinician-Scientists Transdisciplinary Aging Research Network (Clin-STAR)
Selected Publications
Baehr LA, Hiremath S, Bruneau M, Chiarello L, Kaimal G, Newton R, Finley MA. Effect of tele-exercise to promote empowered movement for individuals with spinal cord injury (TEEMS) program on physical activity determinants and behavior: A mixed methods assessment, Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. 2024, 105(1):101-111. doi: 10.1016/j.apmr.2023.08.019.
Baehr LA, Bruneau M, Finley MA. Physical and psychosocial features of exercisers versus non-exercisers with SCI enrolled in a group tele-exercise program, Topics in Spinal Cord Injury Research. 2023, 29(4):27-36. doi: 10.46292/sci23-00027.
Baehr LA, Kaimal G, Bruneau M, Finley M. Development and Feasibility of a Group Tele-Exercise Program for Individuals With Spinal Cord Injury. Journal of Neurologic Physical Therapy. 2023, published online ahead of print doi: 10.1097/NPT.0000000000000449.
Baehr LA, Fisher, K., Finley, M. Perspectives on health with spinal cord injury now and in the future: a qualitative descriptive study. Physical Therapy. 2023, 103(4):1-8. doi: 10.1093/ptj/pzad011.
Op-Ed Publications
Baehr LA. “Philly now has a permanent office for people with disabilities. Its success depends on what happens next”. Philadelphia Inquirer. 2023. https://www.inquirer.com/opinion/commentary/philadelphia-office-for-people-with-disabilities-permanent-20231117.html?query=baehr.
Editorial Review Board Membership
- Journal and Agency Referee (ad hoc)
- Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
- British Medical Journal Open
- National Science Foundation Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Program
Grant Participation
Title: Tele-exercise for individuals with SCI: Physical, Psychological, and Social Responses
Funder: Pennsylvania Department of Health 67-127
Role: Co-Investigator
Dates: 06/01/2022-05/31/2026
Title: Integrated tele-exercise for individuals with SCI: Psychological and social responses with spinal cord injury
Funder: Craig H. Nielsen Foundation Psychosocial Research
Role: Co-Investigator
Dates: 05/01/2022-04/30/2024
Research Interests
Laura A. Baehr, PT, DPT, PhD directs the PACEE lab (physical activity, access, community, equity, empowerment) at Drexel University. The goal of this lab is to maximize the health and quality of life of adults living with disabilities and chronic health conditions through community-based physical activity. Her lab works to achieve this goal through multiple pillars including the assessment of personal factors that sustain physical activity behavior, examination of intersectional social determinants influencing health and physical activity, development and evaluation of group exercise interventions and the measurement of scale and capacity building to move evidence-based physical activity programs from lab to the community.
Research Interest Areas
Health equity, chronic physical disabilities, healthy aging, lifespan, physical activity promotion, implementation science, mixed methodology