Karen Wientjes, PT, DPT, MPH, CWS

Karen Albaugh received her Bachelor of Science degree in Physical Therapy from the University of Scranton in 1994. She received her Master’s degree in Public Health from West Chester University in 2000 and a post-professional Doctorate of Physical Therapy degree from Neumann University in 2006.

Karen has been practicing wound care since 1996, and has been board certified as a Certified Wound Specialist (CWS) through the American Academy of Wound Management since 1999. She is a Fellow in the American Academy of Wound Management (AAWM) and a member of the Academy for the Advancement of Wound Care (AAWC).

After managing a hospital-based wound care and hyperbaric medicine program in Philadelphia for 5 years, Karen joined the Center for Advanced Wound Care, in Reading PA, in 2002. Her primary role was to coordinate the newly established hyperbaric medicine program at St. Joseph Medical Center in Reading PA, including the development of protocols and training of hyperbaric technicians.

Since then, Karen continues to serve as the Research Coordinator for wound-related clinical trials conducted at the Center for Advanced Wound Care. The Center for Advanced Wound Care is involved in a number of multi-center, national and international trials. Karen’s background in wound management also includes clinical education, consultative visits and the development of a web-based documentation system for wound management.

Karen now brings her specialized skills in wound care to treat patients at the West Chester office of Optimum Physical Therapy Associates. In addition to her clinical practice, she is an Assistant Professor in the Doctor of Physical Therapy program at Neumann University in Aston, PA. Karen has been actively involved with the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) for the past 8 years, serving on the Executive Board of the Wound Management Special Interest Group and as the Program Chair for the Section on Clinical Electrophysiology and Wound Management.

Karen has been a member of APTA task forces to develop appropriate coding for wound management interventions and to develop national, entry-level Doctor of Physical Therapy wound management curriculum guidelines. She has presented locally and nationally, and has published articles and co-authored textbook chapters on debridement, pain management, and therapeutic interventions for wound healing.

Her current areas of interest include debridement, bioburden management, laser therapy and program development.