Professional Bio

Educational Preparation:

Post-Doctoral Fellowship, School of Preventive Medicine, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, 1992-1993

Ph.D., Management Science, School of Business, University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, 1992

M.S., Health Care Management, University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, 1983

B.S., Physical Therapy, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, 1978

Professional Memberships:

  • American Physical Therapy Association, Section on Geriatrics & Neurology (APTA)
  • Wisconsin Physical Therapy Association
  • Wisconsin Parkinson Association

Clinical Expertise & Certifications

  • PT Practice focuses on clients with Parkinson disease and related disorders.

Research & Scholarship

Research Interests:

Exercise and Parkinson Disease & Functional Assessment in Adults

Recent Publications:

Steffen, T.M. & Nelson, R.E. (2012) "Measurement of Ambulatory Endurance in Adults" Topics in Geriatric Rehabilitation 28(1), 1-12.

Steffen, T.M., & Kloss, A. (2010) "Toolbox of Outcome Measures for Individuals with Parkinson's Disease" Newsletter of the Degenerative Diseases Special Interest Group of the Neurologic Section of the American Physical Therapy Association.

Steffen, T.M., Seney, M. (2008) Test-Retest Reliability and Minimal Detectable Change on Balance and Ambulation Tests, SF-36, and UPDRS in People with Parkinsonism. Physical Therapy 88 (6) 1-14.

Steffen, T.M., Boeve, B., Mollinger-Riemann, L.M. & Petersen, C.M. (2007) "Long-term Locomotor Training for Gait and Balance in a Patient with Mixed Progressive Supranuclear Palsy/Corticobasal Degeneration" Physical Therapy 87 (8), 1078-1087.

Recent Presentations:

February 2012: Physical Therapists Providing Evidence-Based Exercise Programs: Making It Work in Parkinson Disease. Chicago, IL.

June 2011: Measuring Ambulation and Mobility Outcomes in Adults. Annual conference and Exposition of the American Physical Therapy Association: National Harbor, MD.

December 2010, October/November 2010, & June 2010: Parkinsonism—Retraining the Brain through Exercise. Lima, OH, Milwaukee, WI, & Denver, CO.

Awards & Recognition

2008-2009: Wisconsin Parkinson Association ($16,000) funding for six Wisconsin Parkinson exercise programs

2007-2008: Wisconsin Parkinson Association ($11,000) funding for five Wisconsin Parkinson exercise programs

2007: Concordia Intramural Research Grant (CIRG) ($3,500)

2007: Lynn Phillippi Geriatric Advocacy Grant administered by the WPTA ($2,500) "Insurance Coverage of Wellness Programs for People with Disabilities"