Karene Boos

Karene earned a Bachelor of Science in Physical Therapy from Marquette University in 1995, a Juris Doctor from the University of Wisconsin Law School in 2003 and her transitional Doctor of Physical Therapy from the College of St. Scholastica in 2009. Karene also holds certifications in Mental Health First Aid, Trauma Informed Care, ACE Interface Training and Integrative Lifestyle Medicine.

Karene has extensive clinical experience across diverse settings, including home health, rehabilitation agencies and correctional facilities. She has an active international presence, having served as a Fulbright Scholar in Tanzania from 2017 to 2018. She continues to collaborate with Bugando Medical Center and the Catholic University of Health and Allied Sciences in Mwanza, Tanzania.

Her current research focuses on climate-informed physical therapy, awareness of physical therapy, student health and wellness and patient/client health behaviors. She has published widely and presented internationally, including at World Physiotherapy and APTA conferences. She is an active member of the APTA Academy of Education, APTA Academy of Leadership and Innovation, Global Health SIG, Environmental Catalyst Group and the Environmental Physiotherapy Association.

Karene enjoys spending time with her family, especially through outdoor adventures and creative pursuits. She has a deep love for writing poetry, and one of her poems blossomed into a published children’s book—beautifully illustrated by her daughter. Karene and her husband also founded and run a non-profit organization supporting and protecting children living with albinism in Tanzania, East Africa.

Karene believes deeply in the responsibility that comes with knowledge—using her expertise to improve the lives, conditions and possibilities of the communities she serves.