Christos Karagiannopoulos, MPT, Ph.D., ATC, CHT

Dr. Karagiannopoulos is an associate professor in the Doctor of Physical Therapy program. He earned a Bachelor of Science in athletic training and a Master of Education in kinesiology from Temple University. He received a Master in Physical Therapy from MCP-Hahnemann (currently Drexel) University in 1999, and a Doctor of Philosophy in kinesiology from Temple University in 2014.

Dr. Karagiannopoulos has practiced physical therapy extensively in the field of orthopaedic rehabilitation for 17 years and has been a certified clinical specialist in the rehabilitation of the upper extremity and hand since 2008. In addition to his current full-time academic responsibilities, he practices as a part-time certified hand therapist for ATI Physical Therapy.

Dr. Karagiannopoulos is responsible for multiple integrated teaching roles during the first year of the program. His primary responsibilities consist of directing the Musculoskeletal 1-3 course series as well as the PT Modalities course. Additionally, he co-teaches the Differential Diagnosis and Intervention series of courses with Dr. Sean Griech. His other teaching roles include supervising students in the outpatient pro bono clinic for Clinical Reasoning 1, and mentoring student research activities in the Research track. Dr. Karagiannopoulos brings to class his in-depth clinical perspective, integrating knowledge in human biomechanics and pathomechanics towards the implementation of best patient-care decisions for various musculoskeletal conditions encountered in physical therapy.  

Dr. Karagiannopoulos' professional scholarship consists of direct engagement in research and professional service at various levels. His research contributions include publications in the Journal of Orthopaedic and Sports Physical Therapy, Journal of Athletic Training, and Journal of Hand Therapy with emphasis on psychometric properties of wrist joint physical impairment assessments and sensorimotor control deficit following distal radius fractures. He has developed an evolving research line on wrist joint sensorimotor control impairment, which is currently linked to his current and prospective student research projects. As a recognition to his clinical research line and recently published research work, Dr. Karagiannopoulos was invited to be the lead author towards the development of the APTA Clinical Practice Guidelines for distal radius fracture rehabilitation. He has also received the American Society of Hand Therapists annual conference best scientific paper in 2013.

Dr. Karagiannopoulos has contributed in various nationally recognized continued education meetings and symposiums. He has been invited as a core faculty for the Philadelphia Hand Rehabilitation Foundation Annual Symposium for the past three years. He has presented at the 2016 APTA combined section meeting, the 2013 and 2016 ASHT annual meetings, the 2014 and 2016 ATI Physical Therapy National Sports Medicine Summit, and the 2002 NATA annual symposium. Dr. Karagiannopoulos is a member of the APTA, ASHT, and NATA, and a manuscript reviewer for the Journal of Hand Therapy. He is currently an active member of the DeSales University DPT Program Academic Review  and Admissions Committees, as well as participating on the University's Academic Technology Committee. He is also a contributing clinical member of the ATI Physical Therapy Hand Education Committee.

Dr. Karagiannopoulos was born and raised in Athens, Greece. He arrived in the U.S. at the age of 19 to pursue higher education opportunities. Since then, he has been dedicated to the ideals of continuous learning and self-actualization, deeply believing in the principle of “striving hard to become the best you can be in life.” He is a dedicated husband and parent of two daughters.