Stephen Kareha, PT, DPT, ATC, PhD, CMP, CSCS

Dr. Kareha is a Clinical Associate in the Doctor of Physical Therapy program. He earned his BA in Health & Exercise Sciences, with an emphasis in Athletic Training, from Gettysburg College and his Doctor of Physical Therapy from Arcadia University. He completed his post-doctoral training in orthopaedic and vestibular physical therapy at Allied Services in Scranton, Pennsylvania.  He most recently earned a Ph.D in Physical Therapy with a focus on shoulder diagnostic classification from Nova Southeastern University.

Dr. Kareha is a board-certified orthopedic specialist (OCS), a NATABOC certified athletic trainer (ATC), a certified mulligan practitioner (CMP), an NSCA certified strength & conditioning specialist (CSCS), and an APTA credentialed clinical instructor (CCI). Dr. Kareha has practiced extensively in outpatient physical therapy with a primary focus on orthopaedics for over 14 years.  Over the years he has worked in private practice and for two hospital networks.  He is Director of the St. Luke’s University Health Network Orthopaedic Residency and Director of the St. Luke’s University Health Network Spine Fellowship.  He also directs the continuing education department for outpatient rehabilitation at St. Luke’s University Health Network.  In addition, he has aided in the development of the St. Luke’s Comprehensive Spine program which is a multidisciplinary team approach that utilizes physical therapists at first contact providers.

Dr. Kareha’s teaching responsibilities are primarily in the first and last year of the curriculum. He teaches the Principles in Therapeutic Exercise, Special Topics 1: Advanced Orthopaedics & Pain Neuroscience, and Special Topics 2: Orthopaedic & Neurologic Case Analysis.  He assists in the Differential Diagnosis and Intervention series of courses, and in the Musculoskeletal series of courses with Dr. Sean Griech and Dr. Christos Karagiannopoulos. He also teaches statistics and mentors student research activities in Research 1-4. 

Dr. Kareha’s research agenda is centered around the development and enhancement of patient outcomes through the improvement of 1) proper screening, 2) diagnostic classification, 3) provider-client therapeutic alliance, and 4) efficiency of the patient experience.  He also directs student research projects in various topics of musculoskeletal differential diagnosis and examination. Dr. Kareha has published his work in several peer reviewed journals.  Additionally, he has presented regionally and nationally on these topics.  He also serves as a reviewer for several journals. He is active within the American Board of Physical Therapy Residency & Fellowship Education (ABPTRFE). He currently serves as the chair of the Description of Fellowship Practice for Spine Fellowships development task group. Dr. Kareha also serves as the chair of the Primary Care and Community Health research committee at St. Luke’s University Health Network. 

Dr. Kareha grew up in Allentown, Pennsylvania, and is a fan of all Philadelphia sports.  In his spare time, he enjoys camping, hiking, biking, all things Disney, and spending time with his wife, three daughters, and dog.