Dr. Kim Lephart PT, DPT, MBA, PCS Owner of Community-STARs Owner of STARs
Kim Lephart, PT, DPT, MBA, PCS is the owner of Community-STARs and School-based Therapy and Resources (STARs). Dr. Lephart is a Board Certified Clinical Specialist in Pediatric Physical Therapy. Specialist certification provides formal recognition for physical therapists with advanced clinical knowledge, experience, and skills in a defined area of practice. Certification is achieved through the successful completion of a standardized application and examination process. She received her initial training in physical therapy from California State University, Long Beach. In 2007, she earned her Master in Business Administration with an emphasis in Healthcare Management. Five years later, she obtained her Doctorate in physical therapy from the University of Texas, Medical Branch in Galveston through their Specialized Training for Occupational and Physical Therapists in Early Intervention and Related Services (STAIRS) Program. Since 1995, Dr. Lephart has been an active member of the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) and the Academy of Pediatric Physical Therapy (APPT).
She is involved in the Virginia Physical Therapy Association (VPTA); Dr. Lephart currently serves as the President for the VPTA Pediatric Special Interest Group (PSIG). She is a certified Early Intervention Professional. Dr. Lephart is a dedicated member of Virginia's Part C Integrated Training Collaborative (ITC), which coordinates Virginia's Comprehensive System of Personnel Development (CSPD) for early interventionists who provide services under Part C of the Individuals with Disabilities Act (IDEA). She is also a working member of Virginia's Department of Education Committee on the Revision of the Handbook for Occupational and Physical Therapist. Dr. Lephart works with families in both English and Spanish. Dr. Lephart is an expert in her field, teaches professional education courses nationally through both PESI and Summit Professional Education, and is a published author in peer-reviewed journals. Dr. Lephart is a dynamic pediatric physical therapist with over twenty-five years of experience. She has a strong work ethic and strives to keep up to date with the latest research and technological advances in pediatric physical therapy so that she can provide children with excellent, quality, evidence-based care.
Dr. Lephart is a team player who enjoys the collaborative model of working with parents, teachers, occupational, speech and vision therapists to meet a child's individual therapeutic needs. She has worked with children in a variety of clinical settings including private clinics, school systems, home health, outpatient rehabilitation, aquatics, and early intervention programs. She is a creative problem solver who often uses critical thinking to improve the status quo. Of all of Dr. Lephart's accomplishments both professionally and personally, Dr. Lephart is most proud of her children. Dr. Lephart is pleased with her daughter’s pursuit of pediatric occupational therapy. She is excited about her oldest son serving a mission in Riverside, California. She is enjoying teaching her middle son how to drive a stick shift. And she can’t believe her youngest is in middle school already!
References:
1. Pediatric Physical Therapy: Description of Specialty Practice. Jeffries, et. al.: Specialty Council on Pediatric Physical Therapy, American Board of Physical Therapy Specialties: 2002.
2. Lephart K, Kaplan SL. Two Seating Systems' Effects on an Adolescent With Cerebral Palsy and Severe Scoliosis. Pediatr Phys Ther. 2015 Fall;27(3):258-66
3.Lephart K, Utsey C, Wild DL, Fisher SR. Estimating energy expenditure for different assistive devices in the school setting. Pediatr Phys Ther. 2014 Fall;26(3):354-9.