Overview
Erin M. Thomas, PT, DPT, FNAP
Associate Professor of Practice
Division of Physical Therapy
516C Atwell Hall
453 W. 10th Ave.
Columbus, OH 43210
Phone: (614) 292-9007
Email: erin.thomas@osumc.edu
Primary Professional Areas of Interest
Overview
Dr. Erin Thomas, PT, DPT, FNP is an Associate Professor of Practice In the division of Physical therapy. She Is a Co-Assistant Director of Clinical Education, Academic Coordinator for the Acute care and Cardiopulmonary Residencies and the Physical therapy Interprofessional Program liaison. She has been nationally recognized as a Distinguished Fellow through the National Academies of Practice. She is the current chair of the APTA Acute Care Clinical Practice Guideline Group on Discharge Transitions and serves on the executive board of the APTA Acute Care Academy as the secretary. She was a co-Instructor for the inaugural American Council of Academic Physical Therapy (ACAPT) Simulation Instructor Training for Rehab Professionals (SITReP) course in 2024. She currently teaches acute care, documentation, and the clinical education courses. She is a co-editor on the Pierson and Fairchild Principles and Techniques of Patient Care 8th edition.
Recent Publications
Edwards S, Kolcun K, Bochenek J, Buatois E, Thomas S, Robinson M, Thomas E, Curtis MJ, Taylor T. Facilitating interprofessional collaboration for effective care transitions of a patient with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). J Nutr Clin Pract. 2026. doi:10.1002/ncp.70103
Crick JP, Oberyszyn A, Alain GN, Thomas EM, Quatman CE, Quatman-Yates CC. Student-led mobility interventions for hospitalized adults: a mixed-methods feasibility and acceptability study. Journal of Nursing Care Quality. 2025;40(2):144-151.
Thomas EM, Smith J, Curry A, et al. Association of physical function with hospital readmissions among older ads: A systematic review. J Hosp Med. 2025; 20: 277-287. doi:10.1002/jhm.13538
Thomas, E. (2020). Outcome Measures. In Paz, J.C. West, M.P. (Eds.), Acute Care Handbook for Physical Therapists (5th Ed. pp. 499-516). Elsevier, St. Louis, Missouri. Retrieved from: http://evolve.elsevier.com/.
Recent Presentations
Thomas EM, Salsberry MG, Stancato N. Advancing Acute Care Competency Through Simulation: An Innovative Elective for Physical Therapy Students. Association of SP Educators (ASPE). St. Louis, MO. June 2026.
Crick J, Quatman –Yates C, Quatman C, Thomas E, Leahy N, Kumaran Y. From the Classroom to Clinic: Connecting Health Systems Needs with Student Learning Opportunities. Association of Schools Advancing Health Professions (ASAHP). October 2025.
Hunt B, Salsberry M, Thomas E, Curry A, Falvey J, Smith J, Ridgeway K. Knowledge Translation: Association of Physical Function with Hospital Readmissions Among Older Adults Systematic Review. The American Physical Therapy Association’s Combined Sections Meeting. February 15, 2025. Houston, TX. Education Session. Invited and Peer Reviewed.
Gorman S, Brito K, Arguelles L, Curry A, Myszenski A, Mathis E, Thomas E. Is It Vital for Physical Therapists to Document Specific Discharge Recommendations: An Oxford Debate. Education Session. APTA Combined Section Meeting, Houston, TX. February 2025. Invited. Peer Reviewed.
Falvey J, Curry A, Smith J, Thomas E, Salsberry M, Ridgeway K, Hunt B. Association of Physical Function with Hospital Readmissions Among Older Adults: A Systematic Review. The American Physical Therapy Association’s Combined Sections Meeting. February 16, 2024. Boston, MA. Platform Presentation. Invited and Peer Reviewed **Selected as Academy of Acute Care Physical Therapy, APTA Outstanding Platform Presentation from the 2024 Combined Sections Meeting of the American Physical Therapy Association.
Gorman S. Brito K. Mathis E. Myszenski A. Thomas E. Curry A. Dale D. To Co-treat or not Co-treat that is the Question. An Oxford Debate. Education Session. APTA Combined Section Meeting, Boston. February 2024. Invited. Peer Reviewed. https://apta.confex.com/apta/csm2024/meetingapp.cgi/Session/18059
Major Awards
- 2025 BUCKIPE Facilitator Award for Fundamentals of Teamwork AY24-25. Office of Interprofessional Practice and Education
- 2024 Awarded Distinguished Scholar Fellow of National Academies of Practice (FNAP). This is a peer reviewed Fellowship through the National Academies - Physical Therapy Academy that recognizes individuals with academic achievements as judged by distinguished peers to have made significant and enduring educational and/or research contributions to their profession.
- 2023 Awarded the National Academies of Practice - Interprofessional Group Recognition Award for Education for Clinical Interprofessional Simulation Excellence (ECLiPSE). This award is bestowed upon a group who has made enduring contributions to interprofessional practice and education. This award recognizes our ECLiPSE team for its 10 years of work in creating realistic simulations to train to date over 9,000 interprofessional health sciences students using a teamwork-based simulation model.
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2022 - Excellence in Teaching Award for Associated Faculty. School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences.
Education
- 1994: BS, Physical Therapy, University of Evansville
- 1994: MS, Physical Therapy, University of Evansville
- 2010: Doctorate, Physical Therapy, Massachusetts General Hospital Institute of Health Professions