Stephanie A. Miller, PT, PhD

Education:

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Interdisciplinary Health Sciences, Western Michigan University

Master of Science (MS), Physical Therapy, University of Indianapolis

Bachelor of Science (BS), Physical Therapy, Indiana University

Certifications/Fellowships:

Board Certified Clinical Specialist in Neurologic Physical Therapy Emeritus

Fellowship in Higher Education and Leadership, American Physical Therapy Association, Academy of Education

Academic and Scholarly Overview:

• Opening: Dr. Stephanie A. Miller, PT, PhD is Professor and Founding Program Director of the Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) Program at Marian University. She also serves as Chair of the Department of Physical Therapy that includes the DPT and Physical Therapist Assistant Programs. Dr. Miller’s primary academic interests include evidence-informed practice, theoretical foundations, and neurologic physical therapy. In the Marian DPT program, Dr. Miller will teach across multiple course tracks including Evidence-Informed Practice, Integrative Clinical Practice, Systems-Based Practice, and Professional Identity Formation.

• Career Highlights: Dr. Miller brings more than 30 years of experience as a physical therapist and over two decades of experience in entry-level Doctor of Physical Therapy education. Throughout her academic career, she has held progressive leadership positions, including Professor with Tenure, Department Chair, Program Director, and Director of Research. She has extensive clinical experience caring for adults with neurological dysfunction across acute rehabilitation, outpatient, and home health settings. Among her most notable career achievements is serving as the founding Program Director for Marian University’s Doctor of Physical Therapy program, where she has led the development of a competency-based curriculum designed to prepare adaptive, evidence-informed physical therapists.

• Scholarly Agenda: Dr. Miller’s research focuses on community-based interventions to improve health, function, and quality of life for individuals with neurologic conditions, particularly stroke and Parkinson’s disease. She actively collaborates with community partners, including Rock Steady Boxing Headquarters and NeuroHope at the Driven NeuroRecovery Center in Indianapolis to advance accessible, evidence-informed models of care. Her scholarship also examines competency-based assessment and student outcomes in physical therapy education, with the goal of advancing innovative, learner-centered approaches to preparing future physical therapists. Dr. Miller has published more than 35 peer-reviewed manuscripts, delivered over 80 presentations at national and international professional conferences, and secured more than $1.5 million in research funding. Her work in community-based exercise for individuals with Parkinson disease has received national recognition, including being featured on CBS Sunday Morning in a segment with Leslie Stahl.

Selected Presentations and Publications:

• See Stephanie A. Miller’s Google Scholar Pagefor a full list of publications

• O’Neal, S, Miller SA, Eikenberry, M, Moore ES. The effect of backward cycling on posterior protective stepping responses in people with Parkinson disease. Journal of Rehabilitation Medicine. 2024;56.DOI: 2340/jrm.v56.17738
• Kojich L, Miller SA, Axman K, Eacret T, Koontz JA, Smith C. Evaluating clinical reasoning in first year DPT students using a script concordance test. BMC Medical Education. 2024;24:329. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12909-024-05281-w
• Davis, AF, Klima DW, Leonard A, Miller SA. Floor to stand performance among persons following stroke. Physical Therapy. 2023;103(11).

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/ptj/pzad122

• Borrero, L, Miller SA, Hoffman E. The meaning of regular participation in vigorous-intensity exercise among men with Parkinson’s disease. Disability and Rehabilitation. 2022;44(11);2385-2391. DOI: 10.1080/09638288.2020.1836042
• Holleran CL, Fogo J, Miller SA, Hornby TG. Community mobility method selection in individuals with chronic motor incomplete spinal cord injury: a qualitative analysis. Journal of Humanities in Rehabilitation. Published online Dec. 2021 at jhrehab.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Holleran_et_al_Community_Mobility_PDF_Fall_2021.pdf
• Fiems C, Miller SA, Buchanan N, Knowles E, Larson E, Snow R, Moore ES. Does the SWAY Balance mobile application predict future falls in people with Parkinson disease? Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. 2020;101:472-478. 

DOI: 10.1016/j.apmr.2019.09.013

• Miller SA, Mayol M, Moore ES, Heron A, Nicholos V, Ragano B. Rate of progression in activity and participation outcomes in exercisers with Parkinson disease: A five year prospective longitudinal study. Parkinson’s Disease. 2019;1-9. DOI:10.1155/2019/5679187
• Combs-Miller SA, Dugan EL, Beachy A, Derby B, Hosinski A, Robbins K. Physiological complexity of gait between regular and non-exercisers with Parkinson disease. Clinical Biomechanics. 2019;68:23-28. DOI: 10.1016/j.clinbiomech.2019. 05.032
• Combs-Miller SA, Moore ES. Predictors of outcomes in exercisers with Parkinson disease: A two-year longitudinal cohort study. NeuroRehabilitation. 2019;44:425-432. DOI:10.3233/NRE-182641
• Dugan EL, Combs-Miller SA. Physiological Complexity of Gait is Decreased in Chronic Stroke. Computer Methods in Biomechanics and Biomedical Engineering. 2019;22(6):658-663. DOI: 10.1080/10255842.2019.1578961

Selected Awards and Honors:

2026     Distinguished Alumni Award, Indiana University, Department of Physical Therapy

2021     Outstanding Scholar, University of Indianapolis

2019     Institutional Leadership Award, University of Indianapolis

2015     Teacher of the Year, Krannert School of Physical Therapy, University of Indianapolis

2013     Frances C. Ekstam Award for outstanding contributions to physical therapy in Indiana,   Indiana Chapter of the American Physical Therapy Association

2013     Distinguished Alumni Award, Western Michigan University

2012     Excellence in Geriatric Research Award, Geriatrics Section of the American Physical Therapy Association

2008     All-University Research and Creative Scholar Award, Western Michigan University

Service and Engagement:

• Professional Service:
  • American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) Indiana, Membership Director and Executive Board 2022-2026
  • Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE) Reviewer, 2025-Present
  • American Council of Academic Physical Therapy (ACAPT), Institute for Scholarly Inquiry Task Force, 2024-present
  • APTA, Academy of Neurologic Physical Therapy Education Programming Committee, Co-Chair, 2012-2015
  • Brain Injury Association of Indiana, Board of Directors, 2004-2009
• Community Engagement:
  • Rock Steady Boxing, Inc, Medical Advisory Board, 2019-present
  • Parkinson’s Awareness Association of Central Indiana, Board of Directors, 2015-2018
  • Interviewed by Leslie Stahl for CBS Sunday Morning, “Fighting back against Parkinson’s – in the ring,” Air date: November 8, 2015; https://www.cbsnews.com/news/fighting-back-against-parkinsons-in-the-ring/

Personal Information: Dr. Miller enjoys spending time with her family, including her husband, David, daughters, stepchildren, and grandchildren. Outside of work, Dr. Miller finds joy in long hikes and tandem bike rides, tending her gardens, and restoring furniture—activities that reflect her appreciation for lifelong growth, creativity, and hands-on problem solving.