Catherine L. Hornbeck, P.T., Ph.D.
Assistant Professor; 419.383.4818; catherine.hornbeck@utoledo.edu
Catherine L. Hornbeck, P.T., Ph.D. joined the Physical Therapy faculty in 1982 in the second year of the PT Program's existence. She holds the distinction of being the only PT faculty member to have taught students in each of the classes to graduate from the PT Program since 1983. In 1991, Dr. Hornbeck was named program director and subsequently named chairperson of the Department of Physical Therapy in 1993 – a position she held until 2002.
Dr. Hornbeck received both her Bachelor of Science degree in Physical Therapy and Master of Science degree in Allied Health from The Ohio State University. In December 2006, she was awarded a PhD degree from the University of Toledo in Foundations of Education: Educational Psychology, where she received the Outstanding Graduate Student Award from the College of Education.
Dr. Hornbeck’s scholarly (research) interests include: 1) Utilization of physical therapy services for patients with cancer, especially the management of cancer-related fatigue; 2) Factors associated with transition into and adaptation to enrollment in graduate-level, healthcare professional programs; and 3) Factors associated with minority student recruitment into healthcare professions.
Current teaching responsibilities include: Foundations of PT, Cardiovascular-pulmonary PT, Clinical Reasoning II and Trauma Rehab. She also serves as coordinator of Advanced Evaluation and Interventions, during the final semester of the professional curriculum. Dr. Hornbeck also supervises 5 students per cohort group annually in the preparation of scholarly projects. In July 2009, she joined the interdisciplinary team of the UTMC Cancer Center, where she screens patients who are being treated for cancer and provides instructions in self-care and/or recommends referral to Rehabilitation Services for additional care.
Major committee service includes: Co-Chairperson of the Curriculum Committee and the Scholarships & Award Committee for the Department of Physical Therapy; CHSHS Diversity Committee; and CHSHS representative to the Faculty Senate. Dr. Hornbeck also serves on several regional Advisory Committees, which include 2 Physical Therapist Assistant Programs and Senior Independence. She also is an active member of the Mentoring Collaborative, a program for undergraduate students on Main Campus.
Dr. Hornbeck is an active member of Cross of the Church United Methodist Church, where she currently serves as the chairperson of the Staff-Parish Relations Committee and is a volunteer in the After-School Adventure program for neighborhood children. Other activities include numerous planning committees, Hospitality volunteer, and singing in the annual Spring Cantata.