Sue Curfman

Biography

Dr. Sue Curfman is an Orthopedic Certified Specialist through the American Board of Physical Therapy Specialties. She earned her certification as a manual therapist through the University of St. Augustine. Dr. Curfman has more than 30 years of experience in a range of clinical settings, initially as a generalist and then focusing in outpatient orthopedics for over 20 years. She has a special clinical interest in working with women who have had breast cancer. She has experience and a passion for working overseas providing physical therapy services in developing countries such as Haiti, India, Guatemala, Ecuador and the Dominican Republic. Dr. Curfman has been teaching physical therapy for over 30 years, primarily in the areas of anatomy, kinesiology and orthopedics and joined the Belmont University School of Physical Therapy in 2021. Her research interests focus primarily in the areas of teaching and learning, pain neuroscience education and physical therapy care of women with breast cancer.

Publications and Presentations:
Curfman, SE, Austin, GP, Radack, BM, Utilization of Forearm Crutches to Avoid Lymphedema After Breast Cancer Lymph Node Surgery: A Case Report, Acute Care Physical Therapy Journal, 2021

Curfman, SE, Austin, GP, Nicholas, JS, Radack, BM, Differences in Pain Neuroscience Perspectives between Physical Therapy Students and Clinical Instructors. Combined Sections Meeting, APTA, Denver, CO, February, 2020

Curfman, SE, Austin, GP, Nicholas, JS, Radack, BM, PT and PA Students Differ in Perceptions, Knowledge, Attitudes, and Beliefs about Persistent Pain. Combined Sections Meeting, APTA, Denver, CO, February, 2020

Curfman, SE, Austin, GP, Nicholas, JS, Radack, BM, Pain Neuroscience Education Changes PA Student Intervention Patterns, Including Physical Therapy Referrals. Combined Sections Meeting, APTA, Denver, CO, February, 2020

Curfman, SE, Austin, GP, Nicholas, JS, Radack, BM, Pain Neuroscience Knowledge and Pain Perspectives: A Longitudinal Study of DPT Students and Faculty. Combined Sections Meeting, APTA, Denver, CO, February, 2020

Student Attitudes and Beliefs About Active Learning: Relationship to Emotional Intelligence, Group Dynamics and Student Performance, CSM of APTA, Washington DC, January, 2019

Curfman, SE, Austin, GP, Nicholas, JS. Post-traumatic stress and academic performance among entry-level doctoral physical therapy students in a human anatomy cadaver dissection course Internet Journal of Allied Health Sciences and Practice, 2018 Jul 02;16(3)

Knowledge, attitudes and beliefs about pain in third-year DPT students and clinical instructors, AAOMPT, Reno, NV, November, 2018

Curfman SE & Austin GP, Student attitudes and beliefs about active learning and the impact of a graduate level anatomy course, Combined Sections Meeting, APTA, New Orleans, LA, February, 2018

Curfman SE & Austin GP, Post-traumatic stress and academic performance among entry-level doctoral physical therapy students in a human anatomy cadaver dissection course, Combined Sections Meeting, APTA, New Orleans, LA, February, 2018

Curfman, SE, Grandeo J, Neurodynamics: Application and differential diagnosis for common clinical presentations. Virginia Physical Therapy Association’s annual conference; Chantilly, VA, October, 2016

Curfman, SE Measuring for Lymphedema with L-Dex in a Woman With Breast Cancer Using Crutches to Walk After Knee Surgery: A Case Study Report, Combined Sections Meeting, APTA, Anaheim, CA, February, 2016

Curfman, SE, Garza, J, Smith, AR. Functional Movement Screen In Firefighter Recruits, Combined Sections Meeting, APTA, Indianapolis, IN, February, 2015

Curfman, SE. Shoulder, neck, and thoracic back pain and disability treated with instrument assisted soft tissue mobilization, manual therapy and exercise following prophylactic mastectomy with failed reconstruction: A case study, Combined Sections Meeting, APTA, Las Vegas, NV, February, 2014.