Employed Since:

2014

Educational History:

BA, West Virginia University, 2002
MPT, West Virginia, University, 2003
DPT, Shenandoah University, 2017
Ph.D. in Health Sciences, University of South Dakota, 2021

Roles at Shenandoah University:

• Program Director, Division of Physical Therapy (2026 – Present)
• Professor, Division of Physical Therapy (2025 – Present)
• Interim Program Director, Division of Physical Therapy (2024-2026)
• Associate Director, Division of Physical Therapy (2023-2024)
• Associate Professor, Division of Physical Therapy (2019-2024)
• Assistant Professor, Division of Physical Therapy (2014-2019)

Leadership & Impact:

Dr. Hartstein has an extensive background in higher education leadership, physical therapy education, and clinical practice. As a Board-Certified Orthopedic Clinical Specialist (OCS) and Fellow of the American Academy of Orthopedic Manual Physical Therapists (FAAOMPT), he brings deep clinical and instructional expertise to his administrative leadership roles. Serving as Program Director for the Division of Physical Therapy at Shenandoah University, he oversees program administration, faculty development, and strategic curricular enhancement. This follows a progressive career in academic governance at Shenandoah University, including roles as Interim Program Director and Associate Director, alongside over a decade of dedicated faculty service. Complementing his university leadership, Dr. Hartstein serves as primary faculty and residency mentor for the Virginia Orthopedic Manual Therapy Institute (VOMPTI) and has contributed extensively to educational research focused on virtual reality instructional design, metacognitive awareness, and clinical reasoning. His dedication to educational excellence has been recognized with the APTA Physical Therapy Learning Institute Education Influencer and Education Innovator Awards and supported by executive professional development through the Chairs and Academic Administrators Management Program (CAAMP).

Fields of Expertise:

• Orthopedic 
• Manual Physical Therapy
• Clinical Reasoning
• Residency and Fellowship Education

Personal Highlights:

I love spending time with my wife and two children

Professional Highlights:

Completed Orthopedic Manual Physical Therapy Fellowship through Kaiser Permanente, 2007
Board Certified Orthopedic Clinical Specialist
Fellow of the American Academy of Orthopedic Manual Physical Therapists
Beb Cash Award for Outstanding Contribution to Clinical Practice (VPTA, 2015)
Mary Lou Barnes Award for Distinguished Professional Service (WVU, 2016)
Distinguished Dissertation Award (Biological Sciences/Life Sciences, University of South Dakota, 2021)
Innovator Award (APTA Physical Therapy Learning Institute, 2021)
Novice Scholar in Distance Simulation (Healthcare Distance Simulation Summit, 2022)
Influencer Award (APTA Physical Therapy Learning Institute, 2023)

Recommended Link(s):

https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Aaron-Hartstein
https://vompti.com/

Research:

Chaudhry M, Calley D, Hollman J, Hartstein A. Diagnostic utility of artificial intelligence in musculoskeletal physical therapy: a comparison with physical therapists. Musculoskelet Sci Pract. 2026;76:103101. doi:10.1016/j.msksp.2026.103101

Hartstein A., Barrette D., Chicarella M., Fergus, A. Metacognitive awareness among doctor of physical therapy students: A mixed-methods investigation. Physiotherapy Theory and Practice. 2025; 41(11): 2377–2392.

Goodwin B, Olsen-Schoch K, Schott R, Hartstein A, Abraham K. Student Physical Therapists’ Experience Using Virtual Reality Simulation: A Qualitative Study. Orthopaedic Physical Therapy Practice. 2023; 35(3): 20-26.

Luong I, Blocker J, Hartstein A, Boissonnault J. Potential Recruitment Bias in Chronic Pain Research Utilizing Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. Orthopaedic Physical Therapy Practice. 2023; 35(3): 37-48.

Tyson B, Hartstein A, Larson J, Mcvey L, Schrank E. Proximal Median Nerve Mononeuropathy Following Reverse Total Shoulder: A Case Report. Orthopaedic Physical Therapy Practice. 2023; 35(3): 8-15.

Harne M, Hartstein A, McVey L, Bolton C. Medical Screening of an Adolescent Male with Idiopathic Foot Drop: A Case Report. Orthopaedic Physical Therapy Practice. 2023; 35(3): 16-19.

Hartstein A., Zimney K., Verkuyl M., Yockey J., Berg-Poppe P. Virtual Reality Instructional Design in Orthopedic Physical Therapy Education: A Randomized Controlled Trial. J Phys Ther Educ. 2022; 36(2): 176-184.

Hartstein A., Verkuyl M., Zimney K., Yockey J., Berg-Poppe P. Virtual Reality Instructional Design in Orthopedic Physical Therapy Education: A Mixed-Methods Usability Test. Simulation & Gaming. 2022; 53(2): 111-134.

Cooper C., Green S., Hartstein A., Fergus A. (2022). The impact of pain neuroscience education in a Hispanic-American population: A mixed-methods exploratory study. Physiotherapy Theory and Practice. 2022;1-14.

Bittner J., Hartstein A., Pappas J.  Iliac Artery Occlusion. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther Cases. 2022; 2(2): 101-102.

Feldman K., Hartstein A. Diffuse Idiopathic Skeletal Hyperostosis in a Patient with Shoulder Pain. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther. 2020; 5(4): 215.

Souter C., Musy E., Hartstein A., Lievre A., Fergus A. Educational and Experiential Factors Associated With Physical Therapists’ Diagnostic Reasoning. J Phys Ther Educ. 2019; 33(3): 198-208.

Bittner J., Hartstein A. Fifth Metatarsal Avulsion Fracture in an Adolescent Tennis Player. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther. 2019; 49(8), 620. 

Hartstein A., Lievre A., Grimes J., Hale S. The Immediate Effects of Thoracic Spine Thrust Manipulation on Neurodynamic Mobility. J Manipulative Physiol Ther. 2018; 41(4): 332-341.

Bittner J., Hartstein A. Spontaneous Osteonecrosis of the Knee. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther. 2018; 48(10): 824.