Dr. Carole B. Lewis is a well-known leader and innovator in the area of rehabilitation and optimal aging. She has served as the Editor-in Chief of an award-winning international journal for over 30 years and has received top honors from the American Physical Therapy Association and The Gerontological Society. She has worked in home health, long-term care, acute hospitals, rehabilitation departments and outpatient clinics. In 1983, she started a private practice in Washington, D.C. and continues to work as a clinician. Dr. Lewis received two Master’s degrees, Health Care Management and Gerontology, from the University of Southern California and a PhD in Health Education from the University of Maryland. She currently serves on the Medical Faculty at George Washington University as an adjunct professor in the Department of Geriatrics.
A prolific writer, Dr. Lewis has published in a variety of journals, including Journal of the American Physical Therapy Association, Clinical Management, Geriatrics, Geritopics, and Senior Patient. She is also editor of the journal Topics in Geriatric Rehabilitation, which won the Association of American Publishers’ Award for the Most Outstanding Issue in a Scientific Journal. In addition, Dr. Lewis has authored numerous textbooks on aging: Physical Therapy for the Older Adult Examination and Intervention: An Evidence Based Approach; Aging: The Health Care Challenge, now in its fourth edition; Geriatric Clinical Strategies; Geriatric Physical Therapy; Orthopedic Assessment and Treatment of the Geriatric Patient; The Geriatric Exercise Kit; The Functional Toolbox I & II; The Balance Book; Osteoporosis Exercise Book; Prevention and Wellness Toolbox; Orthopedic Outcome Toolbox; Health Promotion and Exercise for Older Adults; and Improving Mobility in Older Persons. She also co-authored a book for the lay public entitled Age-Defying Fitness published by Peachtree Publishers.
Her professional awards include the APTA’s Lucy Blair Service Award, the Section on Geriatrics’ Clinical Excellence Award and the Academy of Geriatric Physical Therapy’s highest honor, the Joan Mills Award. She is an APTA Catherine Worthingham Fellow and in 2016, she received the Mary McMillan Lecture Award from the APTA, their highest honor. In addition, in 2014 she received the Gerontological Society of America’s Excellence in Rehabilitation of Aging Persons Award. In 2018 the Academy of Geriatric Physical Therapy established the annual Carole B Lewis Lecture as a life time achievement award. Dr. Lewis has lectured in 49 states. Her international lectures include Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Finland, Canada, China, Turkey, Egypt, Taiwan, South Korea and Israel.