About
Meet the hosts of the Pushing Pediatrics podcast!
Sheila Madden, PT, DPT, PCS
Sheila is a board-certified pediatric physical therapist with extensive experience across acute care, inpatient rehab, and outpatient settings. Now based in Houston, Texas, she works at Texas Children’s Hospital with a clinical focus on inpatient rehabilitation. Sheila is also deeply engaged in DPT education, teaching at both Hawai‘i Pacific University (Honolulu and Las Vegas campuses) and Nova Southeastern University. At NSU, she is currently pursuing a PhD in Physical Therapy, with research interests focused on pediatric clinical care and innovations in DPT education.
She recently completed a faculty residency through NSU, where she honed her skills in teaching, scholarship, and academic leadership. Sheila remains actively involved in the pediatric PT community through her work with the APTA Pediatrics PCS Prep Committee and serves as Faculty for the APTA Pediatric Certified Specialist (PCS) Exam Preparation Course. Driven by a passion for professional growth and mentorship, Sheila brings both clinical expertise and academic insight to the Pushing Pediatrics podcast—where she helps demystify board prep and elevate pediatric physical therapy through meaningful, practical conversations.
Sara Karman, PT, DPT, PCS
Sara is a board certified pediatric clinical specialist practicing in Western New York. She graduated from PT school in 2017 with her doctorate from Ithaca College and began working immediately as a school based physical therapist. For over seven years, Sara worked in a school for children with complex physical, medical, cognitive, and behavioral needs. In January of 2025, she made the switch to outpatient pediatrics within a large hospital system to get involved as a mentor and faculty member in their pediatric physical therapy residency program. Her physical therapy passions include working with individuals who are transitioning from school age into the community, She is involved in the APTA as the co-chair of the APPT mentoring subcommittee. Sara is also an ACSM certified personal trainer and a certified group exercise instructor with experience working with adults and children of all ability levels. In her free time, Sara loves to work out, cook, try out new restaurants, travel, and spend time with her husband and son.