About
Meet the hosts of the Pushing Pediatrics podcast!
Sheila Madden, PT, DPT, PCS
Sheila Madden, PT, DPT, PCS, is a board-certified pediatric clinical specialist, educator, and Assistant Professor at the University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB). Her clinical background spans acute care, inpatient rehabilitation, and outpatient pediatric physical therapy, with extensive experience caring for children with complex medical and rehabilitation needs.
In addition to her faculty role at UTMB, Sheila teaches in Doctor of Physical Therapy programs and is currently pursuing a PhD in Physical Therapy at Nova Southeastern University. Her academic and research interests include clinical reasoning, professional development, mentorship, and innovations in physical therapy education. She also completed a faculty residency through Nova Southeastern University focused on developing excellence in teaching, scholarship, and academic leadership.
Sheila is actively involved with APTA Pediatrics through the PCS Prep Committee and serves as faculty for the APTA Pediatric Certified Specialist (PCS) Exam Preparation Course. She is passionate about helping pediatric physical therapists move beyond memorizing information to developing the clinical reasoning and confidence needed to navigate complex patient care.
As co-host of the Pushing Pediatrics podcast, Sheila brings together her clinical experience, educator perspective, and love of mentorship to translate evidence into practical conversations that help pediatric therapists keep learning, keep asking why, and keep pushing pediatrics.
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.