Karen Bibbins

Dr. Bibbins is a professional with over 20 years of experience in health care and higher education. Her most current notable employment positions include serving as the Clinical Information Analyst at Keck Medicine of University of Southern California; Education Consultant and Member Outreach for Compass Rose Benefits Group in Reston, VA; Director of Recreation Therapy Services at Genesis HealthCare Potomac Center in Arlington, Virginia; Visiting Assistant Professor of Therapeutic Recreation at Longwood University in Farmville, Virginia; Therapeutic Recreation Coordinator and Recreation Therapist at the Henry Ford Health System Center for Senior Independence in Detroit, Michigan; Lead Recreation Therapist at the Detroit Medical Center, Surgery Hospital; Adjunct Professor of Therapeutic Recreation at Eastern Michigan University in Ypsilanti, Michigan; Recreational Therapist at St. John Riverview Hospital in Detroit; Lecturer in Recreation and Leisure Studies Department of Brockport College State University of New York in Brockport, New York; Associate Faculty Member of the University of Phoenix School of Education in Detroit; and Dissertation Mentor for the School of Advanced Studies at the University of Phoenix.

Throughout her tenure, Dr. Bibbins has delivered multiple presentations on the topics related to health care equity, therapeutic recreation, cultural competence, and professionalism in human services for academic and professional audiences. Moreover, she has coauthored articles and book chapters which have appeared in Counseling Today, Therapeutic Recreation Journal, and Maryland Counseling Association for Multicultural Counseling and Development.  

Dr. Bibbins is a seasoned professional with extensive experience in teaching recreational and rehabilitation therapies inclusive of curriculum design and delivery, program evaluation and outcomes assessments for a variety of health conditions affecting primarily adult and older adult populations. She has taught both undergraduate and graduate courses on a wide range of topics including research in health, recreation, and kinesiology; program planning in leisure services; children with disabilities; professional skills assessment and evaluation; continuous quality improvement methodology in health care; philosophy and theory of therapeutic recreation; foundations of adult education and training; and technology for the adult learner among many others. In addition, Dr. Bibbins has specialized knowledge in health information technology and survey research methodology and analysis. As an expert in recreation therapy modalities, she has years of leadership experience in designing and organizing therapeutic programs as well as developing and implementing quality improvement processes for a variety of populations with mental health disorders and physical disabilities.