Biography
Bonnie Virag has been core faculty since 2020. She leads the community engagement curriculum for hybrid and residential DPT students, overseeing a growing national network of more than 200 partner organizations across 32 states and Washington, D.C. As lead DPT faculty at Birmingham Free Clinic, she has grown voluntary student participation to more than 110 unique students while continuing to work alongside them and provide free patient care to uninsured Pittsburgh community members year-round. An active member of the ACAPT national task force on social determinants of health (SDOH) in DPT curricula, she presents regularly at national conferences on community engagement and SDOH integration in DPT education. Her teaching spans SDOH, professional development and leadership, and working with medically underserved populations, and her clinical background as a board-certified orthopaedic physical therapist and certified athletic trainer includes outpatient orthopedics, acute care and sports medicine at the high school, collegiate and professional levels. She champions inclusive, person-centered care and encourages students to implement accessible, equitable health care practices for all individuals.
Education
- Doctor of Physical Therapy, University of Pittsburgh
- Master of Arts in Exercise and Sport Science with Athletic Training concentration, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
- Bachelor of Science in Athletic Training, Duquesne University
Awards
- American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) Global Health Special Interest Group Social Responsibility Award
- University of Pittsburgh SHRS Center for Interprofessional Studies Interprofessional Education Seed Award
Research Interests
- Best practices in for implementation of community engagement in professional graduate education
- Social determinants of health in Doctor of Physical Therapy curricula
- Optimization of pro bono health care services through interprofessional practice
Publications
Professional Organization Appointments
- American Physical Therapy Association (APTA)
- American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) Pennsylvania
- American Board of Physical Therapist Specialists (ABPTS)
Certificates
- American Board of Physical Therapy Specialties (ABPTS) Board-Certified Orthopaedic Clinical Specialist (OCS)
- Board-Certified Athletic Trainer (ATC)