Mary Ellen Oesterle, EdD, PT

Director of Health Science Innovation, KDHS

Research Interests

Innovation approaches to delivery and evaluation of health care, interprofessional approaches to innovation

Sample Publications

Oesterle ME, Conner T, Bunch M, Fleming A, Johnson P, Bialonska D. Do Kinesio tapes increase the skin exposure to pathogenic bacteria? Am J Infect Control. 2022 Jul 20:S0196-6553(22)00547-8. 

ME Oesterle, TA Conner-Kerr, KB Castle, A Flaming, J Steward, ...It's All in the Glue: Effect of Kinesiotape on the Growth of Staphylococcus Aureus. 2020 Combined Sections Meeting (CSM), APTA.

ME Oesterle, K Wright, M Fidler, P Johnson, D Bialonska. Are ball pits located in physical therapy clinical settings a source of pathogenic microorganisms? American journal of infection control. 2019, 47 (4), 456-458

T Conner-Kerr, ME Oesterle. Current perspectives on therapeutic ultrasound in the management of chronic wounds: A review of the evidence, Chronic Wound Care Management and Research, 2017, 4, 89-98.

Bio

Dr. Oesterle is the first-ever Director of Health Science Innovation. Her efforts focus on the coordination of interprofessional education and research, continuing education, along with continuing goals to develop new programs, expand existing programs, international program development, and more.

In a previous positions Dr. Oesterle was the interim chair for the Radford University/Carilion Doctor of Physical Therapy Program and department head for the University of North Georgia Doctor of Physical Therapy Program.

Dr. Oesterle’s past work has taken her across the United States, as well as into international waters, including South Korea and Cuba. Oesterle also developed the first innovation curriculum for a physical therapy program in the country. This included collaboration with Georgia Tech departments, like engineering.