Rate My Professor Shawn Farrokhi

Dr. Shawn Farrokhi, PT, PhD, DPT, serves as Chair and Professor in the Department of Physical Therapy at Chapman University in the Crean College of Health and Behavioral Sciences, a position he assumed in the summer of 2023. With over 20 years of experience spanning academia, clinical research, and patient care, he brings expertise in advancing musculoskeletal rehabilitation. His academic background includes a Bachelor of Science in Sports Medicine from Pepperdine University (2000), a Doctor of Physical Therapy and a PhD in Biokinesiology from the University of Southern California (2003 and 2009, respectively), and a Master of Science in Clinical Research from the University of Pittsburgh (2014), supported by an NIH K12 Career Development Award. Prior to Chapman, Dr. Farrokhi held positions such as Associate Professor in the Department of Rehabilitation Medicine at the Uniformed Services University of Health Sciences (2021–2023), Facility Research Director at the DoD-VA Extremity Trauma and Amputation Center of Excellence (2017–2023), and Assistant Professor in the Departments of Physical Therapy and Bioengineering at the University of Pittsburgh (2010–2015). Earlier roles encompassed staff physical therapist positions at Kaiser Permanente and Huntington Medical Rehabilitation Association, along with adjunct faculty appointments at multiple institutions including Carnegie Mellon University and USC.

Dr. Farrokhi's research focuses on identifying risk factors and effective interventions for musculoskeletal conditions, particularly in civilian and military populations, including lower limb amputation, limb trauma, and rehabilitation strategies. He has established a sustainable research program utilizing epidemiological studies and clinical trials to explore underlying mechanisms and treatments. Key publications include 'The Association between Kinesiophobia and Functional Limitations in Service Members with Knee Pain' (Musculoskelet. Sci. Pract., 2023), 'Weight Changes in Young Service Members After Lower Limb Amputation' (Mil. Med., 2023), 'Comparison of Clinical and Biomechanical Characteristics between Individuals with Lower Limb Amputation with and without Lower Back Pain' (J. Biomech., 2022), and 'Relationship between phantom limb pain, function, and psychosocial health in individuals with lower limb loss' (Prosthet Orthot Int., 2023). His contributions extend to current grants such as principal investigator on a $1.25 million Defense Health Program project for dynamically adaptive orthoses (2023–2027). Awards include the U.S. Army Medical Command Loan Repayment Award (2022), Outstanding Alumni in Healthcare from Pepperdine (2020), Distinguished Alumnus Award from USC (2019), and multiple NIH Student Loan Repayment Awards and Foundation for Physical Therapy grants. Dr. Farrokhi has served as a peer reviewer for programs like CDMRP and MHSRS, and teaches courses such as Kinesiological Motion Analysis at Chapman.