Position: Associate Professor
Department: College of Healthcare Professions
Phone: 610-282-1100, x2784
Office: 209 Wills Hall
Education
Dr. Sean Griech is an Associate Professor in the Doctor of Physical Therapy Program at DeSales University and a clinician‑scholar with more than 25 years of experience in outpatient physical therapy. He is a Board‑Certified Orthopedic Clinical Specialist and a Certified Orthopedic Manual Therapist, with clinical expertise in musculoskeletal rehabilitation and ongoing practice in the university’s pro bono clinic.
At DeSales, Dr. Griech teaches primarily within the musculoskeletal curriculum, serving as director of the Differential Diagnosis and Intervention series and contributing across orthopedic content areas. He also teaches in the Health and Wellness course, with emphasis on social determinants of health, and serves as a faculty mentor across all four research courses, supporting student development in evidence‑based practice and clinical inquiry.
Dr. Griech is highly engaged in national professional leadership and service. He serves as Chair of the APTA Pennsylvania Ethics Committee and Chair of the Academy of Hand and Upper Extremity of the APTA. He has contributed extensively to the profession through long‑standing involvement with the Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy (FSBPT), including service on the Exam Development Committee and as Item Writer Coordinator Chair. He has been recognized through nomination to the FSBPT Academy of Advanced Item Writers.
He is also an active contributor to peer review and professional dissemination, serving as a reviewer for multiple journals and textbooks and as an abstract reviewer for APTA Combined Sections Meeting and the APTA Pennsylvania MOVE PA Conference.
Dr. Griech maintains an active program of scholarship, with more than 20 peer‑reviewed publications, numerous textbook chapter contributions, and co‑editorship of Clinical Cases for Physical Therapists: Studies Across the Medical Continuum. His work spans orthopedic rehabilitation, clinical measurement, and professional issues including ethics and health systems. He regularly presents at regional and national conferences.
Recent scholarly contributions include publications in Journal of Hand Therapy, International Journal of Sports Physical Therapy, PTJ, Leadership in Health Services, and International Journal of Medical Education, addressing topics such as musculoskeletal function, clinical reasoning, ethics in healthcare, and social determinants of health.
Dr. Griech’s contributions to research have been recognized with the APTA Pennsylvania Award for Best Research Project (2021).
In addition to his professional roles, he is actively engaged in community service, including volunteer coaching across youth sports and service on local nonprofit and school boards. Through his combined roles in clinical practice, scholarship, and professional leadership, Dr. Griech advances the program’s commitment to clinical excellence, ethical leadership, and service‑oriented physical therapy education.
Dr. Griech grew up in western Pennsylvania and is a huge fan of all Pittsburgh sports. In his spare time, he enjoys cooking, the outdoors, and spending time with his wife and three children.