Katherine Norman, PT, DPT, MS, OCS, ATC is a PhD student in the Department of Population Health Sciences at Duke University. Her work focuses on health systems research, specifically dissemination and implementation of research related to musculoskeletal conditions and care.

As a LeaRRn scholar, Dr. Norman will be working with Dr. James Irrgang and University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC) to develop a pre-operative risk assessment model for individuals undergoing a total shoulder arthroplasty (TSA) to facilitate discharge planning into post-acute care settings. Dr. Norman will work with UPMC clinicians and researchers to analyze the implementation of a risk assessment tool specific to patients undergoing a TSA to determine an objective score or cluster of characteristics that could indicate the best transition destination for patients upon discharge from the hospital. This project aims to improve care pathways for patients and communication among healthcare providers by constructing a standardized approach to discharge planning and risk assessment.