Nicki Silberman, PT, DPT, PhD

Dr. Nicki Silberman is an associate professor and Director of Clinical Education in the Department of Physical Therapy at Hunter College. She is a physical therapist at NYU Langone Health, and an editorial board member for the Journal of Clinical Education in Physical Therapy.

Dr. Silberman's research interests include simulation-based education, with a focus on achieving excellence in physical therapy clinical education. She teaches courses on acute care physical therapy and an introduction to clinical education at Hunter.

Dr. Silberman served as the founding chairperson of the Simulation in Physical Education consortium and was a member of the ACAPT Strategic Initiatives Panels on Simulation in PT Education and PT Readiness for Clinical Education.

Mission Statement: 

To have an impact on the future of physical therapist education by leading with humility, honesty, and integrity to motivate and inspire others to create positive change through meaningful relationships, pushing boundaries, and taking pride in one’s work.

• Acute Care Physical Therapy
• Introduction to Clinical Education

• Nova Southeastern University (PhD in Physical Therapy)
• MGH Institute of Health Professions (Doctor of Physical Therapy)
• The University of Delaware (Masters of Physical Therapy)

• Hochman L,Silberman N, Palmer J, Greco J. (2024) Best practices in clinical education: A site visit decision-making model in physical therapist education. Journal of Allied Health. In press.
• Hochman L,Silberman N, Jung MK, Greco J. (2024) Clinical site visits: perspectives of clinical instructors and site coordinators of clinical education. Journal of Physical Therapy  Volume 28, Issue 2, pp 150-160. DOI: 10.1097/JTE.0000000000000314
• Greco J, Hochman L,Silberman N. (2024) The ‘how’ and ‘why’ behind clinical site visits: A qualitative study exploring director of clinical education perspectives. Journal of Physical Therapy  Volume 28, Issue 1, pp 53-62. DOI: 10.1097/JTE.0000000000000298
• SilbermanN, Casella C, Lam M, Lin F. (2022) The lived experience of clinical instructors as simulated patients: a qualitative study. The Journal of Clinical Education in Physical Therapy, 2022, 4. https://doi.org/10.52214/jcept.v4.8614
• Silberman N,LaFay V. (2022) Characteristics needed to transition from exemplary clinical instructor to successful site coordinator of clinical education: A qualitative study. Internet Journal of Allied Health Science and Practice. 2022 Sep 26;20(4), Article 4.
• Stockert B,Silberman N, Rucker J, Bradford J, Gorman S, Greenwood K, Macauley K, Nordon-Craft A, Quiben M. (2022) Simulation-based education in physical therapist education: A scoping review of literature. Physical Therapy. Volume 102, Issue 12, December 2022, pzac133, https://doi.org/10.1093/ptj/pzac133
• Stockert B, Macauley K, Bradford J, Gorman S, Greenwood K, Nordon-Craft A, Quiben M, Rucker J,Silberman N. (2022) Simulation-based education in physical therapist education: A survey of current practice. Physical Therapy. Volume 102, Issue 12, December 2022, pzac134, https://doi.org/10.1093/ptj/pzac134
• Quiben M, Greenwood K, Gorman S, Bradford J Macauley K, Nordon-Craft A, Rucker J,Silberman N, Stockert B. (2022) Simulation-based education in physical therapist education: Perspectives from the strategic initiative panel on simulation in physical therapist education. Physical Therapy.  Volume 102, Issue 12, December 2022, pzac135, https://doi.org/10.1093/ptj/pzac135
• LaFay V,Silberman N, Zeigler S. (2022) A model of exemplary practices of clinical education leaders. Journal of Physical Therapy Education. Volume 36 (1),17-24.
• Greco J, Hochman L, Min-Kyung J,Silberman N. (2021) Clinical site visits: exploring the perspectives of the director of clinical education. Journal of Physical Therapy Education, 35 (4), 330-339.
• Miale S,Silberman N, Kupczynski L. (2021) Classroom-based simulation: Participants and observers perceive high psychological fidelity and improved clinical preparedness. Journal of Physical Therapy Education, 35 (3), 210-217.
• Greco L, Kupczynski L,Silberman N, Hamock A. (2020) The clinical site visit: perspectives of physical therapist students. Journal of Physical Therapy Education, 34 (4), 321-331.
• Silberman N,Litwin B, Fernandez-Fernandez A, Ng G, Dornbaum M. (2020) Development and evaluation of a simulation-based acute care course in a physical therapist education program. Journal of Physical Therapy Education, 34(1), 76-85.
• Silberman N, LaFay V, Zeigler S. (2020) Practices of exemplary leaders in clinical education: A qualitative study of director and site coordinator of clinical education perspectives. Journal of Physical Therapy Education, 34(1), 59-66.
• Riopel MA, Litwin B, Silberman N, Fernandez-Fernandez. (2019) Promoting professional behavior in physical therapist students: Use of standardized patient feedback. Physiotherapy Canada, 71(2), 160-167.
• Timmerberg J, Dole R, Silberman N, Goffar S, Mathur D, Miller A, Murray L, Pelletier D, Simpson M, Stolfi A, Utzman R, Thompson A. (2019) Physical therapist student readiness for entrance into the first full-time clinical experience: A Delphi study. Physical Therapy, 99(2), 131-146.
• Riopel MA, Litwin B, Silberman N, Fernandez-Fernandez. (2018) Utilizing standardized patient feedback to facilitate professional behavior in physical therapist students: A pilot study. TheInternet Journal of Allied Health Sciences, 16 (3), Article 4.
• Silberman N, LaFay V, Fay P, Hansen R. (2018) Physical therapy student difficulty in clinical education settings: Incidence and outcomes. Journal of Physical Therapy Education, 32(2), 175-182.
• Silberman N, Mintz S, Zych N, Bloch N, Tal ER, Rios L. (2018) Simulation training facilitates physical therapists' self-efficacy in the intensive care unit. Journal of Acute Care Physical Therapy, 9(2), 47-59.
• Silberman N, Litwin B., Panzarella K., Fernandez-Fernandez A. (2016) High fidelity human simulation improves physical therapist student self-efficacy for acute care clinical practice. Journal of Physical Therapy Education, 30 (1), 14-24. (Recipient of Stanford Award.)
• Silberman N, Litwin B, Panzarella K, Fernandez-Fernandez A. (2016) Student clinical performance in acute care enhanced through simulation training. Journal of Acute Care Physical Therapy, 7(1), 25-36.
• Silberman N, Panzarella K, Melzer B. (2013) Using high fidelity human simulation to prepare physical therapy students for acute care clinical practice. Journal of Allied Health, 42 (1), 25-32.