Mahlon Stewart, PT, DPT, PhD
On the web

Overview
Dr. Stewart is the Director of Clinical Education for Columbia University's Program in Physical Therapy and an alumnus of the program. He earned his PhD in Health Promotion and Wellness from Rocky Mountain University of Health Professions in Provo, Utah. Dr. Stewart is a board-certified Geriatric Clinical Specialist and collaborates with the NewYork-Presbyterian Liver Transplantation team to design pre-operative exercise programs aimed at reducing frailty and improving post-surgical outcomes.
His early clinical training was at the Kessler Institute for Rehabilitation in West Orange, New Jersey. He also brings experience in community health leadership, having served as founding President and Board Chair of Neighbor2Neighbor in Greenwich Village, an all-volunteer organization supporting older adults aging in their own homes.
Dr. Stewart has presented at both local and national conferences on clinical education in physical therapy and on health-related quality of life for the "oldest-old" residents of New York City. He is an active member of APTA-New York and the New York/New Jersey Clinical Education Consortium, where he previously served as chair of the Research Committee.
Academic Appointments
- Assistant Professor of Rehabilitation and Regenerative Medicine (Physical Therapy) at CUMC
Administrative Titles
- Co-Director, Clinical Education, Programs in Physical Therapy
Hospital Affiliations
- NewYork-Presbyterian / Columbia University Irving Medical Center
Gender
- Male
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Insurance Accepted
Aetna
- Aetna Signature Administrators
- EPO
- HMO
- Medicare Managed Care
- NY Signature
- POS
- PPO
- Student Health
Affinity Health Plan
- Essential Plan
- Medicaid Managed Care
Amida Care
- Special Needs
Cigna
- EPO
- Great West (National)
- HMO
- Medicare Managed Care
- POS
- PPO
Empire Blue Cross/Blue Shield
- EPO
- HMO
- Medicare Managed Care
- PPO
Empire Blue Cross Blue Shield HealthPlus
- Child/Family Health Plus
- Essential Plan
- Medicaid Managed Care
Fidelis Care
- Child/Family Health Plus
- Essential Plan
- Medicaid Managed Care
- Medicare Managed Care
Healthfirst
- Child/Family Health Plus
- Leaf (Exchange)
- Medicaid Managed Care
- Medicare Managed Care
Local 1199
- Local 1199
MagnaCare (National)
- MagnaCare
Medicare
- Railroad
- Traditional Medicare
Multiplan
- Multiplan
MVP Health Care
- Child/Family Health Plus
- Essential Plan
- HMO
- Medicaid Managed Care
RiverSpring
- Special Needs
UnitedHealthcare
- Compass (Exchange)
- Empire Plan
- HMO
- Medicaid (Community Plan)
- Medicare Managed Care
- Oxford Freedom
- Oxford HMO
- Oxford Liberty
- POS
- PPO
VNSNY CHOICE
- Medicare Managed Care
- SelectHealth
- Special Needs
WellCare
- Medicaid Managed Care
- Medicare Managed Care
World Trade Center Health Plan
- World Trade Center Health Plan
Credentials & Experience
Education & Training
- DPT, Physical Therapy, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons
- BA, Art History, Trinity College
- PhD, Health Sciences/Health Promotion & Wellness, Rocky Mountain University of Health Professions
- Post-Baccalaureate, Pre-Health Certificate, New York University
Committees, Societies, Councils
- American Physical Therapy Association
- The Gerontological Society of America
Honors & Awards
- Geriatric Certified Specialist, American Board of Physical Therapy Specialities
- Physical Therapy Learning Institute Education Innovator Award
- APTA Mary McMillan Scholarship Award
- Joseph C. Reily Award for Distinguished Service, Screen Actors Guild, New York Branch
- Columbia University Program in Physical Therapy Mary E. Callahan Award
- American Diabetes Association Tour de Cure "Top Team" Fundraising Award (2012 & 2013)
Research
Research Interests
Aging in cities; Sustainable solutions for aging in place; Prevention & wellness programs for older adults; Physical Therapy cinical education
Selected Publications
- Stewart MK., Wong CK, Mielenz TJ, Gravano TN. Health-related quality of life and the oldest-old: aging-in-community during COVID-19 [abstract]. J Geriatric Phys Ther. 2022;45(1):E45
- Stewart MK., Curren T, Platt I, Xue SC. (2021). Pivot, Don't Panic: A Serendipitous Transition of a Student-Run Elective to an Online Platform. Platform presentation at AC, APTA CSM. Online.
- Stewart, MK., De Mattos, TC., Vargas, SD. (2020). A Model for a Student-Created, Student-Led Elective in the DPT Curriculum. Poster Session presentation at AC, APTA CSM, Denver, CO. ( Physical Therapy Learning Institute Education Innovator Award - Outstanding Poster Presentation)
- Stewart MK., Adler, E., Cohane, Z., Sinodinos, J. (2019). The evolution of a student-created, student-led elective and its place in the DPT curriculum. Poster Session presentation at AC, APTA CSM, New Orleans, LA.
- Stewart, MK., Lipsky, J., Whited, S. (2018). 'Perspectives on Practice': a student-created, student-led elective and its place in the DPT curriculum. Poster session presentation at AC, APTA CSM, New Orleans, LA.
- Stewart, MK., & Unger, I. (2013). Expanding the horizons of brain tumor rehabilitation. Brain Tumour, 4, 26-27.
- Krasinski, D., Frey, R., Stewart, MK., Carotenuto, J., Vorst, L. V., Dunaway, S., . . . Vitale, M. (2008). Short-term Activity Outcomes following Orthopaedic Surgery in Children with Neurological Impairment. Poster presentation at the American Physical Therapy Association Combined Sections Meeting, Nashville, TN.
- Stewart, MK. (2005). Reclaiming our Hearts. In P. C. Hoy, D. A. Forrest, & A. McKenzie (Eds.), Mercer Street 2004-2005: a collection of essays from the expository writing program (pp. 79-81). New York, NY: New York University.
Podcasts
- Stewart, MK. Interprofessional Education with Dr. Laurel Abbruzzese (Featuring Dr. Laurel Daniels Abbruzzese). Health Education Transformation Podcast [Internet]; 2022 August 15.
- Stewart, MK. Who is teaching whom? Graduate students directing their own education (Featuring Dr. Iris Platt). Health Education Transformation Podcast [Internet]; 2022 May 28.
- Poen B, Feil FS, Weyrauch S. New York/ New Jersey PT Clinical Education Consortia (Featuring Drs. Nicki Silberman, Vicki LaFay, Lonnie Stewart, Angela Stolfi, & Kelly Meyers) Part 1. Health Education Transformation Podcast [Internet]; 2020 February 5. Podcast 00:31:49. Available from: https://healthcareeducationtransformationpodcast.libsyn.com/clinical-education-consortia-overview-part-1-featuring-drs-nicki-silberman-vicky-lafay-lonnie-stewart-angela-stolfi-kelly-meyers
- Poen B, Feil FS, Weyrauch S. New York/ New Jersey PT Clinical Education Consortia (Featuring Drs. Nicki Silberman, Vicki LaFay, Lonnie Stewart, Angela Stolfi, & Kelly Meyers) Part 2. Health Education Transformation Podcast [Internet]; 2020 February 5. Podcast 00:25:24. Available from: https://healthcareeducationtransformationpodcast.libsyn.com/part-2-new-yorknew-jersey-pt-clinical-education-consortia-featuring-drs-nicki-silberman-vicky-lafay-lonnie-stewart-angela-stolfi-kelly-meyers
- McKay J. Looking to the future of clinical education in physical therapy. FOXcast PT Podcast [Internet]; 2019 December 4. Podcast 00:17:32. Available from: https://www.foxrehab.org/podcast/foxcast-pt-looking-future-clinical-education-physical-therapy/
- Poen B, Feil FS, Weyrauch S. Student-led elective in the DPT curriculum. Health Education Transformation Podcast [Internet]; 2018 August 25. Podcast: 00:48:15. Available from: https://healthcareeducationtransformationpodcast.libsyn.com/student-led-elective-in-dpt-curriculum