Lauren Hinrichs-Kinney PT, DPT, PhD, OCS

Dr. Lauren Hinrichs-Kinney earned her Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) from Northwestern University in 2008 and completed an orthopedic physical therapy residency at Temple University in 2013. She brings extensive clinical experience across rehabilitation settings, working with individuals managing a wide range of musculoskeletal and complex health conditions.

Dr. Hinrichs-Kinney earned her PhD in Rehabilitation Science from the University of Colorado in 2023. She is faculty in the University of Colorado Physical Therapy Program, serves as the Associate Director of Education and Evaluation (ADEE) at the Eastern Colorado VA Geriatric Research, Education, and Clinical Center (GRECC), and is the Director of Implementation Science for the RESTORE Lab.

Her work focuses on improving rehabilitation care for older adults by advancing the implementation of evidence-based interventions into routine clinical practice. Her research integrates implementation science, workforce development, and educational innovation to bridge the gap between research, clinical care, and training environments. She has experience in implementation strategy development, pragmatic trials, and qualitative and mixed-methods research.

As an educator, Dr. Hinrichs-Kinney contributes to musculoskeletal and applied exercise science curricula and leads initiatives to integrate exercise and movement prescription across entry-level physical therapy education. In her GRECC ADEE role, she supports the development, coordination, and evaluation of interprofessional education programs for trainees and clinical staff across VA Eastern Colorado Health Care System and VISN 19. In her RESTORE Lab leadership role, she guides implementation science strategy, supports hybrid effectiveness-implementation research, and helps design scalable approaches to translate rehabilitation innovations into practice.

She collaborates across academic, clinical, and health system partners to design scalable training programs and implementation approaches that strengthen rehabilitation practice, support clinicians, and improve functional outcomes for older adults.