Kimberly J Waddell, PhD, MSCI, OTR/L
Assistant Professor of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
Affiliated Faculty, Center for Health Incentives and Behavioral Economics, University of Pennsylvania
Research Health Scientist, Corporal Michael J. Crescenz VA Medical Center; Center for Health Equity Research and Promotion
Senior Fellow, Leonard Davis Institute of Health Economics, University of Pennsylvania
Affiliated Faculty, Population Aging Research Center, University of Pennsylvania
Faculty Advisor, Behavioral Science, Nudge Unit, University of Pennsylvania
Faculty Advisor, Behavioral Science, Population Health Lab, Penn Medicine
Associate Director for Research, Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, University of Pennsylvania
Department: Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
Graduate Group Affiliations
Contact information
1800 Lombard St.
1st Floor
Philadelphia, PA 19146
1st Floor
Philadelphia, PA 19146
Office: 215-893-2600
Publications
Education:
BS (Health Science)
Truman State University, 2008.
MS (Occupational Therapy)
University of North Carolina, 2010.
MS (Clinical Investigation)
Washington University, 2019.
PhD (Movement Science)
Washington University, 2019.
Permanent linkBS (Health Science)
Truman State University, 2008.
MS (Occupational Therapy)
University of North Carolina, 2010.
MS (Clinical Investigation)
Washington University, 2019.
PhD (Movement Science)
Washington University, 2019.
Description of Research Expertise
Dr. Waddell’s research expertise includes applying behavioral economic principles to 1) help improve physical activity and disease self-management for adults with neurologic disease and 2) improve the translation of in-clinic improvements to daily life for adults receiving rehabilitation services. This work includes wearable devices and remote monitoring technologies. She also leverages administrative and electronic health record data to better understand post-stroke recovery, disability, and identifying patient populations who may benefit from remote monitoring interventions to improve overall health.Selected Publications
Waddell KJ, Greysen SR, Patel MS, Smith MS, Lau AYT, Xie SX, Wood S, Morley JF.: Remote, Automated Gamification and Community-Based Physical Activity in Parkinson Disease. JAMA Neurol Nov 2025.Bravata DM, Myers LJ, Perkins AJ, Sexson AE, Daggy JK, Taylor SE, Burrone L, Koo BB, Miech EJ, Rattray NA, Story KM, Waddell K, Ding Q, Sico JJ.: Addressing sleep apnea post-stroke and transient ischemic attack (ASAP) clinical trial design features: Inclusion of usual care control sites and electronic health record data validation. Contemp Clin Trials 159: 108135, Oct 2025.
Waddell KJ, Rafferty MR, Edelstein J, Beidas RS.: Harnessing Behavioral Economics to Accelerate Implementation in Rehabilitation. Am J Phys Med Rehabil 104: 750-754, Aug 2025.
Shivan J. Mehta, Kimberly J. Waddell, Kristin A. Linn, Caitlin Brophy, Junning Liang, Sae-Hwan Park, Catherine Reitz, Keyirah Williams, Chaylin Couzens, Jonathan Staloff, Andrew A. White, Corinne Rhodes, Joshua M. Liao, Amol S. Navathe: Nudges to Clinicians and Patients for Influenza Vaccines during Visits: A Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA Internal Medicine 2025 Notes: In Press.
Benson JA, Wilson M, Flynn AJ, Stutzbach J, Waddell KJ, Burke RE.: Feasibility and Usability of a Post-Hospital Behavioral Intervention to Improve Mobility in Veterans. Inquiry 2025.
He M, Hon E, Xu L, Hampton S, Waddell K.: Quantifying guideline-discordant intermittent catheterization in adults hospitalized with spinal cord injury: a retrospective cohort study. Spinal Cord 2025.
Waddell KJ, Perkins AJ, Myers LJ, Daggy JK, Ding Q, Sexson A, Taylor SE, Sico JJ, Bravata DM.: Discharge disposition following acute ischemic stroke in the veterans health administration: A retrospective cohort study. J Stroke Cerebrovasc Dis 2025.
Waddell KJ, Mehta SJ, Liao JM, Linn KA, Park S, Rhodes CM, Brophy C, Reitz C, Cousins DS, Williams K, Thatcher EJ, Muskin R, Pronovost PJ, Navathe AS.: Increasing screening for breast cancer using a randomized evaluation of electronic health record nudges: Design and rationale of the I-screen clinical trial. Contemp Clin Trials Nov 2024.
Waddell K, Mehta SJ, Navathe A, Linn K, Park SH, White A, Staloff J, Rhodes C, Couzens C, Goel K, McDonald C, Reitz C, Williams K, Liao JM.: Behavioural economics to improve and motivate vaccination in primary care using nudges through the electronic health record: rationale and design of the BE IMMUNE randomised clinical trial. BMJ Open 14: e086698, Nov 2024.
Willinger CM, Waddell KJ, Arora V, Patel MS, Ryan Greysen S.: Patient-reported sleep and physical function during and after hospitalization. Sleep Health 2024.