How Dr. Kersten L W Schwanz Delivers Trusted, Personalized Care
Orthopedic physician Kersten L W Schwanz says, “As a proud native Minnesotan and Golden Gopher, I have a passion for giving back to my community by using my background to help patients and athletes close to home.”
Education
Fellowship
Harvard Medical School
Mass General Brigham Primary Care Sports Medicine
Boston, MA
Residency
University of Minnesota
Department of Rehabilitation Medicine
Minneapolis, MN
Medical School
University of Minnesota Medical School Twin Cities
Minneapolis, MN
Undergraduate Studies
University of Minnesota Twin Cities
College of Biological Sciences
Minneapolis, MN
Awards & Honors
- Golden Gopher Award; University of Minnesota Department of Rehabilitation Medicine
- Educator Award; University of Minnesota Department of Rehabilitation Medicine
- Ultimate Frisbee Association Champions; Minnesota Wind Chill
- Chief Resident; University of Minnesota PM&R Residency
Sports Coverage
Professional
- Boston Red Sox 2024 – present
- New England Revolution 2024 – present
- Boston Bruins 2024 – present
- Boston Ballet
- Ultimate Frisbee Association Championship Weekend – Minneapolis, MN; Salt Lake City, UT 2023, 2024
- Minnesota Strike Professional Ultimate Frisbee 2023
- Minnesota Wind Chill Professional Ultimate Frisbee 202
International
- World Ultimate Club Championships; New Zealand Team Physician – Dublin, OH 2022
National
- Team USA Sled Hockey 2024 – present
- National Veterans Golden Age Games – Salt Lake City, UT 2024
- National Veterans Wheelchair Games – Tempe, AZ 2022
Collegiate
- Harvard University (Division I) – Cambridge, MA 2024 – present
- Boston College (Division I) – Boston, MA 2024 – present
- Northeastern University (Division I) – Boston, MA 2024 – present
- Suffolk University (Division III) – Boston, MA 2024 – present
- Curry College (Division III) – Milton, MA 2024 – present
- Bridgewater State University (Division III) – Bridgewater, MA 2024 – present
- Wellesley College (Division III) – Wellesley, MA 2024 – present
- Western Collegiate Club Hockey Association (WCCHA) Conference Hockey Tournament – Blaine, MN 2022
High School
- Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association Athletics, 2024 – present
- Minnesota State High School League State Tournaments, 2019, 2022
- Minnesota State High School League Athletics, 2018 – 2024
Mass Participation
- Boston Marathon – Boston, MA, 2025 (anticipated)
- Head of the Charles International Regatta – Boston, MA, 2024
- Schwann’s USA Cup International Soccer Tournament – Blaine, MN, 2018, 2023
- USA Ultimate US Open National Club Championships – Blaine, MN, 2019, 2021, 2022
- Chisago Lakes Triathlon – Chisago Lakes, MN, 2021, 2022
- Twin Cities Marathon – Minneapolis, MN, 2018, 2019, 2021
Pre-/Post-Participation Physical Exams
- Boston Red Sox Minor League Team, 2025
- New England Revolution, 2024
- Harvard University, 2024
- Wellesley College, 2024
- Suffolk College, 2024
- Curry College, 2024
- Boston Area Public Schools, 2024
- Minnesota Wind Chill Team, 2021 – 2024
- MHealth Fairview Wyoming Area Clinic, 2022
- Burnsville High School, 2019, 2022
Specialties
My Team
Locations
Resources
Publications
BOOK CHAPTERS
- Volker M, Schwanz K, Blatz D, Senk A. Adaptive Soccer. (2024). In: De Luigi AJ, ed. 2 Adaptive Sports Medicine: A Clinical Guide. Springer; February 2024. doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-44285-8
- Senk A, Benert J, Schwanz K, Webborn N. (2021). Concussion Baseline Testing. In: Lee K, Harper MW, Uihlein MJ, McCrea M. Concussion Management for Wheelchair Athletes. Springer; November 2021. doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-83004-5_2
PEER REVIEWED PUBLICATIONS
- Schwanz K, Senk A. A Positioning Approach to Upper Extremity Sonographic Examination and Intervention. (June 2024). 70 (3)302-305; Muscle & Nerve. doi.org/10.1002/mus.28190
- Balser DY, Schwanz K, Wheelock C, Crosby M, Schuerger W, Weyrauch S, Senk A. Comparison of Comfort and Patient Preference of Common and a Novel Position for Ultrasound-Guided Carpal Tunnel Injections. (April 2024). 43(4)751-760; J Ultrasound Med. doi.org/10.1002/jum.16401
- Kelly B, Williams BR, Gravely A, Schwanz K, Sechriest VF. Femoral Head Collapse After Hip Intra-Articular Corticosteroid Injection: An Institutional Response to Improve Practice and Increase Patient Safety. PLoS ONE (Nov 2021). 16(11):1-16. 10.1371/journal.pone.0259242\
PM&R KNOWLEDGE NOW
- Senk A, Williams M, Volker M, Schwanz K. De Quervain’s Tenosynovitis. PM&R Knowledge Now; [Internet] Jan 2024. Available from: now.aapmr.org/de-quervain-tenosynovitis/
- Senk A, Schwanz K, Weir K, Wundrach D. Ankle and Foot Neuropathies and Entrapments. PM&R Knowledge Now; [Internet] May Available from: me.aapmr.org/kn/article.html?id=319
- Senk A, Schwanz K, Weir K. Lower Limb Exertional Compartment Syndrome, PM&R Knowledge Now; [Internet] December 2022. Available from: *now.aapmr.org/lower-limb-exertional-compartment-syndrome/
ACCEPTED, UNDER REVIEW
- Schwanz K, Karnovsky S, Malafonte J, Borg-Stein J, Tenforde A, McInnis K. Rib Bone StressInjuries: A Narrative Review with Protocol for Rehabilitation and Prevention. CSMR
- Schwanz K, Roberge J, Senk A. Seeing Eye to Eye with Traumatic Hyphema. CJSM
Research
Patents
- Novel Adaptive Rowing Seat Design, 2022 – present
- Status: Patent pending.
CURRENT FUNDED
- Novel Adaptive Rowing Seat; Role: Co-Investigator, 2019 – present
- Sports Performance and Adaptive Design and Engineering, Minneapolis Veterans Affairs Medical Center
- Status: Product fabrication, marketing discussions
- Total Direct Funding (granted 2022): $100,000, VA Veterans Affairs Rehabilitation Research & Development Special Projects Grant
- John Loofts PhD, Alexander Senk MD, Amber Wacek DPT, Juan Cave MSPO CPO
- Sonographic Story of a Soccer Season; Role: Co-Investigator, 2019 – present
- University of MN Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, University of MN Athletic Performance
- Status: Data analysis and preliminary manuscript writing
- Total Direct Funding (granted 2019): $18,650
- Alexander Senk MD, Brionn Tonkin, MD, Corey Petersen CSCS, Joi Thomas ATC
CURRENT NON-FUNDED
- FES Rowing Coaching Application and Seat Design Spark, Seed, Spread; Role: Consultant, 2021 – present
- Cleveland Veterans Affairs Advanced Platform Technology Research Center, Minneapolis Veterans Affairs Medical Center
- Status: System implementation and review
- Lisa Lombardo MPT, Frank Zitko, John Loofts PhD, Alexander Senk MD
- Femoroacetabular Impingement in Wheelchair Users; Role: Co-Investigator, 2020 – present
- Minneapolis Veterans Affairs Medical Center
- Status: IRB review and grant writing. Targeting 2025 National Veterans Wheelchair Games (June 2025)
- Alexander Senk MD, John Loofts PhD
- Quadratus Femoris Injection; Role: Co-Investigator, 2020 – present
- University of MN Department of Rehabilitation
- Status: Manuscript writing
- Mahmood Gharib MD, Alexander Senk MD, Michael Anderson MD
CONFERENCE ORAL/CASE PRESENTATIONS
- American Association of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (AAPM&R) Annual Assembly
- When Return to Play Lives in the Gray 2024
- Oral Podium Case Presentation
- Schwanz K, Babcock M, Topor L, Tonkin B, Puderbaugh M
- When Return to Play Lives in the Gray 2024
- American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) Annual Conference
- A Little (Toe) Problem 2023
- Oral Podium Case Presentation
- Schwanz K, Tompkins M, Senk A
- Biologically Repaired, Neurologically Prepared? Rethinking Knee Injury and a Novel Rehabilitation Model 2019
- Oral Podium Case Presentation
- Petersen C, Schwanz K, Wambheim S
- A Little (Toe) Problem 2023
- New England American College of Sports Medicine (NEACSM) Regional Conference
- 5 Star Bid 2024
- Oral Podium Case Presentation
- Schwanz K, Zamora C, Hill J, Tompkins M, Senk A
- 5 Star Bid 2024
- American Medical Society of Sports Medicine Annual Conference
- Searching for a Javelin in a Haystack: Uncommon Cause of Chest Wall Pain in a Division 1 Heptathlete 2025 (anticipated)
- Case Podium Presentation
- Schwanz K, McInnis K
- Comparison of Comfort and Patient Preference of Common and Novel Ultrasound Guided Carpal Tunnel Injection Positions 2023
- Oral Research Presentation
- Schwanz K, Crosby M, Balser D, Wheelock C, Walters L, Schuerger W, Senk A
- Let Me Repeat, She is Not Cleared to Play From a Medical or Ethical Perspective 2023
- Case Poster Presentation
- Schwanz K, Senk A
- Searching for a Javelin in a Haystack: Uncommon Cause of Chest Wall Pain in a Division 1 Heptathlete 2025 (anticipated)
- Emory Sports Medicine Symposium
- Seeing Eye to Eye with Traumatic Hyphema: Case Presentation and Management Guidelines 2022
- Oral Virtual Case Presentation
- Schwanz K, Senk A
- Seeing Eye to Eye with Traumatic Hyphema: Case Presentation and Management Guidelines 2022
- American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons Annual Conference
- Femoral Head Collapse After Hip Intra-Articular Corticosteroid Injection: An Institutional Response to Improve Practice and Increase Patient Safety 2021
- Oral Research Presentation
- Kelly B, Williams BR, Gravely A, Schwanz K, Sechriest VF
- Femoral Head Collapse After Hip Intra-Articular Corticosteroid Injection: An Institutional Response to Improve Practice and Increase Patient Safety 2021
- Mayo Clinic Sports Medicine for the Clinician
- Chronic Spontaneous Urticaria with Conversion to Angioedema in an Elite Athlete: A Case Report. 2021
- Oral Virtual Case Presentation
- Schwanz K, Yen L, Senk A.
- Chronic Spontaneous Urticaria with Conversion to Angioedema in an Elite Athlete: A Case Report. 2021
- American Volleyball Coaches Association National Convention
- How Much is Enough? Using Zephyr Performance to Establish Normative Training Loads for Volleyball 2018
- Oral Podium Presentation
- Schwanz K, Wiley S, Beatty-Kollasch R, Tompkins M
- How Much is Enough? Using Zephyr Performance to Establish Normative Training Loads for Volleyball 2018
Presentations
Invited Sessions
- Harvard University Athletic Department
- How Much is Too Much? Athlete Monitoring Technology and Return to Performance 2025
- Mass General Brigham Sports Core Lecture Series
- Sports Performance and Rehabilitation: Wearable Technology and Load Monitoring 2024
- Hennepin County Medical Center Emergency Medicine Residency and Ultrasound Fellowship Didactics
- MSKUS in in the ED 2023, 2024
- University of Minnesota Exercise is Medicine Interdisciplinary Interest Group
- Adaptive Sports Night Panel Discussion 2021, 2022, 2024
- University of Minnesota Physical Therapy Pathophysiology Lecture Series 2021
- Multidisciplinary Team: PM&R. Ikramuddin F, Schwanz K, Addoh V
University of Minnesota PM&R Residency Didactics
- When Return to Play Lives in the Gray 2024
- Blood Flow Restriction Addiction 2023
- Tendinopathy Curiosity: Understanding and Treating One of Medicine’s Black Holes 2022
- Pincushion: Intro to USg Injections 2021, 2022
- Bend the Knee: Physical Exam and Special Testing 2021
- Motivation Station: Psychology of Motivation and Counseling Exercise 2021
- Exercise Prescription: Patient Cases 2020
- Exercise Prescription 2020
- Journal Clubs
- Brain Bonked: Updates on Sports Concussion 2024
- Really Need the Roids? CSI vs Saline for Intraarticular Injections 2023
- WHO Cares About Exercise? Updated Physical Activity Guidelines 2022
- Where is the LFCN anyway? 2022
University of Minnesota Metro Rehab Grand Rounds
- Avatar Palsy 2024
- PM&R Potpourri: When a Patient Touches All Facets of a Field 2023
- A Tale of Two Femurs 2022
Musculoskeletal Ultrasound Longitudinal Experience (MUSCLE) Ultrasound Didactics
- Overview and Anatomy
- Anterior and Lateral Hip 2022
- Posterior Hip 2021
- Rapid Imaging Practice Cases
- Thick Thighs Save Lives 2022
- Knee 2.0 2022
- Wrist 2021
- Knee 2021
- Elbow 2020
- Journal Club
- Have Some Standards: MSKUS Consensus Statement 2022
- Is This Really Controlled? Intra-articular Knee Corticosteroid vs Saline 2022
- Is It Really All About the Bursa?: Greater Trochanteric Pain Syndrome 2021
- Cadaver Lab Introduction
- Pincushion: Intro to USg Injections 2021, 2022
Minneapolis VA PM&R Noon Talk Presentations
- Exercise Prescription 2022
- Exercise Prescription: Patient Cases 2022
UMN Medical School Presentations
- University of Minnesota Introductory Ultrasound Course
- MS1 Ultrasound Basics 2019-2023
- MS4 Musculoskeletal Ultrasound 2019-2024
- Ultrasound Interest Group
- Musculoskeletal Ultrasound Basics 2020, 2021
- PM&R Interest Group
- Lunch Lecture 2021
- PM&R Intro Night 2020-2023
- PM&R Procedural Skills Night 2020-2023
LEADERSHIP AND EXTRACURRICULARS
- Fellow Associate Chair; AMSSM Sports Ultrasound Education Subcommittee 2024 – present
- Musculoskeletal Ultrasound Instructor; Spaulding PM&R Residency 2024 – present
- Chief Resident; University of Minnesota PM&R 2023 – 2024
- Residency Review Committee; University of Minnesota PM&R 2023 – 2024
- Physiatrist in Training (PhiT) Council Ambassador; AAPM&R 2023 – 2024
- Chief Development Program; ACGME 2023
- Health and Safety Manager; Minnesota Strike 2023
- Resident Leadership Academy; University of Minnesota Graduate Medical Education 2022 – 2024
- Health and Safety Manager; Minnesota Wind Chill 2022 – present
- Minneapolis Team Coach; National Veterans Wheelchair Games 2022
- Physiatry Residents Interested in Sports Medicine (PRISM); University of Minnesota PM&R 2020 – 2024
- Advisory Council Member; Her Next Play Non-Profit 2021 – 2023
- MUSCLE –Longitudinal Musculoskeletal Ultrasound Curriculum; University of Minnesota PM&R 2020 – 2024
- Faculty Integrated Trainee (FIT) Junior Faculty; appointed: 2023-2024
- Chief of Resident Education (CORE); elected: 2021-2023
- Participant: 2020-2024
- Creator: 2020
- Sports Performance and Adaptive Design Engineering (SPADE) Founding Member; Minneapolis VA 2020 – present
- Musculoskeletal Ultrasound Instructor; University of Minnesota Medical School 2019 – 2024
- Medical Human Anatomy Teaching Assistant; University of Minnesota Medical School 2019
- Adaptive Sports Medicine Committee; Minneapolis Veterans Affairs Medical Center 2018 – present
- Mentorship
- Ultrasound Interest Group Musculoskeletal Resident Mentor; University of Minnesota 2020 – 2024
- Women Invested in Learning and Leadership (WILL) Mentor; University of Minnesota Athletics Dept 2018 – 2024
- Health Careers Mentor; University of Minnesota Athletics Dept 2017 – 2024
- Medical Student Mentorship; University of Minnesota 2019 – 2024
- Strength and Conditioning/Sports Performance Intern; University of Minnesota Athletic Department 2016 – 2020
- Strength & Conditioning Coordinator; Assistant Varsity Coach; Twin Cities Youth Rowing Club 2016 – 2020
- Liaison for Educational Advancement and Development; University of Minnesota Medical School 2016 – 2018
- Rowing Representative; University of Minnesota Student Athlete Advisory Committee 2016
- University of Minnesota Representative; BIG Ten Conference Student Athlete Advisory Committee 2016
ULTRASOUND TEACHING
- Midwest Musculoskeletal Ultrasound
- Diagnostic Course Fall 2025 (anticipated)
- Procedural Course May 2025 (anticipated
- Mass General Brigham Musculoskeletal US Course 2025 (anticipated)
- AMSSM Sports Ultrasound Education Subcommittee
- Fellow Associate Chair – Hands On Ultrasound Workshops 2024 – present
- AMSSM US Education Committee HOW Chair : Brennan Boettcher, DO
- Spaulding PM&R Residency
- Musculoskeletal Ultrasound Instructor 2024 – present
- Hennepin County Medical Center Emergency Medicine Ultrasound Fellowship and Residency Programs
- Invited lecturer and workshop leader
- MSKUS in in the ED 2023, 2024
- Invited lecturer and workshop leader
- MUSCLE – Longitudinal Musculoskeletal Ultrasound Curriculum; University of Minnesota PM&R 2020 – 2024
- Faculty Integrated Trainee (FIT) Junior Faculty; appointed position: 2023-2024
- Chief of Resident Education (CORE); elected: 2021-2023
- Participant: 2020-2024
- Creator: 2020
- University of Minnesota Ultrasound Interest Group
- Musculoskeletal Resident Mentor 2020 – 2024
- Musculoskeletal Ultrasound Basics Presenter 2020, 2021
- University of Minnesota Introductory Ultrasound Course
- MS1 Ultrasound Basics 2019 – 2023
- MS4 Musculoskeletal Ultrasound 2019 – 2024
EXTRACORPOREAL SHOCKWAVE TEACHING
- AMSSM Annual Meeting Shockwave Preconference Instructor 2025 (anticipated)
MENTORSHIP
- Group Mentorship
- Ultrasound Interest Group Musculoskeletal Resident Mentor; University of Minnesota 2020 – 2024
- Women Invested in Learning and Leadership (WILL) Mentor; University of Minnesota Athletics Dept 2018 – present
- Health Careers Mentor; University of Minnesota Athletics Dept 2017 – present
- Medical Student Mentorship; University of Minnesota 2019 – 2024
- Individual Mentorship
- Marcus Babcock (UMN PM&R), Lauren Topor (UMN PM&R), Jesse Smith (OHSU Diagnostic Radiology), Willis Schuerger (Hennepin EM), Eli Schmidt (UMN PM&R), Hye Chang Rhim (Spaulding PM&R), Nicole Katz (Spaulding PM&R), Shannon Killeen (Spaulding PM&R), Zack Crockett (Spaulding PM&R), Joe Ruiz (Spaulding PM&R), Jenn Su (Spaulding PM&R), Raymond Guo (Spaulding PM&R), Collette Piasecki-Masters (Spaulding PM&R)
