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Bethany Forseth, Ph.D., M.S.

Bethany Forseth portrait
Assistant Professor, Physical Therapy, Rehabilitation Science, and Athletic Training
bhanson4@kumc.edu

Professional Background

Bethany Forseth, Ph.D., M.S., is a tenure-track assistant professor in the Department of Physical Therapy, Rehabilitation Science, and Athletic Training at KU Medical Center. She joined the faculty in February 2023.

Academic Background

Forseth earned a bachelor's degree in exercise and sport science from the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse in 2012 and a master's degree in clinical exercise physiology from the University of Tennessee-Knoxville in 2014. After completing a doctorate in health sciences from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee in 2019, she held a postdoctoral fellowship position in pediatric obesity in the Department of Pediatrics at KU Medical Center from 2020 to 2023.

Clinical exercise is Forseth's primary area of research expertise. She serves on local and national professional organizations including the American College of Sport Medicine's Strategic Health Initiative-Obesity Group and the Center for Children's Healthy Lifestyles and Nutrition.


Research

Overview

Forseth is the director of the Behaviors for Family Health Lab. Her career goal is to leverage healthy lifestyle behaviors to improve cardiometabolic health (e.g., obesity, type 2 diabetes) in individuals.

Current research by Forseth focuses on the promotion and health benefits of physical activity and working to prevent and/or manage chronic diseases through increasing physical activity and reducing sedentary behaviors.