Sara E. Bills, PT, DPT
Associate Professor
Acting Program Director, Physical Therapy
Board-Certified Clinical Specialist in Geriatric Physical Therapy
Sara Bills, PT, DPT, is an Associate Professor and Acting Program Director in the Physical Therapy Program at the University of Nebraska Medical Center. A UNMC Doctor of Physical Therapy graduate and board-certified geriatric clinical specialist, she is currently pursuing a doctorate through the Clinical and Translational Research Mentored Scholars Program.
Dr. Bills joined the UNMC faculty in 2014 and was promoted to associate professor with tenure in 2025. She has served in program leadership since 2020 as Associate Director, contributing to strategic planning, curriculum innovation, accreditation activities, and student success. Recognized for excellence in teaching, she has received both the UNMC Outstanding Teacher Award and the CAHP Excellence in Teaching Award.
Dr. Bills maintains an active research agenda focused on health behavior and exercise interventions for individuals with chronic conditions. She serves as a co-investigator on an NIH R01-funded study and a Buffett Cancer Center-funded project, with scholarship disseminated through peer-reviewed publications and national and international presentations. She is also an active leader within the American Physical Therapy Association and serves community organizations, including the American Heart Association.
- PhD Candidate, Clinical and Translational Research Mentored Scholars Program, University of Nebraska Medical Center, expected graduation 2028
- DPT, Division of Physical Therapy Education, University of Nebraska Medical Center, 2004
- BS, Education, Teachers College, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 2001
- Credentialed Clinical Instructor: American Physical Therapy Association, 2010
- Board Certified Geriatric Clinical Specialist: American Board of Physical Therapy Specialists, 2009, 2019 renewal
- 2022 Chancellor's Council Silver U Award
- 2019 Outstanding Teacher, UNMC Faculty Senate
- 2019 Excellence in Teaching Award, College of Allied Health Professions
- 2018 Induction into the Interprofessional Academy of Educators, UNMC
- 2013 PT Clinical Excellence Award, Nebraska Physical Therapy Association
Dr. Bills serves as co-investigator on a National Institutes of Health R01–funded study on exercise adherence in individuals with heart failure and a 2025 Fred and Pamela Buffett Cancer Center Cancer Prevention and Control Program grant supporting exercise interventions for older cancer survivors. Her research has been disseminated through peer-reviewed publications and national and international presentations.