Nichólas Vasílis Karayánnis, MPT, PhD, OCS, FAAOMPT

Dr. Karayánnis’s mission as a physiotherapist-scientist is to improve the clinical practice of physiotherapy by implementing mind-body interventions and integrating holistic care for people with musculoskeletal pain. His research investigates movement-based mindfulness practices like yoga and tai chi integrated with mindfulness meditation, biofeedback training, and behavioral medicine approaches to promote healthy aging and human flourishing (eudaimonia) for adults across the lifespan experiencing physical and cognitive impairments.

Dr. Níkos is passionate about teaching pain science education to manage musculoskeletal pain which centers upon screening for biopsychosocial factors and health comorbidities, embracing patient-centered communication, active learning approaches to facilitate behavioral change, and coaching towards self-management. 

Supported by the National Institute on Drug Abuse, he completed his postdoctoral fellowship in interdisciplinary pain medicine at Stanford University (2017). He received his PhD degree in Physiotherapy from The University of Queensland (2013), and a Master’s degree in Physical Therapy from Ohio University (2000). Nichólas is a Fellow of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Manual Physical Therapists, board-certified in orthopedics, and a certified teacher in yoga, tai chi, and Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction. Dr. Níkos has over 20 years of clinical practice experience in the outpatient rehabilitation setting in the Pacific Northwest (Oregon, British Columbia), New England (Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston), Australia (Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital), and California (Stanford Health Care Pain Management Center and Orthopaedic and Sports Clinic). He has clinical teaching experience that has ranged from serving as a Clinical Instructor for DPT students to serving as a teaching faculty member for the Stanford Orthopaedic Residency Program and Stanford Pain Medicine Fellowship Program, to leading group-based pain education and mindfulness-based programs for patients living with chronic pain.