Physical Therapy

I strive to help adults with rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases stay active and engaged in the activities that matter most to them. Towards this goal, my vision is to ensure that everyone who needs high-quality rehabilitation can access it. Through our research, we aim to create and implement care models that make it easier for clinicians to identify patients who need rehabilitation, connect them to the right resources, and deliver effective rehabilitation care.

My research has focused on improving health care services, function, and participation for adults with cerebral palsy. My participation in an international investigator group allows me to combine the data I have gathered on secondary conditions within a small cohort of adults with CP with other international databases with similar variables so that we can make significant contributions to the literature. These results will lead to the development of more efficacious interventions to allow adults with CP to be as functional as possible for as long as possible. Equally important, these cross-sectional, and eventually longitudinal, data will assist in developing prevention programs that will better predict adult outcomes for individuals with CP and their families and eventually be instrumental in the development of programs to prevent secondary conditions.

I am also involved in health services research, utilizing large data to identify longitudinal patterns of health care utilization for adults with CP diagnosed with specific musculoskeletal conditions.

Learn more about my current research by watching this video from UNC Research.

As clinical faculty, I have the privilege of wearing many hats including clinician, mentor, teacher, and researcher. I bring a deep passion for clinical care, specializing in orthopedic manual physical therapy having completed an advanced Fellowship at the Northwestern University. My goal is to meet my patients where they are and empower them to take an active role in their recovery, ensuring that they not only achieve their immediate goals but also maintain long-term health.

In addition to my clinical practice, I am committed to fostering the development of clinical reasoning in my students. I aim to equip future clinicians with the critical thinking tools necessary to assess complex cases, make informed decisions, utilize evidence-based practice, and approach challenges with humility and confidence. Through a combination of mentoring, treating, and teaching, I strive to inspire the next generation of physical therapists to think critically, provide compassionate care, and contribute to the continued advancement of our profession.