Faculty Research Areas
| Faculty Member & Specialty Areas | Areas of Research Interest | Current Research Projects |
| Jessica Cassidy, PT, DPT, PhD
Neurorehabilitation Pediatrics Motor control & motor learning |
Application of multi-modal neuroimaging and neurostimulation in neurological disease, injury, and development; biomarker development of motor recovery | -Neural response to aerobic and cognitive priming using EEG
-Brain connectivity in early stroke rehabilitation -Brain and muscle signal coherence in stroke and pediatric hemiplegia |
| Deidra Charity, PT, DPT
Sports Orthopedics |
Sports Medicine, Return to Sport after Injury, Injury Prevention, Advancing Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging in the Physical Therapy Profession | |
| Jennifer Cooke, PT, DPT
Orthopedics Clinical Education |
Manual therapy, therapeutic and corrective exercise, clinical education outcomes, international service learning | -Orthopedic case studies
-Effectiveness of online preceptor training -Supporting clinical research as a clinical administrator |
| Rachel Donnelly, PT, DPT, NCS
Neurologic Rehabilitation Vestibular dysfunction Balance and falls risk in older adults |
Balance, Falls Risk, Geriatrics, Telehealth, Individual vs. Group delivery models | -Group-delivery of Otago program for older adults at increased risk for falls
-Pre-Habilitation using Otago protocol in Pre- Transplant Patients with Cirrhosis -Telehealth PT for older adults with obesity and multiple health co-morbidities
|
| Bria Dunn, PT, DPT
Orthopedics Clinical Education |
Orthopedics including low extremity and shoulder, post-operative rehabilitation and outcomes; clinical education outcomes | – Developing school-based PTs through a clinical education track
– Orthopedic assessment of the post-operative shoulder |
| Timothy Eckard, PT, DPT, PhD
Academic administration Student belonging & success |
Identification of risk factors and development of screening techniques for injury risk reduction in military training populations | -Development of a prediction model for ACL injury during military basic training
-Development of a prediction model for bone stress injuries during military basic training
|
| Jyotsna J Gupta, PT, PhD
Orthopedics Clinical Education |
Orthopedics with a special interest in shoulder pathology, clinical education, clinical case studies | Pre-Habilitation using Otago protocol in Pre- Transplant Patients with Cirrhosis.
|
| Lisa Johnston, PT, MS, DPT
Orthopedics Clinical Education Teaching and Learning |
Clinical education, educational outcomes; impact of international service-learning experiences, orthopedic interventions | -Implementation and evaluation of an online interprofessional training program for clinical preceptors |
| Michael Lewek, PT, PhD
Biomechanics Neural Control of Movement |
Locomotor recovery following stroke; mechanics, energetics, and motor learning of gait post-stroke; fall prevention strategies during gait; gait training for people with Parkinson disease | -Develop algorithms for predicting trips in real-time during gait
-Implicit learning of gait behavior – Neurally controlled prostheses -Use of powered orthosis for gait post-stroke -Rhythmic auditory cueing for improved gait in individuals with Parkinson disease |
| Sean Lowers, PT, DPT
Cardiovascular and Pulmonary PT Critical care
|
Heart failure rehabilitation
Transplant rehabilitation |
Pre- and post-lung transplant outcomes
Blood pressure in outpatient PT |
| Sarah McAuliffe, PT, DPT, OCS, FAAOMPT
Orthopedics Manual therapy |
Orthopedic Manual Physical Therapy
Hypermobility Spectrum Disorder/Hypermobile Ehlers Danlos Syndrome Clinical reasoning development across educational spectrum (DPT –> residency –> fellowship) |
|
| Dana McCarty, PT, DPT, PhD, PCS
Pediatrics Neonatology Public Health |
Impact of therapy services during the neonatal period, cranial molding in preterm infants, infant-parent attachment facilitation through massage and therapeutic intervention, application of public health theory to clinical practice |
|
| Karen McCulloch, PT, PhD, NCS(E), FAPTA, FACRM
Adult Neurologic Dysfunction and Rehabilitation Traumatic Brain Injury Concussion Balance Dual-Task Performance Neurologic Residency |
Traumatic brain injury, including concussion in military, sports, and geriatric populations; assessment of balance dysfunction/dual-task performance; intervention for sensorimotor impairments post-concussion; heart rate variability and methods for identifying exercise intolerance early post-concussion, post-graduate training (residency), neurologic specialization | -Relationships between dual-task performance, attention, and balance in adults with brain injury
-High-level balance/cognitive assessment for use in the military -Complex Assessment of Military Performance (a multi-component test administered with wearable sensors to aid return to duty decision-making) -Progressive return to activity post-concussion (one RCT, one practice-based evidence approach) -Exertion testing for acute concussion |
| Jeff O’Laughlin, PT, DPT, OCS, FAAOMPT
Orthopedics Sports Medicine Manual Therapy Clinical Education (Students/Residents/Fellows) |
Orthopedics, Sports Medicine, Manual Therapy, Residency/Fellowship Mentor Development
Clinical reasoning development: DPT –> residency –> fellowship
|
Orthopedic Case studies
OMPT Clinician participant BEST trial (Biomarkers for evaluation time treatment)- EBEM arm (Evidenced Based exercise and manual therapy) |
| Laurie Ray, PT, PhD
Pediatrics School-based PT Advocacy |
Pediatrics, School-based PT, Policy Legislation – IDEA, ADA, Section 504, FERPA, Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS), Ethics, High Leverage Practices (HLPs) Reimbursement/ Funding for School Health Services, Inclusion, Diverse Profession, Advocacy, Mentorship, Coaching | -Retention of PT practitioners in school practice
-Recruiting and Preparing PT practitioners for school practice -Assessing performance of school-based PT practitioners -Developing Public School Unit capacity for: -Interprofessional Clinical Education/ Fieldwork/ Internship programs -Medicaid reimbursement programs -Physical Therapy programs -Adapted Physical Education programs |
| Louise Thoma, PT, DPT, PhD
Rheumatology Orthopedics Health Services Research |
Optimizing rehabilitation to preserve function and prevent disability for individuals with rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases | Developing and testing strategies to integrate rehabilitation into routine rheumatology care for adults with rheumatic conditions
Developing and testing lifestyle interventions (e.g. sleep, physical activity) for adults with rheumatic conditions
|
| Katherine Zisk, PT, DPT, OCS, FAAOMPT
Orthopedics Manual therapy Clinical Education (Entry-level, Residents, Fellows) |
Orthopedics, Manual Physical therapy, Performing arts, Rheumatology, TMD/orofacial pain, Pain mechanisms, Clinical reasoning development across the spectrum of PT education | -Integrating rehabilitation into routine rheumatology care (PI: Louise Thoma with RMR)
-Orthopedic Case Reports |
| Hiral Master, PT, PhD, MPH
Orthopedics Arthritis Digital health Community-based interventions |
Digital health, physical activity maintenance, and implementation science to promote arthritis self-management and health equity |
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