News from the Foundation for Physical Therapy

Recent Publications by Foundation Alumni

“Synergistic Effect of Combined Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation/Constraint-Induced Movement Therapy in Children and Young Adults With Hemiparesis: Study Protocol,” by Gillick B, Menk J, Mueller B, Meekins G, Krach LE, Feyma T, and Rudser K, was published in BMC Pediatrics (2015;15:178). Bernadette Gillick, PT, MSPT, PhD, was awarded a Magistro Family Foundation Research Grant in 2014 and Promotion of Doctoral Studies (PODS) II scholarships in 2010 and 2009. Gillick's contributions to this research were supported in part by the Foundation.

“Reliability and Validity of Objective Measures of Physical Activity in Youth With Cerebral Palsy Who Are Ambulatory,” by O'Neil ME, Fragala-Pinkham M, Lennon N, George A, Forman J, and Trost SG, was published in Physical Therapy (2016;96:37–45). Margaret E. O'Neil, PT, PhD, MPH, was awarded the 1997 Doctoral Training Research Grant.

“Sex-Specific Gait Adaptations Prior to and Up to 6 Months After Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction,” by Di Stasi S, Hartigan EH, Snyder-Mackler L, was published in the Journal of Orthopaedic & Sports Physical Therapy (2015;45:207–214). Stephanie Di Stasi, PT, MSPT, was awarded PODS I scholarships in 2008 and 2009. Erin H. Hartigan, PT, DPT, MSPT, BSEP, was awarded PODS I scholarships in 2006 and 2007 and a PODS II scholarship in 2008. Lynn Snyder-Mackler, PT, ScD, SCS, FAPTA, was awarded Doctoral Training Research Grants in 1991 and 1992.

$80,000 Magistro Family Foundation Research Grant Awarded

Christine McDonough, PT, MS, PhD, research assistant professor in the Department of Health Policy Management at the Boston University School of Public Health has been awarded the $80,000 Magistro Family Foundation Research Grant. Her 2-year project, “Living In Fitness Together (LIFT): Testing an Innovative Fall Prevention Program,” aims to reduce the possibility of falls in older adults by testing the feasibility, safety, and efficacy of delivering tailored exercise intervention for those who are at risk, while empowering them to meet their goals through training in self-management and peer coaching. McDonough also received a New Investigator Fellowship Training Initiative–Health Services Research (NIFTI-HSR) from the Foundation in 2009. The research grant is generously funded through the Magistro Family Foundation Endowment Fund.

Gravare-Silbernagel Awarded $40,000 Pittsburgh–Marquette Challenge Research Grant

Karin Gravare-Silbernagel, PT, ATC, PhD, an assistant professor of physical therapy in the Biomechanics and Movement Science Program at the University of Delaware, is the recipient of the $40,000 Pittsburgh–Marquette Challenge Research Grant. Her 2-year project, “Evaluation of Recovery Following an Achilles Tendon Rupture,” will assess and determine whether the degree of physical activity during the first 8 weeks after an Achilles tendon rupture is related to the short- and long-term outcomes of early physical activity on tendon healing and recovery. Pittsburgh–Marquette Challenge Research Grant is named in honor of the Marquette Challenge, a student-led fundraising initiative.

Congratulations to the 2015 Kendall Scholarship Recipients

The Foundation for Physical Therapy is proud to announce the recipients of the 2015 Florence P. Kendall Doctoral Scholarships. These $5,000 awards are given to support outstanding postprofessional doctoral students in their first year of studies. This year's recipients include:

• Kara Bush, PT, DPT, The Ohio State University

• Kelly Hawkins PT, DPT, University of Florida

• Joshua Johnson, PT, DPT, ATC, University of Utah

Funding for the 2015 Kendall Scholarships is provided by the Rhomberger Fund.

Register for the CoHSTAR Summer Institute

The Foundation-funded multisite Center on Health Services Training and Research (CoHSTAR) will be holding its first Summer Institute at Boston University this June. “CoHSTAR was made possible by the generous support of our donors,” said Foundation Board of Trustees President Barbara Connolly, PT, DPT, EdD, FAPTA. “We are extremely proud of the work being done and are pleased to support the first of its kind Summer Institute on Health Services Research in Physical Therapy.” The 2-day conference will feature a number of guest speakers, including the Foundation alumni Kristin Archer, PT, DPT, PhD, Anthony Delitto, PT, PhD, FAPTA, Pamela Duncan, PT, PhD, FAPTA, Julie Fritz, PT, PhD, FAPTA, James Irrgang, PhD, PT, ATC, Diane Jette, PT, DSc, and former Scientific Review Committee (SRC) Chair Alan Jette, PT, MPH, PhD, FAPTA. Registration is open and space is limited. Register now at: http://www.bu.edu/cohstar/training/summer-institute/.

CoHSTAR Announces Faculty and Postdoctoral Fellowship Opportunities

CoHSTAR is a multi-institutional center dedicated to advancing health services and health policy research in physical therapy. The CoHSTAR Fellowship program provides up to 2 years of funding to support doctorally trained physical therapist researchers seeking to advance their skills in health services research. Fellows will be paired with a CoHSTAR site and faculty mentor and will engage in activities to promote a career as a successful health services researcher. To learn more and view the application guidelines, visit http://www.bu.edu/cohstar/training/fellowships/.

Foundation Welcomes New Trustee and Elects Officers

The Foundation for Physical Therapy is pleased to announce the appointment of Dwayne Hofstatter to the Board of Trustees. Hofstatter is the Global Chief Sales & Marketing Officer at Hollywog, LLC, of Chattanooga, Tennessee. The Foundation Board includes representation from industry to provide a unique perspective on the health care environment. Hofstatter has decades of experience working for the advancement of medical and orthopedic devices. He has served on the Foundation's Awareness Committee for the past 2 years and led the development of an industry stakeholder group in 2014, which meets regularly with the Foundation to discuss issues of common interest.

In addition to the new trustee, the following officers were elected to serve in 2016:

• President: Barbara Connolly, PT, DPT, EdD, FAPTA

• Vice President: Michael Mueller, PT, PhD, FAPTA

• Treasurer: Charles Martin, Jr, CAE, CIA

• Secretary: Randy Roesch, PT, DPT, MBA

Welcome to Newest Scientific Advisory Committee Member

The Foundation for Physical Therapy welcomes Rebecca Craik, PT, PhD, FAPTA, to the Scientific Advisory Committee (SAC). She is currently serving as the Dean of the College of Health Sciences at Arcadia University, and she was the Editor in Chief of PTJ and Congress Editor for the Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation.

The Foundation would also like to thank returning SAC member Cory Christiansen, PT, PhD (University of Colorado, Denver), as well as Karen Lohmann-Siegel, PT, MA, (Department of Veterans Affairs), for her willingness to serve as chair for the SAC for the remainder of her term.

Foundation Shout Outs

Foundation alumnus John D. Lowman, PT, PhD, CCS (2003 PODS II), was recently awarded a grant from the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation to participate in a 2-year international, multicenter, randomized controlled trial titled, “Effects of a Partially Supervised Conditioning Program in Cystic Fibrosis.” Lowman also is currently working on a 2-year project at the University of Alabama at Birmingham titled “Home-Based Pulmonary Rehabilitation for Patients With Pulmonary Fibrosis” that received funding from the Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation.

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To have your information posted in the Foundation's section of PTJ, please email Yaman Shalabi at YamanShalabi{at}foundation4pt.org.

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