The Department of Rehabilitation and Movement Science integrates three complementary applied human sciences that focus on promoting optimal health as well as disease and injury prevention through participation in physical activity. Department faculty have strong interdisciplinary research ties with faculty in engineering, nutrition, psychology, and medicine.

Faculty/Staff Member Area of Expertise and/or Research

Theodore J. Angelopoulos, Ph.D.

Impact of lifestyle on cardio metabolic risk factors

Reuben Escorpizo, PT, M.Sc., D.P.T.

Functioning and disability, work rehabilitation, systematic reviews and meta-analysis, outcomes measurement, instrument development and validation, clinical practice guideline, general physical therapy

Mathew Failla, PT, Ph.D., SCS

Sports medicine, knee injury prevention and treatment, shoulder injury prevention and treatment

Ann Marie Feretti, Ed.D., OTR/L, CHT

Certified Hand Therapist (CHT), orthotic fabrication and design, traumatic injuries of the upper extremity, rehabilitation for brachial plexus reconstruction, mentoring and professional clinical education, healthcare leadership and management

Nancy Gell, PT, Ph.D., M.P.H.

Exercise and physical activity adherence, influence of environment and technology on physical activity behavior, strategies for healthy aging

Nicola Hawko, O.T.D.

Low Vision Certification, treatments related to fall prevention, geriatrics, neurological rehabilitation, progressive degenerative conditions

Susan Kasser, Ph.D.

Postural control and fall risk in adults with multiple sclerosis, physical and psychological outcomes of exercise for individuals with multiple sclerosis, physical activity and health in people with multiple sclerosis

Nathan Kokinda, M.S.

Exercise intervention following cancer treatment, physiological testing

Kimberly Krebs, OTD, OTR/L, BCP, SWC, CLC, CTP

Certified Trauma Professional

Christopher LaMonda, M.P.H.

Pre-hospital emergency care, including emergency medical technician, advanced emergency medical technician, and paramedic; EMS leadership

Margaret Maynard M.Ed., OTR/L, OTD, BCP, CHT, FNAP

Certified hand therapist, board certified in pediatrics, sensory integration and praxis test certified, therapeutic listening

Deborah A. O'Rourke, PT, Ph.D.

Pediatric pain, health-related quality of life in children with disabilities, interprofessional education and practice

Rebecca Ouellette-Morton, PT, M.S., D.P.T.

Integration of function, nutrition, and cardiovascular components to address individual and community wellness and quality of life, interprofessional oncology rehabilitation, lymphedema and swelling disorders, cultural immersion experiences and cultural competency, travel study

Denise Peters, PT, D.P.T., Ph.D.

Neural correlates of motor impairment and recovery post-stroke, gait rehabilitation and neuromechanics, structural neuroimaging

Victoria Priganc, Ph.D.

Certified Hand Therapist (CHT), hand rehabilitation, manual edema mobilization, orthosis, Executive Certificate in Home Modifications (ECHM) from the University of Southern California, aging-in-place

Elizabeth Sargent, PT, Sc.D., OCS

Complex musculoskeletal patient management, Kinesiology/Biomechanics, pain neuroscience

Kathleen Scacciaferro, RN, M.S.

School health, shared governance, Healing Touch & Energy Medicine, Traditional Mongolian Medicine, complementary therapies for pain management

Jeremy Sibold, Ed.D., ATC, NBC - HWC

The relationship between exercise and mental health, the relationship between psychosocial variables and athletic injury

Donna Smith, PT, D.P.T., NCS, GCS

Aging, neurological movement impairments, Mindfulness-based practices, meditation

Paula Smith, PT, M.A.S., D.P.T., GCS

Analysis of structured clinical education in transition to workplace, service learning to engage student learning in geriatrics, leadership in D.P.T. education

Patrick Standen

Medical and healthcare ethics, the history of disability and ethical theory

Connie Tompkins, Ph.D.

Prevention and treatment of childhood and adolescent obesity

Kelly Tourville, M.Ed., ATC, NBC-HWC

Clinical education and practicum experience in athletic training and exercise science, Integrative Health and Wellness Coaching

Timothy Tourville, Ph.D., ATC

Treatment of post-traumatic osteoarthritis and chronic disease with therapeutic exercise and its relationship with changes in biochemical, biomechanical, MRI, clinical- and patient-oriented outcomes, Osteoarthritis imaging (radiographic and MRI) and biomarker evaluation, effectiveness of surgical techniques and rehabilitation following orthopaedic injuries, physical activity as it relates to the prevention, evaluation, and rehabilitation of orthopaedic injuries

Christine Vatovec, Ph.D.

Environmental health, climate change and human health, unintended consequences of medical care on the environment, human health benefits of nature contact, planetary health

Kathryn Vreeland, Ed.D., M.B.A., ATC

Emergency medical response in sports medicine, academic effects of concussion on college students

Carissa Wengrovius, PT, D.P.T., Ph.D.

Pediatric physical therapy, infant and child development, mind-body practices

Karen C. Westervelt, PT, ATC, NBC-HWC, Ph.D.

Integrative Health & Wellness Coaching, Integrative Health, Physical Therapy, , orthopedic manual therapy, post-professional physical therapist education, international collaborations in health care, novel mentoring techniques for new clinicians and clinicians in rural settings, Kinesiology, biomechanics, travel study