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

Justine Dee, PT, M.S., OCS

Treatment of chronic pain, addressing pain and functional loss in the victims of torture and trauma, low back pain, treatment of lymphedema

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

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

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, O.T.D., OTR/L, SWC, CLC

Certified Lactation Counselor (CLC), pediatric mental health, developmental disabilities, feeding disorders, Sensory Integration Certification from the University of Southern California

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

Margaret "Ellie" Meyer, OTD

Home modifications and aging

Sambit Mohapatra, PT, Ph.D.

Noninvasive brain stimulation, assessment and interventions in mild Traumatic Brain Injury and Post-Concussion Syndrome, recovery of motor functions post-stroke

Allyson Muehlemann, D.P.T.

Examination and treatment for adults with neurological conditions, with particular expertise for people following stroke or spinal cord injury and those diagnosed with progressive neurologic diseases; patient education, balance and fall prevention, neuromuscular rehabilitation, and interprofessional collaboration

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

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

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

Integrative therapies to decrease student anxiety, classification and treatment of low back pain, 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