DPT Faculty Ben Rogozinski’s Article Selected as Featured Article by IEEE Transactions in Biomedical Engineering
The manuscript ‘Reducing Knee Hyperextension with an Exoskeleton in Children and Adolescents with Genu Recurvatum: A Feasibility Study’ has been selected by the Editorial Board as a featured article in the December 2023 issue of IEEE Transactions on Biomedical Engineering (TBME) journal. The study assessed the feasibility of a knee exoskeleton to mitigate hyperextension and increase swing range of motion in five children/adolescents who presented with unilateral genu recurvatum. In final validation trials, the exoskeleton was effective in reducing knee hyperextension (0.2 ± 4.7° average peak knee extension without exo to 9.9 ± 10.3° with exo) and improving swing range of motion by 14.0 ± 4.5° increase on average.
The work showcases a promising potential application of a robotic knee exoskeleton for improving the kinematic characteristics of genu recurvatum gait.
Nicole Rendos Named President Elect of the Southeast American College of Sports Medicine Biomechanics Interest Group
DPT faculty Nicole Rendos, PhD, ATC, CSCS, is the 2024 President Elect of the Southeast American College of Sports Medicine Biomechanics Interest Group. Dr. Rendos is an Assistant Professor of Rehabilitation Medicine at Emory University who focuses in gait mechanics and gait retraining interventions in individuals with post-stroke hemiparesis and diabetic peripheral neuropathy. The Southeast Chapter of the American College of Sports Medicine is a diverse group of professionals and students dedicated to the advancement of sports medicine and exercise science. The group serves members in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia. The chapter seeks to communicate scientific information, provide a forum for research, foster professional peer interaction and support career growth. Dr. Rendos is excited to continue progress on the executive board as President-Elect.
Emory University’s Only World Health Organization Collaborating Centre Leads Initiative in the Bahamas
Emory University's Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, now designated a World Health Organization (WHO) Collaborating Centre (US-478), is leading efforts to enhance the healthcare system in the Bahamas, advancing Emory's commitment to global health rehabilitation initiatives.
This designation currently stands as Emory’s sole WHO Collaborating Centre and is an honor that places Emory among an elite group of just nine rehabilitation collaborating centers worldwide and the first one in North America. The Centre is affiliated with the WHO’s Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), the specialized international health agency whose work is focused in the Americas and the Caribbean.
Emory University School of Medicine Names Interim Leadership for Department of Rehabilitation Medicine
Emory University School of Medicine is pleased to announce an interim leadership team for the Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, effective January 19, 2024.
The new interim leadership team is led by George Fulk, PT, PhD, who assumes the role of interim chair, bringing more than 25 years of experience in physical therapy and a strong background in neurological health conditions. Fulk joined Emory in 2022 as professor and director of the Division of Physical Therapy and director of the Center for Physical Therapy and Movement Science. He previously served as chair of the Department of Physical Therapy at Upstate Medical University in Syracuse, New York.
DPT Faculty and Student Awards and Accomplishments
Danielle Audain Attends Leadership Congress
DPT student Danielle Audain attended the leadership congress, which she described as "truly a life changing opportunity." As a member of the APTA student board and a leadership congress attendee, Audain was able to see and experience the house of delegates for the first time. "I learned so much about the structure of our profession and the potential ways we are able to impact our growth and imprint on and within society. I left feeling inspired to pursue a future in legislative advocacy work and even potentially run for a delegate position in the future," said Audain.
Kathy Lee Bishop and Jenny Sharp Awarded IPECP Project Award
Kathy Lee Bishop, PT, DPT, FNAP, and Jenny Sharp, PT, DPT, were awarded the IPECP Project Award from the Woodruff Health Sciences Center (WHSC) Office of Interprofessional Education and Collaborative Practice. These awards are used to support work expanding the development of innovations in IPECP that enhance the WHSC strategic plan and foster relationships across WHSC schools and programs. The $10,000 award will help to fund a project titled, “Interprofessional Patient Handoff in High-Fidelity Simulation in Collaboration” with Lisa Marie Wands from the School of Nursing, and Gina Shannon from the School of Medicine.
Sarah Blanton Selected for the NIH-National Advisory Board on Medical Rehabilitation Research
Sarah Blanton, PT, DPT, FNAP, was selected for the NIH-National Advisory Board on Medical Rehabilitation Research, with her term starting in December 2023. The Board advises the NIH Director, the NICHD Director and the NCMRR Director on matters and policies relating to NCMRR’s medical rehabilitation research and training programs. The Board will review and assess Federal research priorities, activities and findings regarding medical rehabilitation research.
“I am honored for this opportunity to share my clinical expertise in stroke rehabilitation, in particular my focus on family-integrated care and real-world outcomes," Blanton said.
She is excited to increase awareness of the work being done to integrate health humanities into rehabilitation science. The Journal of Humanities in Rehabilitation’s mission is to support the co-creation of content with the disability community aligned with recommendations from the Disability Subgroup of the NIH Advisory Committee on Diversity emphasizing the critical importance of disability community partners’ inclusion in research grant development, methods and interpretation of outcomes, of which Blanton is the Editor-In-Chief.
Durga Shah Receives the Susan Effgen Advocacy Award
Durga Shah, PT, DPT, is the recipient of the APTA Susan Effgen Advocacy Award in Pediatrics. Throughout her career Shah has advocated for changes in policies supporting physical therapy services for children. Dr. Shah has assisted the APTA in responding to and commenting on proposed rules and regulations at federal, state and third party payers’ levels. She has assisted in contesting private insurance policies that limited or denied coverage for pediatric PT services and durable medical equipment, and on reinstating excluded code sets to expand rehab services for children. Additionally. Shah has successfully advocated for increased Medicaid reimbursement for PT services in Georgia. She has served as the pay chair, and the payment, policy and advocacy chair for the APTA’s Academy of Pediatrics. Shah received the award at the CSM APTA Education business meeting on Friday, February 16.
Jenny Sharp Receives the APTA Academy of Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Physical Therapy Merit Award
Sharp has also received the APTA Academy of Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Physical Therapy Merit Award. The award recognizes an individual who has contributed to the advancement, knowledge and/or recognition of the Academy of Cardiovascular & Pulmonary Physical Therapy. Sharp will receive the award on February 15 at the CSM APTA CVP Membership meeting. She has also received the Adopt-A-Doc Award from the APTA Academy of Education. The Adopt-A-Doc program seeks to increase the number of doctorally prepared PTs and PTAs by providing financial support to Academy members who are in the dissertation phase of their post-professional programs. The award includes a $3,000 scholarship to offset tuition or doctoral research costs. This award will be presented at the CSM APTA Education business meeting on Friday, February 16.
Steven L. Wolf Named Recipient of the 2024 Charles M. Magistro Distinguished Service Award
The Foundation of Physical Therapy Research Board of Trustees has selected DPT emeritus faculty, Steven L. Wolf, PT, PhD, FAPTA, as the recipient of the 2024 Charles M. Magistro Distinguished Service Award. Established in 1991, the award honors individuals for outstanding service and personal commitment toward promoting the Foundation's goals. The Foundation recognizes Dr. Wolf’s longstanding contributions, and support as a Trustee, chair and member of the Scientific Advisory Committee and the Scientific Review Committee. Wolf will receive the awards at the upcoming APTA Combined Section Meeting in February 2024.