The faculty of the School of Physical Therapy & Rehabilitation Science participates in a wide array of scholarly activities that may include case studies, surveys, clinical and applied human research, as well as many other possibilities.  Faculty are encouraged to engage in scholarly and research activities that meet their individual interests.  Students are engaged in faculty-mentored scholarly and research activities as part of the DPT curriculum.

Aside from the three established research labs in the School of Physical Therapy & Rehabilitation Science, faculty and students are engaged in a variety of other areas of research and scholarship.  Accessing each faculty member’s directory listing will provide you with more specific evidence of the direction of their work, but general areas of interest include:

Bell, Jennifer - Orthopedic practice, increasing access to PT services in rural/undeserved areas, improving physical therapy education in developing countries.

Brueilly, Kevin - Education of physical therapists and student physical therapists, faculty credentials and experiences related to accreditation, patient care of persons with cancer, weight-bearing limitations in rehabilitation, and outcomes following joint arthroplasty.

Kittelson, Andy - Shared decision-making, clinical informatics, and data science applications in physical therapy; improving the usefulness of data in routine practice.

Loyd, Brian - Neuroscience and management of peripheral and central vestibular dysfunction; His research aims to improve outcomes for patients with dizziness and balance dysfunction and improve methods of quantifying and monitoring community-based outcomes.

Mazzarella, Julia - Development, evaluation, and implementation of physical therapy interventions based in community settings (hippotherapy, adaptive recreation) for pediatric patients with neuromotor disorders to increase participation and physical activity.

Miller Zondlo, Caitlin - Secondary data analysis focusing on health care utilization and cost in common musculoskeletal conditions (knee and hip osteoarthritis, ACL reconstruction), improving health care access in rural areas.

Mizner, Ryan - Orthopedic and sports practice, knee impairment, use of electrical stimulation in physical therapy, and work-related disorders of the upper extremity and spine.

Ostertag, Susan - Neurological rehabilitation, functional electrical stimulation, body weight support systems. Service learning. Translation of available evidence into the clinical practice of physical therapy.

Willy, Rich - Orthopedic and sports medicine management of the lower extremity; His research aims to develop clinically effective treatments for patellofemoral pain syndrome, Achilles tendon injuries and tibial stress fractures.