Faculty members in the Department of Physical Therapy regularly publish in leading academic and professional journals, present at conferences, and secure grants – all with the goal of improving techniques and care practices to help improve the lives of patients. Our faculty, a majority of whom are practicing clinicians in leading hospitals and health care centers, integrate their research into the classroom and clinical settings to provide students with the most up-to-date information that will help them become better physical therapists.

For the most up to date research, please visit our faculty profiles in the directory.

Cox, R., & Roy, K. (2021, November 9-10). Incorporating intersectionality in nursing education [Presentation]. AACN Diversity Symposium.  

Roy, K. Hunt, K., Sakai, K., & Fletcher, K. (2021, November 9-10). Addressing the hidden curriculum in nursing education [Poster presentation]. AACN Diversity Symposium. 

Kimberley, T. J. (2021, December). Recently cleared by the FDA: Novel brain stimulation treatments coming to a clinic near you [Conference presentation]. 4th International Brain Stimulation Conference. Charleston, SC.

Vora, I., Dawson, J., Liu, C. Y., Francisco, G. E., Wolf, S. L., O’Dell, M. W., Bell, K., Dixit, A., Redgrave, J., Turner, D. L., Feng, W., DeMark, L., Pierce, D., Prudente, C. N., Tarver, B., Engineer, N., & Kimberley, T. J. (2021, November). Vagus nerve stimulation paired with upper limb rehabilitation after chronic stroke: Cross-over results from the VNS-REHAB pivotal trial [Paper presentation]. Society for Neuroscience 50th Annual Meeting.

Vora, I., Lin, D. J., Kuo, Y. L., Banks, R. E., DiCarlo, J. A., Hochberg, L. R., & Kimberley, T. J. (2021, December). Feasibility and potential value of TMS for upper extremity motor assessment at the bedside during acute stroke hospitalization [Paper presentation]. 4th International Brain Stimulation Conference, Charleston, SC.

Keysor, J. (2021, May 6). Post-acute sequelae of SARS CoV-2. Harvard Medical School Grand Rounds.

Martinchek, M. Alzheimer’s disease and other dementia syndromes [Paper presentation]. Massachusetts Association of PAs Spring CME Conference. March 20, 2021. 

Merson, J. It's 2021, now what?! Advocacy insights and experiences from 4 different states [Conference session]. American Academy of Physician Assistants Leadership and Advocacy Summit. March 4, 2021. 

Faulk, G., Kimberley, T. J., Lang C., & Schubert M. Getting Published in JNPT: A chat with the editorial board (NE-7367). APTA Combined Sections Meeting (Virtual). February 2021. 

Baldwin, J., Perron, A., & Madigan, J. (2020, November) “Telehealth: The Role of Telehealth in the Future of our Profession” APTA of MA Annual Conference, Invited Speaker for 2-hour panel.

Baldwin, J., Allis, R., & Perron, A. (2020, October). “Utilizing Telehealth for the Neurological Population: Lessons Learned.” Invited Speaker, APTA of MA Neuro SIG.

Francisco, G. E., Dawson, J., Prudente, C. N., Pierce, D., Engineer, N. D., Tarver, B., Van de Winckel, A., Alexander, J., & Kimberley, T. J. (2020, November 12-15). Vagus nerve stimulation paired with upper limb rehabilitation after stroke: long term outcomes. [Virtual conference]. American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation.

Gore, S., & Blackwood, J. Associations between cognitive function, balance, and mobility in community-dwelling older adults with COPD. Abstract accepted for poster presentation at Gerontological Society of America (GSA) meeting, November 2020.

Mackey, J., Townsend, E., & Leslie, C., Student Learning in an Early Intervention Caregiver Group. Pre-recorded Lightning Talk and live discussion panel. Prerecorded and presented at Nexus 2020 Summit of the National Center for Interprofessional Practice and Education, Interprofessional Clinical Learning Environments Theme, August 13, 2020.

Selkowitz, D. M., Beneck, G. J., & Powers, C. M. Persons with patellofemoral pain exhibit higher levels of tensor fascia lata activity and lower levels of superior gluteus maximus activity during common therapeutic exercises. Oral presentation and panel at the International Society of Electrophysiology and Kinesiology (ISEK) XXIII Virtual Congress (Nagoya, Japan), July 12-14, 2020.

Selkowitz D. M., Beneck G. J., & Powers C. M. Activation of hip muscles during a step-down task in persons with and without patellofemoral pain. Oral presentation and panel at the International Society of Electrophysiology and Kinesiology (ISEK) XXIII Virtual Congress (Nagoya, Japan), July 12-14, 2020.

Simpson L, Keysor J, Cochrane F, Allaire S. Preferences for Receiving an Evidence-based Job Retention Program among Adults with Arthritis. Gerontological Society of America national meeting, Boston MA Nov. 14-18, 2018. Poster presentation. 

E Townsend, S Simeone, K Krosschell, R Zhang & K Swoboda: "Supported Standing in SMA Types 1 and 2: Head Rotation Control and Respiratory Support Predict Meaningful Stander Use." Poster presentation at Cure SMA Annual Meeting, Scientific Conference, Dallas, TX.

R Zhang, J Loutrel, M Kuhlmann, J Whaley, G Labilloy, S Simeone, E Townsend, K Krosschell, J Yun H Chen, A Brower, F Nery, K Trautman, P Nwe, A Johnstone, J Siranosian, T Newcomb, R Butterfield, M Watson & K Swoboda: "The Project Cure SMA Longitudinal Population Data Repository (LPDR)." Poster presentation at Cure SMA Annual Meeting, Scientific Conference, Dallas, TX.

Fiorello P & Garrity L: "Pay Attention or You Might Forget (Attention and Memory Skill Strategies)." Presentation at the Brain Injury Association of Massachusetts 37th Annual Injury Conference.

Rich Westrick presented a talk in April at the National Strength and Conditioning Association’s Tactical Strength & Conditioning annual conference in Norfolk, VA, entitled, “Protocols for Return to Duty After Musculoskeletal Injury.”

Gore S (poster): "Validity of the Global Physical Activity Questionnaire in Older Adults with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease." American Thoracic Society Conference, San Diego, CA.

Naidoo K, Alimi S & Costello M: "Scaffolding Clinical Education from Integrated Experiences to Residency and Beyond." Poster presentation at the APTA of Massachusetts Fall Conference, Norwood, MA.

Townsend E, Simeone S, Krosschell K, Zhang R & Swoboda K: "To Stand or Not to Stand: Using Early Motor Control to Inform Clinical Decision Making in Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA)." Selected by the Academy of Pediatric Physical Therapy Research Awards Committee for the 2017 CSM Outstanding Research Abstract Award.

Altenburger P, Brechter, J, Chleboun G, Heath A, Jette D, Shilling D, Topp K & Tschoepe B: "Assessment to Support DPT Program Quality and Development." Educational Leadership Conference, Columbus, OH.

Jensen G, Hack L, Nordstrom T, Jette D, Craik R, Dunn S & Boissonnault B: "The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse: The Critical Challenges and Opportunities in Physical Therapy Education and Research." Educational Leadership Conference, Columbus, OH.

Selkowitz DM, Beneck GJ & Powers CM: "Comparison of Different Positions for Eliciting Maximum EMG Activity of the Gluteal Muscles in Persons with PFP: Implications for EMG Normalization." 5th International Patellofemoral Pain Research Retreat, Gold Coast, Australia.

Selkowitz DM, Beneck GJ, Robinson C & Powers CM: "Hip Muscle Activation in Persons with PFP During the Clam Exercise: Is Resistance Important?" 5th International Patellofemoral Pain Research Retreat, Gold Coast, Australia.

Pam Levangie gave the Ann Putnam Kaleckas Lecturer: “Breast Cancer: A Personal and Professional Journey,” Northwestern University, Department of Physical Therapy and Human Movement Science, March 27, 2017.

Beth Cornforth, PT, DPT, NCS, an instructor in the Department of Physical Therapy, is co-investigator with Dr. Thurman Wheeler from MGH Neurology on a three-year NIH grant: "Extracellular RNA biomarkers of myotonic dystrophy type 1." It is funded through Massachusetts General Hospital.

Teresa Kimberley, PhD, PT, FAPTA, director of the Brain Recovery Lab and director of the PhD in Rehabilitation Sciences program, has been awarded a two-year, R21 grant from the NIH: "DYT1 genotype – and phenotype-specific brain circuits dystonia." She is working with colleagues from MGH and MUSC on this project which aims to understand why some people with the genetic mutation associated with DYT1 dystonia develop the dystonic symptoms and others never develop the disorder.

Julie Keysor, PhD, PT, a professor of physical therapy, is the PI of the IHP subcontract for a one-year NIH SBIR grant, “Augmented Reality Platform for Telehealth Rehabilitation,” awarded to Paola Contessa of Delsys. PT faculty who will be part of the grant are Associate Professor Douglas Gross, MPT, DPT, ScD, FAAOMPT, CPed; Instructor Christopher Clock, PT, DPT, OCS; Assistant Professor Cathy Schmidt, PT, PhD, DPT; and Assistant Professor Rania Karim, PT, DPT, GCS.

Neuromuscular Dysfunction Among Fatigued and On-Fatigued Breast Cancer Survivors​
$444,952, from the National Institutes of Health, Lisa Wood, PhD, RN, FAAN,  Principal Investigator, Janet Kneiss, PhD, DPT, MS, Co-Principal Investigator, 2018-2020

Multicenter Osteoarthritis Study (Most). 
$299,431, from Boston University (NIH). K. Douglas Gross, MPT, MSc, ScD, FAAOMPT, CPed, Co-Investigator, 2016 – 2020

National Health and Aging.
$38,883 from the National Institutes of Health, Alan Jette, PT, PhD, MPH, FAPTACo-Principal Investigator. Johns Hopkins Prime. 2017-2019

Frailty and Disability in Cardiovascular Disease: Predictors of 30-day Hospital Readmission. 
$17,999 from the University of Texas Medical Branch Galveston, Tamra Keeney, PT, DPT, CCS, and Alan Jette, PT, PhD, MPH, FAPTA – Co Investigators, 2016-2018.

A Multimodal Assessment of Neurophysiology in Foscal Dystonia.
$1,513,367 from the National Institutes of Health, Teresa Jacobson Kimberley, PhD, PT, Principal Investigator. 2017-2021.

A Pivotal Randomized Study Assessing Vagus Nerve Stimulation (VNS) During Rehabilitation for Improved Upper Limb Motor Function After Stroke (VNS REHAB).
$451,018 from Microtransponder. Teresa Jacobson Kimberley, PhD, PT, Principal Investigator. 2018-2023.