DPT students presented their capstone research projects during the department’s annual poster session on August 8. The presentations were the culmination of considerable work by the students and covered a range of clinical and professional topics. 

Julie Keysor, DPT Faculty Advisor, Physical Therapy Professor, and Director of the Behavior, Abilities and Technology Lab (B-ABLE), explained the vital nature of the capstone projects to the students’ development. 

“The capstone projects bring together a body of work that students have been working on for a significant period of time,” Keysor shared. “This culminating experience allows them to showcase their teamwork, their understanding of the literature, and to create products to improve clients’ quality of life.”  

The topics of the presentations varied. One student created a virtual exercise program dedicated to promotion of health and wellness and another created treatment plans for a clinic in Villa Nueva, Guatemala via Zoom.

DPT student Payton Kiel noted the impact that the project had on her own experience in the DPT program at the IHP and her overall community impact. Her work focused on elder wellness sessions post-COVID. 

“Working with the community is why I studied physical therapy – because I love to work with people,” Keil said. “Because of all the classes that we take, we tend to be a bit secluded into our cohort, but this capstone experience allowed us to collaborate with students outside of our program, here at the IHP. This gave me a wider understanding of the impact we have on the world.” 

Keysor reflected on what the capstone experience means for the students and faculty that have helped guide them through the process.

“It’s rewarding to see the work that the students have been working so hard on finally materialize,” shared Keysor.  “As they finish up here, they're embarking on their final clinical experiences, and while its bittersweet for us, it’s exciting to see them enter the workforce and to know how prepared they truly are.” 

A full list of presentations can be found here: 

  • Miriam Aviles, Sophie John, Erin Flajnik, Hargun Khanna:
    • DPT Class of 2023 Final Cohort Retreat 
    • Faculty Advisor: Monica Arrigo, PT, DPT
  • Anita Phan, Ian Randle, Ian Travis, Kariela Cabrera, Kaylie Beeson, Taylor Kong:
    • Virtual Service Learning Guatemala
    • Faculty Advisor: Jane Baldwin PT, DPT, NCS
  • Jen VanGelder, Joseph Sampson, Madison Markey, Robert Farretta, Stephen Warren:
    • Physical Therapy Student Consultants
    • Faculty Advisor: Christopher Clock, PT, DPT, OCS
  • Natalia Miller, Ben Resnick, Senna Johnson, Katey Latassa, Rebekah Raber:
    • Utilization of Mindfulness 
    • Faculty Advisor: Beth Cornforth, PT, DPT, NC
  • Nathan Feehrer, Ogbonnaya Chikezie, Corey Green, Brittney Coniglione:
    • Establishing a Protocol to Increase Exercise Adherence
    • Faculty Advisor: Rania Karim, PT, DPT, GC
  • Aisling Cuffe, Ben Purtell, Teja Badami, Amanda Cain:
    • A Review of Standardized Motor Assessments 
    • Faculty Advisory: Maninderjit Kaur, PT, Ph
  • Joshua Cameron, Callie Albers, Abbey Murphy:
    • Implementation of Evidence Based Job Retention Program for People with Arthritis
    • Faculty Advisor: Julie J. Keysor, PT, PhD
  • Po-Yao Hsu, Marjorie Wickenden, Jonas Singer:
    • Application of AR technology in physical therapy practice 
    • Faculty Advisor: Julie J. Keysor, PT, PhD
  • Anne Breda, Laura Wiles, Meghan Berry, Alyssa Czerwinski, Sophia Cousineau:
    • Mindfulness Meditation of Symptom Management 
    • Faculty Advisor: Katherine Schramm, PT, DPT, NCS
  • Erika Thorne, Aileen Reginaldo, Jisu Lim:
    • Paretic-limb step test has superior accuracy
    • Faculty Advisor: Prue Plummer, PhD, PT, BPhysio(Hons)
  • Nicole Strong, Toni Kane, Allison Lebwith, Andrew Marzan:
    • Rehabilitation Efficacy in Secondary Progressive MS A Preliminary Case Series - submitted by Nicole Strong
    • Faculty Advisor: Prue Plummer, PhD, PT, BPhysio(Hons)
  • Andrew Pacheco, Connor Nelson, Corey Muggler, Nathan Xu:
    • Comparison of TFL and Gluteal Muscle Activation During Running
    • Faculty Advisor: David M. Selkowitz, PT, PhD, DPT, OCS, DAAPM
  • Andrew Sasaki, Travis Johnston, Lisa Raddassi, Payton Kiel, Mariah Lombard:
    • Community Dwelling-Elders Wellness Sessions Revisited Post Covid 
    • Faculty Advisor: Lesley Smith, PT, DPT, MS, GCS
  • Kristen Lucht, Alina Shirley, Itua Eghe, Pramuk Peliyagoda:
    • TMS Coil Comparisons: Assessing Variability Among Figure-of-8 Coil Designs 
    • Faculty Advisor: Teresa Jacobson Kimberley, PhD, PT, FAPTA
  • Kevin Conway, Chloe Melton, Megan Vega, Angelia Littig:
    • Barriers and Facilitators to Physical Therapy for Older Adults 
    • Faculty Advisor: Cathy Schmidt, PT, PhD, DPT
  • Allie Zunick, Christine Hernandez, Lexie Buttle, Sarah Lewis, Valerie Williams:
    • Virtual Interprofessional Wellness
    • Faculty Advisor: Laura Plummer, PT, DPT, EdD, NCS 
  • Lauren Hayes, Maeve McKeeby, Emma Garvey:
    • Benefits of Exercise in Individuals with Parkinson’s Disease
    • Faculty Advisor: Anne McCarthy Jacobson, DPT, MS