The Foundation for Physical Therapy Research recently awarded $232,500 in scholarships. Foundation awards provide new investigators with support needed to complete doctoral studies. Since 1979 the Foundation has awarded more than $to advance the profession through grants and scholarships.

Foundation Promotion of Doctoral Studies (PODS) I Scholarships ($7,500) are awarded to physical therapists or physical therapist assistants who have completed at least two full semesters or three full quarters of their coursework toward a post-professional doctoral degree. This cycle, eleven researchers were awarded PODS I Scholarships.

• Colleen Burke, PT, DPT, of Duke University School of Medicine, is the recipient of the Mildred L Wood Award. Burke’s project, “Influence of Social Determinants of Health on the Transition from Acute to Chronic Low Back Pain,” is made possible through the Mildred L. Wood Endowment Fund.
• Kellie Collins, PT, DPT, of University of Wisconsin-Madison. Collins’s project, “How does the neurophysiological development of the corticomotor system influence and predict motor function and participation in children with CP,” is supported through APTA Scholarship Fund.
• Sara Davidson, PTA, BSAS, of Youngstown State University. Davidson’s project, “Grip Force Modulation as an Indicator of Parkinson’s Disease Severity,” is made possible through the APTA Geriatrics Fund.
• Megan Graham, PT, DPT, of The University of Kentucky Research Foundation. Graham’s project, “The Long-Term Effects of ACL Reconstruction on Quadriceps Muscle Morphology and Function,” is supported though the APTA Scholarship Fund.
• Matthew Heindel, PT, DPT, of University of Southern California, is the recipient of the Viva J. Erickson Award. Heindel’s project, “Central and Peripheral Mechanisms of Rotator Cuff Tendinopathy and Exercise,” is made possible through the Viva J. Erickson Endowment Fund.
• Morgan Lee Kelly, PT, DPT, of University of Southern California. Kelly’s project, “The Impact of Post-Stroke Cognitive Impairment & Apathy on Walking,” is made possible through the Academy of Neurologic Physical Therapy Endowment Fund.
• Elizabeth Maus, PT, DPT, of The Ohio State University. Maus’s project, “Exploring Telehealth Delivery of Intensive (Daily) Rehabilitation in Children with Hemiparesis,” is made possible through the APTA Academy of Pediatric Physical Therapy Endowment Fund.
• Kiersten McCartney, PT, DPT, of University of Delaware, is the recipient of the Charlene Mae Nelson Award. McCartney’s project, “One-Size-Does-NOT-Fit-All: Precise Exercise Prescription to Improve Walking Capacity in People with Stroke,” is made possible through the Charlene Mae Nelson Fund.
• Morgan Potter, PT, DPT, of University of Delaware, is the recipient of the Florence Kendall Award. Potter’s project, “Understanding sex-based differences in Achilles tendon injuries,” is made possible through the Florence Kendall Endowment Fund.
• Michelle Marie Ramirez, PT, DPT, of Duke University School of Medicine. Ramirez’s project, “Using implementation methodology to translate evidence to practice and improve patient outcomes in physical therapy,” is supported through a generous donation from PhysicalTherapy.com.
• Wesley Thornton, PT, DPT, of University of Colorado Denver, AMC and DC, is the recipient of the Patricia Leahy Award. Thornton’s project, “Midsagittal tissue bridges and functional mobility prognosis in individuals with traumatic spinal cord injury” is made possible through the Academy of Neurologic Endowment Fund.

Foundation Promotion of Doctoral Studies (PODS II) Scholarships ($15,000) are awarded to physical therapist or physical therapist assistant researchers who have been formally admitted to post-professional doctoral candidacy. This cycle, ten researchers were awarded in PODS II Scholarships.

The 2023 PODS II Recipients are:

• Mitchell Adam, PT, DPT, of Marquette University, is the recipient of the Scot C. Irwin Award. Adam’s project, “Navigating Motor Learning and Fatigue to Improve Corrective Stepping in People with Multiple Sclerosis,” is made possible through the APTA Academy of Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Fund.
• John Gilliam, PT, DPT, of University of South Carolina. Gilliam’s project, “Interface Between Cortical Sensorimotor Dynamics and Trunk-Hip Movement Control: Implications for Movement Assessment in Low Back Pain,” is supported through APTA Scholarship Fund.
• Jaimie Girnis, PT, DPT, of Boston University, recipient of the Karen St. John Award. Girnis’s project, “Does Rhythmic Auditory Stimulation reduce Cortical Activation and improve Walking Automaticity in Persons with Parkinson disease,” is supported through a generous donation from the St. John Family Foundation.
• Adam Janowski, PT, DPT, of The University of Iowa. Janowski’s project, “The development and validation of a translational model of Myalgia Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome using animal and human designs,” is supported through APTA Scholarship Fund.
• Emily Kahnert, PT, DPT, of Regents of the University of Minnesota – Twin Cities, is the recipient of the Marquette Challenge Award. Kahnert’s project, “Telerehabilitation Effectiveness for Individuals with Temporomandibular Disorders: A Non-Inferiority Study,” is supported through APTA Scholarship Fund.
• Dana McCarty, PT, DPT, of The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. McCarty’s project, “Maternal Presence in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit: Identifying Mothers at Risk to Support Infant Development,” is supported through the APTA Scholarship
• Hayley Smitheman, DPT, University of Delaware, Metabolic Risk Factors and Treatment Outcomes in Achilles Tendinopathy, is supported through the APTA PODS Fund.
• Katherine Smulligan, PT, DPT, of University of Colorado Denver, AMC and DC, is the recipient of the Phoebe Rhomberger Award. Smulligan’s project, “Cervical Spine Dysfunction After Concussion: Implications for Short and Long-Term Recovery Outcomes,” is made possible through the Phoebe Rhomberger Fund.
• Jennifer Supowit, PT, DPT, of University of Washington. Supowit’s project, “Disease-Related and Medication Effects on Vestibular Function in People with Parkinson Disease,” is made possible through the APTA Geriatrics Fund.
• Ellen Sutter, PT, DPT, Regents of the University of Minnesota – Twin Cities, is the recipient of the Mary Lou Barnes Award. Sutter’s project, “Neuroimaging and Movement Assessment in Early Detection of Cerebral Palsy,” is supported through the Neurology Endowment Fund made possible through the generosity of the Academy of Neurologic Physical Therapy Fund.

“These investments are helping to pave the way for the future of the profession,” said Foundation CEO, Barbara Malm, MBA. “We look forward to the contributions that these promising new investigators will make in their respective fields.”

The Foundation awards all funding based on a peer-review process modeled after the National Institutes of Health (NIH). A volunteer scientific review committee comprises experts in research who review all applications. With a unique focus on physical therapy research, the Foundation funds the most promising applicants and helps better prepare physical therapist researchers for long-term contributions to the profession. For more information, visit Foundation4pt.org.