Faculty Bio Detail
Sharon Gorman - PT, DPTSc, GCS
Associate Professor
Physical Therapy
Email: SGorman@samuelmerritt.edu
Program:Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT)
Telephone: 510.869.6511 ext. 4720
Address: Samuel Merritt University, 450 30th Street, Suite 3734
Oakland - CA 94609
I enjoy travelling all over the world, and currently am planning a return medical mission trip to Haiti for four weeks the summer of 2011. I have three cats who keep me honest and laughing.
Research Interests:
Fellowships, Grants, and Awards:
Professional and Community Service and Professional Memberships:
Courses Taught at Samuel Merritt University:
Publications and Presentations:
Associate Professor
Physical Therapy
Email: SGorman@samuelmerritt.edu
Program:Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT)
Telephone: 510.869.6511 ext. 4720
Address: Samuel Merritt University, 450 30th Street, Suite 3734
Oakland - CA 94609
Education
DPTSc, UCSF/SFSU Graduate Programs in Physical Therapy
MS in Health Science, San Francisco State University
BS in Physical Therapy, Mount St. Mary's College, Los Angeles
Clinical Practice
Clinically, my area of expertise is acute care physical therapy. I've worked in a variety of different types of hospitals from large academic teaching hospitals to small community hospitals. My clinical work is currently limited to my research in sitting balance testing and the Neuro Clinic.
Advanced Training/Certification
I'm a board certified Geriatric Clinical Specialist in physical therapy. I also have advanced certification and training in neurodevelopmental treatment (NDT) approaches in adults with hemiplegia and assessment and treatment of vestibular disorders. I am a credentialed Clinical Instructor and also a Trainer for the Clinical Instructor Education & Credentialing Program run through the APTA.
I enjoy travelling all over the world, and currently am planning a return medical mission trip to Haiti for four weeks the summer of 2011. I have three cats who keep me honest and laughing.
Research Interests:
Function in Sitting Test
- Planning stages of a validation study of the FIST in the adult inpatient rehabilitation population (in collaboration with 4 data collection sites throughout the country)
- Inter- and intra- rater reliability of the FIST in adults with neurologic dysfunction (in collaboration with University of Illinois, Chicago)
Collaborative Studies with SMU Faculty
Reliability & validity of the SMILE tutorial program in nursing students
Fellowships, Grants, and Awards:
Grants
Multiple Sclerosis Foundation grant of $20,000 to provide Computerized Dynamic Posturography testing and recommendations for persons with MS.
Samuel Merritt University Curriculum Innovation grant of $1940 to fund a pilot study of implementation of a modified Objective Structured Clinical Examination in neuromuscular physical therapy.
California Physical Therapy Fund grant of $2007 to fund a pilot study of the Function in Sitting Test in adults with acute stroke.
Recent Awards
Outstanding DPT Faculty Award, 2007, 2008
James Dunleavy Distinguished Service Award, Acute Care Section, 2006 & 2010
Adopt-A-Doc Award, Section on Geriatrics, 2006
Professional and Community Service and Professional Memberships:
Professional Associations/Memberships
APTA & CPTA
Education Section, APTA
Acute Care Section, APTA
Section on Geriatrics, APTA
Neurology Section, APTA
Health Policy & Administration Section, APTA
California Council on Gerontology and Geriatrics
Current Leadership Positions
State Level
Golden Gate District Representative (2009-2012), CPTA
National Level
Communications Chair, Acute Care Section APTA (www.acutept.org)
Subject Matter Expert Committee Chair, Acute Care Section, APTA
Consulting
Northern California Editorial Advisory Board, Today in PT magazine, Gannett Healthcare Group. 2007-present.
Courses Taught at Samuel Merritt University:
Fall Semester
PT 710 Foundations of Physical Therapy Practice (course coordinator)
PT 715 Special Populations (Geriatric content)
PT 718 Neuro Pt/Client Management II (Vestibular content and Neuro Clinic supervision)
Spring Semester
PT 713 Neuro Pt/Client Management I
PT 734 Pathology & Medical Management in Neurology
PT 753 Case Studies III
PT 700 Interdisciplinary Teams: Improving the Care of our Elders (elective, when offered)
Publications and Presentations:
Peer Reviewed Publications:
Gorman SL, Curry A. A pilot study exploring the variability of physical therapy practices of members of the total joint replacement listserv. J Acute Care Phys Ther. 2010:1(2);46-53.
Gorman SL, Radtka S, Melnick M, Abrams G, Byl NN. Development and validation of the Function In Sitting Test (FIST) in adults with acute stroke. J Neuro Phys Ther. 2010:34(3);150-160.
Gorman SL, Wruble Hakim E, Johnson-Pugh W, Basu S, Harris KS, Christ MH, Holtgrefe K, Rush J, Simpson MS, Bryan Coe J. Nationwide acute care physical therapy practice analysis: knowledge, skills and behaviors reflective of acute care specialized practice. Phys Ther. 2010:10(90);1453-1467.
Gorman SL, Lazaro R, Fairchild J, Kennedy B. Development and implementation of an objective structured clinical examination (OSCE) in neuromuscular physical therapy. J Educ Phys Ther. 2010:24(3);62-68.
Sanger TD, Chen D, Fehlings DL, Hallet M, et al. Definition and classification of hyperkinetic movements in childhood. Mov Disord. 2010;25(11):1538-49.
Horning E, Gorman SL. Vestibular rehabilitation decreases fall risk and improves gaze stability for an older individual with unilateral vestibular hypofunction. J Geri Phys Ther. 2007;30:121-127.
Textbook Chapter:
Gorman, SL. Contemporary issues and theories of motor control: Assessment of movement and posture. In: Umphred D, Lazaro R, Roller M, eds. Neurological Rehabilitation. 5th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Mosby; 2006: chapter 3.
Recent Posters, Platforms, & Presentations:
Athan L, Gorman SL. Shoulder mobilizations with movement for a patient with secondary adhesive capsulitis. CPTA Annual Conference 2010 (poster).
Streeton A, Gorman SL. Does rhythmic auditory stimulation improve the gait of a young male one year post traumatic brain injury with associated severe ataxia? Combined Sections Meeting APTA 2009 (poster).
Garakian J, Gorman SL. Complex acute physical therapy management of a patient with abdominal compartment syndrome. Combined Sections Meeting APTA 2009 (platform).
Taniguchi N, Chism S, Gorman SL. Translating evidence into practice for acute care interdisciplinary fall prevention. Combined Sections Meeting APTA 2009 (presentation).
Gorman SL, Lazaro RT, Clark L. Development and implementation of a modified Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE) in neuromuscular physical therapy: a pilot study. 13th Ottawa International Conference on Clinical Competence 2008 (poster), 2nd European Congress on Physiotherapy Education (platform) & Samuel Merritt University Spring Symposium 2008 (platform).Clark L, Gorman SL, Lazaro R. Self-Assessment of Clinical Performance Improved by Modified Objective Structured Clinical Examination Testing. Combined Sections Meeting APTA 2008 (poster), 13th Ottawa International Conference on Clinical Competence 2008 (platform), & 2nd European Congress on Physiotherapy Education (poster).
Gorman SL, Baldwin A, Schmidt SG. Evidence-Based Practice When There’s a Paucity of Evidence (presentation). Combined Sections Meeting APTA 2008.
Horning ER, Gorman SL. Vestibular rehabilitation decreases fall risk and improves gaze stability for a patient with unilateral vestibular hypofunction. (poster) 4th World Congress of the International Society of Physical Rehabilitation and Medicine 2007.
Gorman SL, Rivera M, Slusarz E. Successful course changes to an entry-level DPT program: preparations for an early acute care clinical experience (platform). Combined Sections Meeting APTA 2007.
McDonald V, Gorman SL, Zobac S. Negative pressure wound therapy in the management of a complex abdominal wound (poster), APTA Combined Sections Meeting, Feb 2-4, 2006 & Samuel Merritt University Spring Science Symposium, May 12, 2006.