SMU Physical Therapy 2015 Grads Present at Annual Conference

Six Samuel Merritt University Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) graduates from the class of 2015 were accepted to present posters at the California Physical Therapy Association Annual Conference in Pasadena on September 26 & 27, 2015.  The posters represented their capstone case report patients in conjunction with their faculty advisors. One adjunct faculty member presented his research findings as a poster as well.

Acceptance to present a poster is a peer-reviewed process, and this represents the most case reports accepted for presentation in a single year by an SMU DPT graduating class.

"It was great to see these new grads during the 'meet the authors' periods during the conference," said Sharon Gorman, Associate Professor, Dept of PT. "They were answering questions from conference attendees about their posters and serving as great examples of the PTs that come out of Samuel Merritt University."

Student presenters, with their advisors (Alison Ahola, Lucy Paciotti, Alexis Standfield, Julie Teng, Kevin Jin, Laura Muzzatti):

Ahola A, Widener G. Implementation of an aquatic therapy program to address fall risk and fear of falling in an elderly male exhibiting Parkinson-like symptoms complicated by a recent history of multiple falls. 

Jin K. Christensen N. Physical therapy management of a patient with chronic low back pain using a combined approach of therapeutic neuroscience education and graded activity and exercise: a case report.

Muzzatti L, Grieve S. Physical therapy management of a young adult with neurofibromatosis type II status-post tumor resection.

Paciotti LR, Grieve S. Use of the Talk Test in addition to patient symptoms to monitor and prescribe physical therapy interventions for a seven year-old patient with pulmonary hypertension.

Standfield AN, Raymond GL, Widener GL. The application of modified constraint-induced movement therapy for pre-gait training in a patient post-stroke: a case report.

Teng J, Raymond G. Practice-based interprofessional collaboration during physical therapy in a 37 year-old female with a dual-diagnosis of stroke and multiple sclerosis in an acute rehabilitation setting: a case report.

Adjunct Faculty presenter (Timothy Gilleran):

Gilleran TJ, Li X, Majumdar S, Souza RB. The effects of recurrent lateral ankle sprains on the cartilage biomechanical structure of the ankle joint.

Pictured above:  PT grads and Gaye Raymond, Assistant Professor and Director of Clinical Education, Dept of PT
Pictured below:
top, left to right: Alexis Stanfield, Kevin Jin
bottom, left to right: Alison Ahola, Lucy Paciotti and Laura Muzzati, Timothy Gilleran and Kevin Jin