In February, many of the Pitt Department of Physical Therapy faculty and students attended the 2024 American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) Combined Sections Meeting (CSM) in Boston, MA. Pitt PT’s impact at CSM was highlighted with presentations by full-time and adjunct faculty in:
- Eleven two- hour sessions
- Five poster presentations
- Six platform sessions
The social highlight for Pitt PT alumni, students and faculty was the alumni reception that attracted more than 200 proud alumni representing classes from the 1950’s to 2020’s.
CSM was a powerful demonstration of what makes students, faculty, and alumni so proud to be part of Pitt PT! We hope to see more new and established alumni at the 2025 CSM in Houston while Pitt PT continues to enhance the profession through their mission of teaching and research. Until then, enjoy these photo highlights from Boston CSM!
Upcoming Scully Visiting Scholar, Mary Lou Galintino
Professor Susan Whitney with Mary Lou Galintino (PT ’82). Galintino recently returned from South Africa where she was a Fulbright scholar working on cancer rehabilitation training at local hospitals in three rural provinces. She has previously held two other Fulbright scholarships developing cancer care resources in rural South Africa while working with the Minister of Palliative Care.
Pitt PT looks forward to welcoming Galintino as the Scully Visiting Scholar lecturer in October 2024!
Pitt PT Brings Home Awards!
Adjunct Professor Anne Mucha (third from left) received the Brain Injury Research Award from the Academy of Neurologic Physical Therapy. Mucha is a full-time clinician who is making a difference in the mild brain injury arena. The MEDLINE journal database returns over 41 papers with her name and the keywords concussion or mTBI. She was one of two physical therapists of the CDC panel to rewrite the guidelines for pediatric mTBI and was involved with a systematic review of pediatric mTBI with some of the most prominent mTBI clinician scientists in the world. Mucha has consistently spoken at CSM and other Academy of Neurologic Physical Therapy events throughout the country and is actively involved in research both in Pittsburgh and Ireland. Her contribution of the Vestibulo-oculomotor screen (VOMS) from 2014 changed care worldwide—now, people look at persons with dizziness and vergence deficits post mTBI differently because of the tool that she developed.
Assistant Professor Bonnie Virag and Associate Professor David Wert presented a poster entitled “Key Facilitators for Community Engagement in a Doctor of Physical Therapy Program.” They won the Global Health SIG Social Responsibility Award which recognizes top poster authors whose work strongly aligns with the core value of social responsibility. Winners were selected from the 1,282 poster abstracts accepted to CSM 2024.
Pitt PT Presentations
Assistant Professor Allyn Bove (PhD ‘20) (third from left) presented with Brooke Pantano (DPT ‘23) (third from right) about student financial strain. Student debt for recent physical therapist graduates is of concern to the profession. The group attempted to identity mechanisms that can reduce debt while still providing a quality physical therapy education. Our Pitt program has attempted to reduce debt by decreasing the time within the PT program by a semester so that our students can join the work force earlier with less long term debt.
Pantano is currently an outpatient neuro PT at the Kessler Institute in New Jersey.
Assistant Professor Pam Dunlap, Professor Susan Whitney and Assistant Professor Brooke Klatt pictured above left to right presented a two-hour session, “Vestibular disorders and falls: Recognizing and intervening in older adults for the Academy of Geriatrics.”
Assistant Professor Brooke Klatt (center) presented a two-hour session with Dr. Colin Grove and Dr. Leland Dibble about recognizing and rehabilitating central vestibular dysfunction in people living with neurodegenerative disease. Klatt’s work relates to persons with cognitive decline in older persons and how to enhance their balance. She recently received an NIH K award to learn more about older adults with cognitive decline and is developing novel strategies to improve patient outcomes which she shared at CSM.
Social Events
Current DPT students Fai Alradady and Hind Almotiri joined alumnae Eman Alsaqabi (MSPT ‘19) and Jehan Alomar (MSPT ‘17) and Professor Susan Whitney at the alumni event. Alsaqabi is finishing her PhD at the University of Delaware and Alomar is in her third year as a PhD student at Columbia University Teacher’s College.
Pictured above are Jan K. Richardson (MSPT ’76, EdD ‘83), Bob Richardson (BAS ’59, MEd ‘75), Karen Paschal (former Pitt faculty member) and Susan Whitney (MSPT ’81, PhD ‘92). Bob Richardson is a former D.T. Watson faculty member who continues working two to three days a week as a physical therapist in North Carolina. The Richardsons are both former APTA presidents and all four are Catherine Worthingham Fellows of the APTA (FAPTA).
Pitt PT Chair James J. Irrgang (fourth from left) was one of the former presidents of the Academy of Orthopeadic Physical Therapy (AOPT) that took part to commemorate the 50th Anniversary of AOPT. A panel discussion entitled “AOPT 50 Years In: Road Traveled and Where to Next for the Academy of Orthopaedic Physical Therapy” had Irrgang and Jan Richardson participating as Pitt alumni and past AOPT presidents.
In this photo are other AOPT presidents including (left to right) Bob Rowe, Steve McDavitt, Stanley Paris (founding president), James Irrgang, Jan Richardson, Mike Cibulka, Joe Donnelly (MSPT ‘89) and Bill Boissonault.
SHRS Dean Anthony Delitto has also been president of AOPT. In fact, four of the past AOPT presidents are either previous faculty or alumni of the University of Pittsburgh!
Our current DPT students at the alumni party with Associate Professor Victoria Hornyak (front center, striped sweater).