PhD in Rehabilitation Sciences

Former PhD Students

Martha Acosta, MS, PT (2003-2007)

  • Academic Background: Physical Therapy
  • Dissertation: Falls in Mexican American older adults
  • Mentor: B. Protas
  • Current Position: Assistant Professor, Physical Therapy, UTHSC-SA

William Amonette, MA (2007-2011)

  • Academic Background: Exercise Science
  • Dissertation: Fatigue, aerobic fitness, and neuroendocrine response in patients after Traumatic Brain Injury
  • Mentor: K. Mossberg
  • Current Position: Assistant Professor, Human Sciences Humanities, University of Houston-Clear Lake

Jason Bentley (2017-2021)

  • Academic Background: Physiology
  • Dissertation: Characterizing the mindset of inactive breast cancer survivors regarding their PA, examining how their implicit beliefs about PA may impact their adherence to a PA intervention, and exploring whether their mindset changes as a function of participating in a values-based intervention
  • Mentor: E. Lyons
  • Current Position:

Saad Bindawas, MHSc (2006-2009)

  • Academic Background: Physical Therapy / Physiotherapy
  • Dissertation: Arthritis impact on physical function, disability and health-related QOL among older Mexican Americans
  • Mentor: B. Protas
  • Current Position: Chair of Physical Therapy, King Saud University, Saudi Arabia

Michael Borack, MS (2011-2015)

  • Academic Background: Kinesiology
  • Dissertation: Amino acid sensing in muscle: Role of lysosomes and effect of protein supplementation
  • Current Position: Postdoctoral Fellow, US Army Institute of Surgical Research

Julianna Bores-Dean, MS (2016-2019)

  • Academic Background: Exercise Science/Health Science
  • Dissertation: Influence of social capital on community discharge in post-acute care among Medicare beneficiaries
  • Mentor: T. Reistetter
  • Current Position: Assistant Professor,University of Houston Clear Lake

Regina Buccello, MS (2003-2007)

  • Academic Background: Human Factors Psychology
  • Dissertation: Sensorimotor adaptation training
  • Mentor: R. Cromwell
  • Current Position: Scientist, NASA, Johnson Space Center

Pei-Fen Chang, PhD, OTR (2001-2005)

  • Academic Background: Occupational Therapy
  • Dissertation: Satisfaction with rehabilitation outcomes
  • Mentor: K. Ottenbacher
  • Current Position: Associate Professor, Occupational Therapy, Texas Women’s University

Tony Chao, MS (2012-2016)

  • Academic Background: Exercise Science
  • Dissertation: Pathophysiology of severe burn injury and the effects of novel pharmacological therapies
  • Mentor: D. Herndon and C. Porter
  • Current Position: Assistant Professor, Physical Therapy, UTMB

Ann Charness, MS, PT (2006-2013)

  • Academic Background: Physical Therapy
  • Dissertation: Gait and functional ability of patients with hip fracture and Parkinson’s disease
  • Mentor: E. Protas
  • Current Position: Physical Therapist, HealthMatters Chiropractic

Maria Chondronikola, MS (2011-2015)

  • Academic Background: Nutrition and Dietics
  • Dissertation: Role of brown adipose tissue on substrate metabolism and insulin sensitivity in humans
  • Mentor: L. Sidossis
  • Current Position: Postdoctoral Fellow, Washington University

Ursela Christopherson, MOT, MS (2018-2022) 

  • Academic Background: Occupational Therapy
  • Dissertation: Motivation Techniques/Strategies that encourage an increase in physical activity to improve health outcomes
  • Mentor: E. Lyons
  • Current Position: Behavior Resilience Officer, Sr. Leader Sustainment Program Deputy, US Army War College

Carrie Ciro, MHS (2007-2010)

  • Academic Background: Occupational Therapy
  • Dissertation: Functional outcomes and community participation in older adults with in-hospital depressive symptoms
  • Mentor: G. Ostir
  • Current Position: Associate Professor & Chair, Occupational Therapy, University of Kansas Medical Center

John DeWitt, MS (2002-2006)

  • Academic Background: Exercise Science
  • Dissertation: Effect of increasing mass upon locomotion
  • Mentor: R. Cromwell
  • Current Position: Senior Biomechanist, NASA, Johnson Space Center

Kirk English, MA (2007-2012)

  • Academic Background: Exercise Science
  • Dissertation: Muscle protein synthesis and exercise countermeasures
  • Current Position: Senior Scientist, NASA, Johnson Space Center

Steve Fisher, MS, PT (2004-2008)

  • Academic Background: Physical Therapy
  • Dissertation: Functional assessments in elderly, post-discharge outcomes
  • Mentor: G. Ostir
  • Current Position: Associate Professor, Physical Therapy, UTMB

Christopher Fry, BS (2007-2011)

  • Academic Background: Exercise Physiology
  • Dissertation: Muscle metabolism and physiology related to exercise, diabetes and aging
  • Mentor: B. Rasmussen
  • Current Position:

Rebecca Galloway, MS, PT (2008-2013)

  • Academic Background: Physical Therapy
  • Dissertation: Inpatient rehabilitation outcomes among patients with debility
  • Current Position: Associate Professor, Physical Therapy, UTMB

Erin Glynn, MS (2006-2010)

  • Academic Background: Exercise Physiology
  • Dissertation: Physical activity and nutritional intake on skeletal muscle protein turnover
  • Mentor: B. Rasmussen
  • Current Position: Sr Scientist, Beachbody LLC, Santa Monica, CA

Aaron Gray, MS (2012-2014)

  • Academic Background: Medicine / Biomechanics
  • Dissertation: Oral contraceptive use and ligamentous injury incidence in females
  • Mentor: J. Baillargeon
  • Current Position: Resident, University of Nevada, Las Vegas Health System

David Gundermann, MS (2009-2012)

  • Academic Background: Exercise Physiology
  • Dissertation: Mechanisms of blood flow restriction exercise in skeletal muscle adaptations
  • Mentor: B. Rasmussen
  • Current Position: Chief Scientific Officer, Blue Star Nutraceuticals, Gainesville, FL

Catherine Hay, MS (2014-2018)

  • Academic Background: Occupational Therapy
  • Dissertation: Impact of gender, age and performance on stroke survivor's goal conceptualization and prioritization.
  • Mentor: T. Reistetter
  • Current Position: Assistant Professor, Texas Women's University

Jessica Jarvis, BM (2014-2017)

  • Academic Background: Music Therapy
  • Dissertation: "Influences of cohort differences and positive emotion on the relationship between cognition and disability in activities of daily living among older Mexican Americans"
  • Mentor: J. Graham
  • Current Position: Postdoctoral Fellow, University of Illinois at Chicago

Mary Ellen Kuhlmann, MS, OT (2003-2008)

  • Academic Background: Occupational Therapy
  • Dissertation: Acculturation on health outcomes in Mexican Americans
  • Mentor: K. Ottenbacher
  • Current Position: Occupational Therapist, Houston, TX

Kay Kulkarni, MS (2012-2016)

  • Academic Background: Occupational Therapy
  • Dissertation: Effect of obesity on outcomes following inpatient rehabilitation for hip/knee arthroplasty among Medicare beneficiaries with osteoarthritis
  • Mentor: S. Al Snih
  • Current Position: Assistant Professor, Occupational Therapy, UTMB

Amit Kumar, MS (2011-2015)

  • Academic Background: Physical Therapy
  • Dissertation: Comorbidity measures for predicting post-acute rehabilitation outcomes
  • Mentor: K. Ottenbacher
  • Current Position: Assistant Professor, Northern Arizona University

Cheryl Lehman, PhD, MSN (2002-2005)

  • Academic Background: Rehabilitation Nursing
  • Dissertation: Disabled women with impaired mobility
  • Mentor: K. Ottenbacher
  • Current Position: Lehman Consulting, LLC, (retired UTHSC)

Koyya Lewis, BS (2013-2017)

  • Academic Background: Athletic Training
  • Dissertation: "TAME Health: Testing Activity Monitors' Effect on Health"
  • Mentor: L. Lyons
  • Current Position: Fitness Research Manager, Beachbody

Ioannis Malagaris, MSc (2014-2020)

  • Academic Background: Dietetics, Sports Nutrition
  • Dissertation: Effect of protein intake on amino acid kinetics in severely burned children and methodological improvements of enrichment quantification in stable isotope metabolic studies
  • Mentor: K. Ottenbacher
  • Current Position:

Corron Marks, BS (2002-2006)

  • Academic Background: Health Psychology
  • Dissertation: Depressive symptomatology in women with disabilities
  • Mentor: G. Weaver
  • Current Position: Researcher/Acting Director, Federal Block Grants, Enterprise Transformation Office, Children's Health System of Texas

Takayuki Nakamura, PhD (2000-2004)

  • Academic Background: Biomedical Engineering
  • Dissertation: Upper limb function in people with acquired brain injury
  • Mentor: R. Patterson
  • Current Position: Research & Development, DePuy Synthes, Johnson & Johnson

Candice Osborne, MOT (2011-2015)

  • Academic Background: Occupational Therapy
  • Dissertation: Burn outcome measures and burn injury model systems data using ICF, disability and health
  • Mentor: K. Ottenbacher
  • Current Position: Assistant Professor, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, UT Southwestern Medical Center

Efstathia Polychronopoulou (2015-2021)

  • Academic Background: Mathematics
  • Dissertation: Predictors of long-term musculoskeletal outcomes from pediatric burn injury
  • Mentor: Y. Kuo
  • Current Position:

Paul Reidy, MS (2010-2015)

  • Academic Background: Exercise Physiology
  • Dissertation: Protein blend supplementation following resistance exercise on skeletal muscle growth and strength
  • Mentor: B. Rasmussen
  • Current Position: Postdoctoral Fellow, University of Utah

Helen Rogers, MA, PT (2002-2006)

  • Academic Background: Physical Therapy
  • Dissertation: Adaptive balance strategies in older and young adults
  • Mentor: R. Cromwell
  • Current Position: Associate Professor, Physical Therapy, UTMB

Gary Seale, MS (2007-2010)

  • Academic Background: Psychology
  • Dissertation: Positive emotion and functional status following stroke rehabilitation in older adults
  • Mentor: G. Ostir
  • Current Position: Regional Director of Clinical Services, Centre for Neuro Skills

Jaspreet Sodhi (2015-2019)

  • Academic Background: Physical Therapy
  • Dissertation: Pain in older adults and functional outcomes
  • Mentor: S. Al Snih
  • Current Position: Postdoctoral Fellow, St. Jude's Hospita

Monica Watford, MA, MOT (2010-2016)

  • Academic Background: Occupational Therapy
  • Dissertation: Inpatient rehabilitation Outcomes for patients with traumatic brain injury
  • Mentor: K. Ottenbacher
  • Current Position: Associate Clinical Professor, Texas Women's University, Dallas TX

Rodney Welsh, MS, PT, OTR (2007-2015)

  • Academic Background: Physical & Occupational Therapy
  • Dissertation: Re-hospitalization of patients following lower extremity joint replacement
  • Mentor: J. Graham
  • Current Position: Assistant Professor, Physical Therapy, UTMB

Dana Wild, BS, PT (2006-2009)

  • Academic Background: Physical Therapy
  • Dissertation: Outcomes of PERCS surgery for Children with Spastic Cerebral Palsy
  • Mentor: C. Baker
  • Current Position: Associate Professor, Physical Therapy, UTMB