People
Investigators: |
Rehabilitation Science PhD Students: |
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Dr. Andrea Behrman, PhD, PT, leads the Locomotor Training and Recovery
Research Program. She is an Associate Professor in the Department
of Physical Therapy, College of Public Health and Health Professions
at the University of Florida and a Research Investigator at the VA
Brain Rehabilitation Research Center. In 2009, she was elected a Catherine
Worthingham Fellow of the American Physical Therapy Association,
which is one of the highest honors given by the APTA. She has been
at UF as a faculty member since 1995 having completed her PhD at UF,
her MS in PT at Duke University, and her BS in Biology at Furman University.
She grew up in Chapel Hill, NC and is of course a Tarheel basketball
fan. She has a sheltie named Skylar; lives on beautiful Lake Santa
Fe enjoying wildlife, water sports, and sunsets; and rumor has it
that she is "Xena, the Warrior Princess.” |
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Dr Kautz's research focuses on applying biomechanical and neurophysiological principles to understand the normal coordination of rhythmic locomotor behavior and the specific deficits in bilateral coordination of lower-limb function in persons with post-stroke hemiparesis from a pathophysiological level to functional impairment. His research relies on developing detailed dynamical models and analyses hand-in-hand with experiments. Specific objectives of his work are: 1) investigate the mechanisms underlying bilateral coordination deficits in hemiparetic locomotion, 2) develop improved assessment of hemiparetic coordination and gait performance and 3) develop improved rehabilitation programs for hemiparetic gait. |
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My research focuses on understanding neurological and biomechanical mechanisms contributing to weakness in age-related and neurological disorders, especially post-stroke hemiplegia. Accordingly, this line of inquiry is relevant for improving the effectiveness and efficiency of neurorehabilitation. I use a combination of techniques from neurophysiology, clinical electrophysiology, human performance, and functional imaging to perform studies in humans. As a result, my research crosses multiple disciplines including motor control, biomechanics, physiology, clinical medicine, and rehabilitation, with the common goal of understanding the neural regulation of muscle force and its role in movement control. |
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Dr. Rose received her Ph.D.in Biokinesiology from the University of Southern California. Her primary interest in research, teaching and clinical practice is in the rehabilitation and recovery of individuals post-stroke. She is currently Clinical Research Coordinator for the NIH-funded trial, Locomotor Experience Applied Post-Stroke (LEAPS), an investigation of intervention intensity and timing and stroke severity on walking recovery. Dr. Rose is leading an investigation, "Homeward Bound," in partnership with Brooks Rehabilitation Hospital to examine the effectiveness of translating motor learning principles into clinical practice. Finding no mountains to hike and the humidity too high to camp she enjoys experiencing the pastoral countryside of North-Central Florida from atop a Cannondale. |
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Mary Thigpen joined the physical therapy faculty as a Clinical Assistant Professor in Fall 2005. Dr. Thigpen has been practicing as a physical therapist since 1979, and became a board certified clinical specialist in neurology in 1994. She returned to graduate school in 1996, and received her doctoral degree from the University of Florida in motor behavior in 2000. |
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Lisa Hannold, Ph.D., Research Health Scientist Dr. Hannold has an MS degree in Counseling Psychology/Community
Counseling from Gannon University (Erie PA), and earned her PhD in
Rehabilitation Science from the UF in 2004. Currently, she researches
at the VA Rehabilitation Outcomes Research Center and is a courtesy
lecturer for the Rehabilitation Counseling Department at UF. As a
co-investigator on the team, Dr. Hannold uses qualitative research
methods to explore how locomotor training affects participants psychosocially.
Her findings provide the team with insight into the personal impact
of locomotor training (including how it affects participants’
quality of life). As a native of Pennsylvania, Dr. Hannold loves the
Florida sunshine! Some of her favorite activities include watching
movies, traveling, shopping, the arts, cooking and eating! |
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Claudia Senesac has over 29 years of pediatric clinical experience.
She has been the owner and administrator of a pediatric physical therapy
private practice since 1984 and is a board certified clinical specialist
in Pediatrics. She is currently coordinating an NIH and MDA grant
investigating Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy. This study is investigating
the reliability of MRI to detect healthy and injured tissue in addition
to collecting functional measures including timed motor tasks, gait,
and strength. She is thrilled to be part of the locomotor team funded
by a grant from the Neilsen Foundation investigating: Restoring Walking
In Non-ambulatory Children with Severe, Chronic SCI. |
Research Staff
Rehabilitation Science PhD Students
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Mark Bowden is a research PT with the VA BRRC and a Doctoral Student in the Rehabilitation Science Doctoral Program. He received a BS in Psychology and MS in Physical Therapy from Duke University. Mark started working with the team in September, 2002 after 8 years as a clinician and therapy manager. Mark was born and raised in Salisbury, NC and his interests include golf, cooking, basketball, and mostly enjoying his wife and two little girls. |
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Kristin Day is a Doctoral Student in the Rehabilitation Science Doctoral
Program and joined the team as a therapist and trainer in January
2006. She earned both her BS in biology and masters in physical therapy
from Ohio University. Before coming to UF, Kristin worked in acute
care and inpatient rehab hospitals in Cincinnati, Ohio and Greenville,
South Carolina. In her spare time, she enjoys music, dance, theater,
traveling and spending time with her family (including her cat and
yellow lab) and friends. |
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Emily is a physical therapist who joined the team in January 2007. She earned her B.S. in Physical Therapy from FAMU and a Masters of Health Science from UF. She recently completed her Doctorate in Physical Therapy from the University of St. Augustine and is currently a Doctoral student in the Rehabilitation Science Doctoral Program at UF. Emily is Board Certified in Neurologic Physical Therapy and has clinical experience in the rehab setting. Emily enjoys running, camping, dancing, playing outdoors, and doing all of the above with her family! |
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Luther is a Doctoral Student in the Rehabilitation Science Program at the University of Florida. He received a Doctor of Physical Therapy degree from Hampton University in Virginia and a Bachelor of Science degree in Sports Medicine/Athletic Training from the University of Cincinnati in Ohio. Prior to joining the team at UF Luther gained experience in Virginia treating individuals with spinal cord injuries and stroke |
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Preeti Nair is a Doctoral candidate in the Dept. of Physical Therapy, RSD program, UF College of Public Health and Health Professions. She has been a research assistant/coordinator for the team for 4 years. She is originally from Mumbai, India and now calls Gainesville her home. Her professional interests include 1) Neuromechanical control of walking and how altered walking mechanics modify neural drive for locomotion. 2) Effect of body weight support and walking speed on coordinated muscular activation for reciprocal stepping. |
Post-Doctoral Fellows
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Sangeetha is originally from Chennai, India, where she obtained her bachelor's in Physical Therapy. She then moved to the US for graduate studies and completed her doctoral degree in Rehabilitation Science at the University of Iowa in 2007. Her research interests include neuromuscular control of movement in individuals with lower extremity pathology and neuromuscular impairments, understanding motor behavior after pathology in an effort to use motor control principles to enhance neuroplasticity. Reading, cooking and traveling are some of her favorite pastimes. |
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Dr. Phadke and Mr. Chetan! Yes, that’s me. I have two sides,
human and the animal! Unlike Dr. Jekyll, I keep switching at will…I
work in two labs, dealing with human and animal research. I have worked
all my life with human patients, but am learning about what the animals
can teach us about recovery and locomotion. In my spare time (which
is always plenty if you remove TV from the picture!), I like to play
with computers, teach children’s classes, and hold devotional
meetings. Meeting new people and learning about new experiences fascinates
me. |
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Dr. Tester is originally from Illinois and earned her BS in chemistry
from Millikin University. She moved to Gainesville in 1999 to pursue
her doctorate from UF in neuroscience where she studied spinal cord
injury in animal models. In the Spring, 2006, Nicole graduated with
her PhD. She is currently a post-doc working with the locomotor team
where she hopes to help bridge translational research between the
basic and clinical sciences. Snow-skiing, scuba diving, traveling,
and watching movies are some of her favorite hobbies. Read about Nicole's
research grant award from the Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation
here. |
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Chris is a post-doctoral fellow with the Veterans Affairs Brain |
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David J. Clark, is a Research Health Science Specialist at the Veterans Affairs Brain Rehabilitation Research Center (mentor: Steve Kautz, PhD. ) He completed his Doctor of Science in Rehabilitation Sciences at Boston University and his Bachelor of Science in Exercise Physiology at the University of Massachusetts - Lowell. David's research has focused on neuromuscular control of force and movement in adults who have experienced a stroke and in elders with functional limitations. He is currently investigating the neuro-mechanical impairments underlying locomotor deficits in adults post-stroke. Specifically, he seeks to understand the role of descending motor inputs for making voluntary adaptations during walking. |
