What is the most important factor in choosing a PT school? The quality of the faculty, of course.
At Belmont, you will find experienced professionals and teachers, experts in physical therapy with specialties in the areas of sports, orthopedics, pediatrics, geriatrics, and neurologic and clinical electrophysiologic PT. Ongoing research is an important responsibility for faculty in the School of Physical Therapy, but at Belmont, teaching is the top priority of your professors. Your learning takes precedence over all else.
Full-Time Faculty
- Gary P. AustinProfessor & ChairPostdoctoral Fellowship (Orthopaedic Manual Physical Therapy) Regis University; Fellowship (Applied Functional Science) The Gray Institute; PhD (Sport Biomechanics) University of Connecticut; MA (Education) University of Connecticut; BS (Physical Therapy) University of ConnecticutLocation: McWhorter Hall 347View Bio
Dr. Austin received his Bachelor of Science in Physical Therapy, Masters of Arts in Education, and Doctor of Philosophy in Sport Biomechanics from the University of Connecticut. He completed a Postdoctoral Fellowship in Orthopaedic Manual Physical Therapy at Regis University and a Fellowship in Applied Functional Science at The Gray Institute. He is also Board Certified in Orthopaedic Physical Therapy and is a Fellow of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Manual Physical Therapists. Dr. Austin has more than 30 years of experience in the orthopaedic, sports, and occupational medicine settings. He has been teaching for more than 20 years and joined the School of Physical Therapy at Belmont University in 2019. His scholarship interests are in the areas of: teaching and learning, orthopaedic manual physical therapy, and therapeutic neuroscience/pain science education. Dr. Austin has authored several book chapters, multiple peer-reviewed manuscripts and abstracts, and has presented at state and national meetings.
Publications
Curfman SE, Austin GP, and Nicholas JS. Post-traumatic stress and academic performance among entry-level doctoral physical therapy students in a human anatomy cadaver dissection course. Internet Journal of Allied Health Sciences and Practice. 2018 Jul 02;16(3).DeNoyelles JT & Austin GP. Avulsion fracture of the ischial tuberosity: a musculoskeletal imaging case study. Orthopaedic Physical Therapy Practice. January, 2016
Burns SA, Mintken PE, Austin GP, & Cleland, J. Short-term response of hip mobilizations and exercise in individuals with chronic low back pain: a case series. Journal of Manual and Manipulative Therapy. 2011. 19(2):100-107.
Burns SA, Mintken PE, & Austin GP. Clinical decision-making in a patient with secondary hip-spine syndrome. Physiotherapy Theory and Practice. 2011 Jul;27(5):384-97.
Book Chapters
Denninger, T & Austin, GP. Lateral Ankle Sprains, In Manual Therapy for Musculoskeletal Pain Syndromes of the Upper and Lower Quadrants: An Evidence and Clinical-Informed Approach. Fernández-de-las-Peñas C, Cleland JA, & Dommerholt J. Elsevier (editors). 2015Sylvain, J, Austin, GP, & Reiman, M. The Wrist and Hand. In Orthopedic Clinical Examination. Reiman, M. (Ed.) Human Kinetics. 2016
Austin, GP & Jacobs, ML. Mechanical Principles. In Splinting the hand and upper extremity: principles and process. Jacobs, ML & Austin, NM (editors), Baltimore: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. 2nd Edition. 2013
Austin, GP. Best Evidence for Examination and Treatment of the Thoracic Spine, in Orthopaedic Section Independent Study Course 21.1 Cervical and Thoracic Pain: Evidence for Effectiveness of Physical Therapy. Hughes, C (Editor). 2011
Chui, KK &. Austin, GP. Exercise. In Health Promotion Throughout the Life Span, 7th Edition. Edelman, C & Mandle, C. (editors). Mosby. 2010
Peer Reviewed Scientific and Professional Presentations
Curfman SE, Austin GP, Nicholas J, Radack B. Differences in Pain Neuroscience Perspectives Between Physical Therapy Students and Clinical Instructors. American Physical Therapy Association Combined Sections Meeting. Denver, CO. February 2020Curfman SE, Austin GP, Nicholas J, Radack B. Pain Neuroscience Education Changes PA Student Intervention Patterns, Including Physical Therapy Referrals. American Physical Therapy Association Combined Sections Meeting. Denver, CO. February 2020
Curfman SE, Austin GP, Nicholas J, Radack B. PT and PA Students Differ in Perceptions, Knowledge, Attitudes, and Beliefs About Persistent Pain. American Physical Therapy Association Combined Sections Meeting. Denver, CO. February 2020
Curfman SE, Austin GP, Nicholas J, Radack B. Pain Neuroscience Knowledge and Pain Perspectives: A Longitudinal Study of DPT Students and Faculty. American Physical Therapy Association Combined Sections Meeting. Denver, CO. February 2020
Curfman SE, Austin GP, & Nicholas JS. Student Attitudes and Beliefs About Active Learning: Relationship to Emotional Intelligence, Group Dynamics and Student Performance. American Physical Therapy Association Combined Sections Meeting. Washington, DC. February, 2019
Curfman S, Austin GP, & Nicholas J. Knowledge, attitudes and beliefs about pain in third-year DPT students and clinical instructors. American Academy of Orthopaedic Manual Physical Therapists. Reno, NV. November 2018\
Austin, GP and Smith AR. Dynamic Spinal Control: Blending of Popular Approaches. American Physical Therapy NEXT Conference and Exposition. Orlando, FL. Breakout Session June, 2018
Curfman SE and Austin GP. Post-Traumatic Stress and Academic Performance Among Entry-Level Doctoral Physical Therapy Students in A Human Anatomy Cadaver Dissection Course. American Physical Therapy Association Combined Sections Meeting. New Orleans, LA. Poster February, 2018
Austin GP & Smith K. The Effects of Thoracic Spine Thrust Manipulation on Cervical Joint Position Error. American Physical Therapy Association Combined Sections Meeting. New Orleans, LA. Poster February, 2018
Smith AR and Austin GP. Dynamic Spinal Stability: Blending of Dominant Paradigms. American Academy of Orthopaedic Manual Physical Therapists. Salt Lake City, UT. Concurrent Breakout Session. October, 2017
Curfman S and Austin GP. Measuring for Lymphedema with L-Dex in a Woman with Breast Cancer Using Crutches to Walk After Knee Surgery: A Case Study Report.” APTA Combined Sections Meeting, Anaheim, CA. Oncology Section. Poster Presentation. February, 2016
Austin GP. Musculoskeletal Issues in Four Guatemalan Communities: Analysis of Preliminary Data. APTA Combined Sections Meeting, Las Vegas, NV. Health Policy Administration Section. Platform Presentation. February, 2014
Politis S and Austin GP. Lumbar-Hip Connection: Treating the Kinetic Chain with Applied Functional Science and EBP. American Academy of Orthopaedic Manual Physical Therapists. Cincinnati, OH. Concurrent Breakout Session. October, 2013
Burns SA, Mintken PE, & Austin GP. Effect of Hip Mobilizations on Chronic Low Back Pain: A Case Report. AAOMPT Annual Conference, Arlington, VA. October, 2009
- Renee BrownProfessorPhD (Human Development and Communication - Neuroscience) University of Texas at Dallas; MS (Physical Therapy-Neurologic Rehabilitation) University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill; BS (Physical Therapy) Daemen CollegeLocation: Inman Center 302BView Bio
Dr. Brown has been a practicing physical therapist since 1983, specializing in the area of adolescent and adult neurologic rehabilitation. Prior to coming to Belmont, Dr. Brown was on faculty at UT-Southwestern Medical Center, Ithaca College, and most recently at Vanderbilt University where she was also Physical Therapy Coordinator for Pi Beta Phi Rehabilitation Institute.
Dr. Brown has an interest in international medical service, having coordinated and participated in medical service trips to Bangladesh, Guatemala, Ghana and Haiti. Dr. Brown is a member of the APTA's Sections/Academies on Education, Neurology, and Health Policy.
Publications and Presentations
Brown RM, Powers P, House C, Farrar L, Weaver K. The impact of Kinesio taping® on gait parameters and pain in patients with Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease. American Physical Therapy Association Combined Sections Meeting, Anaheim, CA, Feb 2016.Meyer J, Sells P, Brown RM. Differences in performance on standardized active and passive dynamic visual acuity testing using NeuroCom InVision testing in individuals with vestibular dysfunction: a retrospective study. American Physical Therapy Association Combined Sections Meeting, Anaheim, CA, Feb 2016.
Brown RM. Effects of educational intervention on use of tilt-in-space, functional mobility, and pain in full-time wheelchair users. Tennessee Physical Therapy Association, Nashville, TN, March 2015.
Durrough C, Haack L, Brown RM: Comparing the LSVT BIG protocol to a modified protocol and traditional Physical therapy in the management of individuals with Parkinson’s disease: a case series. Tennessee Physical Therapy Association, 2014; American Physical Therapy Association Combined Sections Meeting, 2015.
Powers, PJ, Barrett A, Cueller L, Heney M, Schumpert M, Brown RM. Effects of Educational Intervention on use of Tilt-in-Space. Rehabilitation Engineering and Assistive Technology Society of North America, June 2015.
Powers, PJ, Barrett A, Cueller L, Heney M, Schumpert M, Brown RM: Effects of education on use of tilt in space, functional mobility and pain, 31st International Seating Symposium, 2015.
Brown RM, Weaver K, Powers P, House C, Farrar L. The impact of Kinesio taping® on gait parameters of patients with Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease (CMT), Tennessee Physical Therapy Association Grant, Nashville, TN, February 2015.
Dagnan E, Gibbs D, Hallmark B, Brown RM, Darr N. Occupational and Physical Therapy Student Perspectives on Teaching Acute Care Management. Podium presentation at Tennessee Simulation Alliance Meeting, November 2014.
- Sue CurfmanAssociate ProfessorDHSc (Manual Therapy & Anatomy) University of St. Augustine; MS (Applied Anatomy & Physiology) Boston University; BS (Physical Therapy) University of PittsburghLocation: McWhorter Hall 351View Bio
Dr. Sue Curfman is an Orthopedic Certified Specialist through the American Board of Physical Therapy Specialties. She earned her certification as a manual therapist through the University of St. Augustine. Dr. Curfman has more than 30 years of experience in a range of clinical settings, initially as a generalist and then focusing in outpatient orthopedics for over 20 years. She has a special clinical interest in working with women who have had breast cancer. She has experience and a passion for working overseas providing physical therapy services in developing countries such as Haiti, India, Guatemala, Ecuador and the Dominican Republic. Dr. Curfman has been teaching physical therapy for over 30 years, primarily in the areas of anatomy, kinesiology and orthopedics and joined the Belmont University School of Physical Therapy in 2021. Her research interests focus primarily in the areas of teaching and learning, pain neuroscience education and physical therapy care of women with breast cancer.
Publications and Presentations:
Curfman, SE, Austin, GP, Radack, BM, Utilization of Forearm Crutches to Avoid Lymphedema After Breast Cancer Lymph Node Surgery: A Case Report, Acute Care Physical Therapy Journal, 2021Curfman, SE, Austin, GP, Nicholas, JS, Radack, BM, Differences in Pain Neuroscience Perspectives between Physical Therapy Students and Clinical Instructors. Combined Sections Meeting, APTA, Denver, CO, February, 2020
Curfman, SE, Austin, GP, Nicholas, JS, Radack, BM, PT and PA Students Differ in Perceptions, Knowledge, Attitudes, and Beliefs about Persistent Pain. Combined Sections Meeting, APTA, Denver, CO, February, 2020
Curfman, SE, Austin, GP, Nicholas, JS, Radack, BM, Pain Neuroscience Education Changes PA Student Intervention Patterns, Including Physical Therapy Referrals. Combined Sections Meeting, APTA, Denver, CO, February, 2020
Curfman, SE, Austin, GP, Nicholas, JS, Radack, BM, Pain Neuroscience Knowledge and Pain Perspectives: A Longitudinal Study of DPT Students and Faculty. Combined Sections Meeting, APTA, Denver, CO, February, 2020
Student Attitudes and Beliefs About Active Learning: Relationship to Emotional Intelligence, Group Dynamics and Student Performance, CSM of APTA, Washington DC, January, 2019
Curfman, SE, Austin, GP, Nicholas, JS. Post-traumatic stress and academic performance among entry-level doctoral physical therapy students in a human anatomy cadaver dissection course Internet Journal of Allied Health Sciences and Practice, 2018 Jul 02;16(3)
Knowledge, attitudes and beliefs about pain in third-year DPT students and clinical instructors, AAOMPT, Reno, NV, November, 2018
Curfman SE & Austin GP, Student attitudes and beliefs about active learning and the impact of a graduate level anatomy course, Combined Sections Meeting, APTA, New Orleans, LA, February, 2018
Curfman SE & Austin GP, Post-traumatic stress and academic performance among entry-level doctoral physical therapy students in a human anatomy cadaver dissection course, Combined Sections Meeting, APTA, New Orleans, LA, February, 2018
Curfman, SE, Grandeo J, Neurodynamics: Application and differential diagnosis for common clinical presentations. Virginia Physical Therapy Association’s annual conference; Chantilly, VA, October, 2016
Curfman, SE Measuring for Lymphedema with L-Dex in a Woman With Breast Cancer Using Crutches to Walk After Knee Surgery: A Case Study Report, Combined Sections Meeting, APTA, Anaheim, CA, February, 2016
Curfman, SE, Garza, J, Smith, AR. Functional Movement Screen In Firefighter Recruits, Combined Sections Meeting, APTA, Indianapolis, IN, February, 2015
Curfman, SE. Shoulder, neck, and thoracic back pain and disability treated with instrument assisted soft tissue mobilization, manual therapy and exercise following prophylactic mastectomy with failed reconstruction: A case study, Combined Sections Meeting, APTA, Las Vegas, NV, February, 2014.
- Nancy DarrProfessorDSc Loma Linda University; MS (Physical Therapy) University of Southern California; BA (Zoology and Psychology) Ohio Wesleyan UniversityLocation: McWhorter Hall 343View Bio
Dr. Darr has been a practicing physical therapist since 1985, specializing in the areas of pediatrics and adult neurological rehabilitation. She has practiced in a wide variety of settings including adult and pediatric inpatient and outpatient rehabilitation, acute care, and public health; She currently maintains a practice in early intervention and outpatient pediatrics at High Hopes Development Center. Dr. Darr is certified as a clinical specialist in Neurologic Physical Therapy by the American Board of Physical Therapy Specialties. Dr. Darr teaches in the areas of pediatrics and adult neurological rehabilitation. She is also the Academic Residency Director for the Pediatric Physical Therapy Residency at the Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt University and Belmont University.
Dr. Darr’s research interests include the development of mobility and postural control in children, as well as, assessment and intervention strategies for children with balance and mobility challenges. She is one of the developers of the Pediatric Balance Scale (PBS) and has performed extensive research on PBS psychometric properties and clinical applications. Dr. Darr is also involved in research examining the impact of adapted motorized ride on toys for children with limited mobility on motor skills, language, and socialization. Dr. Darr is a member of the APTA’s sections on Education, Neurology, Pediatrics and Research.
Publications and Presentations
Darr N, Franjoine MR, Campbell SK, Smith E. Psychometric Properties of the Pediatric Balance Scale using Rasch Analysis. Pediatric Physical Therapy. 2015.Darr N, Franjoine MR. Examination of Functional Mobility in Children on the Cheap: Quick, Easy, and Inexpensive Clinical Measures. Section on Pediatrics Annual Conference, November 2015.
Darr N, Franjoine MR. Examining Functional Balance on the Cheap: Quick, Easy, Clinician-Friendly Measures. Section on Pediatrics Annual Conference, November 2015.
Franjoine MR, Darr N, Young B, Hake E: Examination of forward reach in children using a new methodology. Combined Sections Meeting, Indianapolis, IN, February 2015.
Bursch G, Darr N, Ward B, Bolan et al: A Comparison of the Effects of Three Different Types of Backpacks on Gait Characteristics in Middle School Children. Tennessee Physical Therapy Association, 2014.
Dagnan E, Gibbs D, Hallmark B, Brown RM, Darr N. Occupational and Physical Therapy Student Perspectives on Teaching Acute Care Management. Podium presentation at Tennessee Simulation Alliance Meeting, November 2014.
Darr N, Franjoine MR, Smith E, Campbell SK: Rasch Analysis of the Pediatric Balance Scale. American Physical Therapy Association Combined Sections Meeting, 2014.
Darr N, Franjoine M, Young B: Effect of age, gender, balance dysfunction, and floor surface on single limb stance times in children. Section on Pediatrics Annual Conference, 2014.
- Suzanne GreenwaltAssociate Professor & Director of Clinical EducationDPT A.T. Still University Health Sciences Center; MPT (Physical Therapy) St. Louis University; BS (Exercise Science) St. Louis UniversityLocation: McWhorter Hall 351View Bio
Dr. Greenwalt has been a physical therapist since 2002 and worked in a variety of settings. She has worked at Vanderbilt Stallworth Rehabilitation Hospital and in the Burn Unit at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. Dr. Greenwalt has been working with National HealthCare Corporation since 2008 in several roles. She served as the Director of Rehabilitation at Richland Place. She continues to be an educator and mentor in NHC’s Geriatric Residency Program as well as a staff physical therapist for NHC.
Dr. Greenwalt is a Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Clinical Specialist, and was the first physical therapist in TN to have this certification. She is also a Geriatric Clinical Specialist and is a Certified Clinical Instructor through the APTA. She is an active APTA member and is a member of the Board of Directors for the Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Section of the APTA. Her interest areas in both patient care and research are geriatrics and cardiopulmonary comorbidities in the geriatric population.At Belmont University, Dr. Greenwalt’s teaching responsibilities include: Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Physical Therapy Lecture and Lab, Lifespan Development, Clinical Pathophysiology, Pharmacology, and Clinical Experience I and II. She is also a student research advisor and has served as the advisor for the following projects:
- The Accuracy of Apple and Garman Watches at Detecting Heart Rate when Engaged in Exercise, 2016-2018
- The Accuracy of Heart Rate Monitoring Smart-Phone Apps at Detecting Heart Rate when Engaged in Exercise, 2015-2017
- The Effect of an Educational Program Intended to Assist Caregivers with the Transition of Loved Ones From the Palliative Care Unit to Home, 2014-2016
- The Effect of Dual-Task on Gait Velocity in Geriatric Subjects with Mild to Moderate Cognitive Decline, 2013-2015
Publications and Presentations
Greenwalt, S., Bogue, E., Bologna, A., Bowden, M. A., Goode, L. Y. and Wolfe, R. (2019). Accuracy of the iPhysioMeter Heart Rate Monitoring Application. Open Access Library Journal, 6, e5210. http://dx.doi.org/10.4236/oalib.1105210.Dahlgren, L., Gibbs, D., Greenwalt, S., Hahn, L. and Dietrich, M.S. (2018) Getting it Right from the Start: An Interprofessional Orientation Experience for Graduate Health Sciences Students, Evaluating Attitudes toward Role. Open Access Library Journal, 5: e4460. https://doi.org/10.4236/oalib.1104460
- Diana HarrisonAssistant ProfessorDPT Boston University; BS (Health & Exercise Science) Wake Forest UniversityLocation: McWhorter Hall 100BView Bio
Dr. Harrison received her Bachelor of Science in Health and Exercise Science from Wake Forest University and her Doctor of Physical Therapy from Boston University. In 2014, she became an APTA Board Certified Pediatric Clinical Specialist. She is currently pursuing her Doctor of Health Science through the University of Indianapolis.
Dr. Harrison has over a decade of experience working in pediatric physical therapy at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and Boston Children’s Hospital. She has worked with a variety of pediatric patient populations across several settings including inpatient and day hospital rehabilitation, acute care, and seating and adaptive equipment clinic. Dr. Harrison is an APTA Credentialed Clinical Instructor and served as a mentor in a pediatric physical therapy residency program. Prior to joining the faculty in the School of Physical Therapy, Dr. Harrison was a guest lecturer and lab instructor in several physical therapy programs in the Philadelphia area. She is passionate about working with pediatric patients with traumatic brain injury, stroke, and other neurological diagnoses. Her scholarship interests include the exploration of leadership and physical therapy through a qualitative lens and interprofessional education.
- Lindsay IsonAssistant ProfessorEdD (Health Professions Education) A.T. Still University; MS (Physical Therapy) University of Alabama-Birmingham; BS (Psychology) University of KentuckyLocation: McWhorter Hall 100AView Bio
Dr. Ison received her Bachelor of Science in psychology from the University of Kentucky, her Master of Science in physical therapy from the University of Alabama-Birmingham, and her Doctor of Education in Health Professions from A.T. Still University. She is a Board Certified Orthopedic Clinical Specialist and APTA Advanced Credentialed Clinical Instructor. Dr. Ison has more than 20 years of clinical experience in orthopedic and performing arts settings. She provides clinical care, education, injury prevention, and backstage coverage for performing arts organizations throughout middle Tennessee. Dr. Ison is a member of the American Physical Therapy Association, the International Association of Dance Medicine & Science, and the Performing Arts Medical Association.
- Stacey LindsleyAssistant ProfessorPT, DPTLocation: McWhorter 100BView Bio
Dr. Lindsley received her B.S. in Chemistry from the University of Indianapolis where she played collegiate tennis and developed a deep appreciation for physical therapy. Following a move to Nashville, TN, Dr. Lindsley pursued her goal of becoming a physical therapist and received her Doctorate in Physical Therapy from Belmont University. Dr. Lindsley is currently pursuing her Doctor of Education through University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences.
Dr. Lindsley participated in basic research for 8 years as a medicinal chemist at Eli Lilly in Indianapolis, IN and Merck in West Point, PA. Dr. Lindsley remains clinically actively treating patients in the outpatient orthopedic setting in the greater Nashville area. She is level 1 certified in Dry Needling and M1 Graston certified. Dr, Lindsley is also active in the American Physical Therapy Association including the American Academy of Sports Physical Therapy and the Tennessee Physical Therapy Association. Prior to joining the School of Physical Therapy as a full-time faculty, she was as an adjunct faculty member.
Dr. Lindsley teaches in the areas of Human Anatomy, Kinesiology, and Clinical Pathophysiology. Her scholarships interests are in the following areas: the scholarship of teaching and learning with a focus on student engagement and objective assessment techniques including hand-held dynamometry and objective measurements in telehealth. In her free time Dr. Lindsley enjoys hiking, exercising, dancing (including anatomy and kinesiology dances), walking her three dogs, and spending time with her six children.
- Tyler MillerAssistant Professor & Assistant Director of Clinical EducationPT, DPT, OCS, COMT, FAAOMPTLocation: McWhorter Hall Room 100AView Bio
Dr. Miller received his Bachelor of Science in Education from the University of Tennessee at Knoxville and proudly received his Doctorate in Physical Therapy from Belmont University School of Physical Therapy. He completed a Fellowship in Orthopaedic Manual Physical Therapy with Upstream Rehabilitation Institute. After receiving a Certification of Orthopedic Manual Therapy, Dr. Miller became Board Certified in Orthopaedic Physical Therapy and a Fellow of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Manual Physical Therapist. He also obtained status as a Certified Dry Needling Specialist with a Certification of Dry Needling.
Dr. Miller is currently working on his Doctorate of Science in Physical Therapy through Bellin College. Dr. Miller continues his clinical practice with Benchmark Physical Therapy and is heavily involved in teaching and mentoring in Upstream Rehabilitation Institute’s postdoctoral residency and fellowship programs. He teaches continuing education courses across the United States in the areas of Comprehensive Management of Musculoskeletal System, Manual Therapy, and Dry Needling.
Dr. Miller teaches in the areas of Clinical Education and Ethics in Health Care. His scholarship interests are in the following areas: enhancing students’ clinical education experiences; assessing the non-cognitive traits in physical therapy; the role of the physical therapist in behavior and mental health; and therapeutic neuroscience education. His proudest accomplishments are his marriage to Emilee and their three kids Cohen, Jude, and Beau.
- Ryan McConnellAssistant ProfessorDPT (Physical Therapy) University of Tennessee Health Science Center; BS (Education) University of Tennessee Knoxville)Location: McWhorter Hall 345View Bio
Dr. McConnell received his Bachelor of Science in Education from the University of Tennessee at Knoxville. He received his doctorate in physical therapy from the University of Tennessee Health Science Center. He completed a Postdoctoral Orthopaedic Residency and Fellowship in Orthopaedic Manual Physical Therapy with Upstream Rehabilitation Institute. He is also Board Certified in Orthopaedic Physical Therapy and is a Fellow of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Manual Physical Therapists. He is currently working on his Doctorate of Science in Physical Therapy through Bellin College.
Dr. McConnell has served in various leadership capacities with the Tennessee Physical Therapy Association and within outpatient orthopedic settings. Dr. McConnell was recently awarded the Emerging Leader Award through the American Physical Therapy Association. He continues his clinical practice in outpatient orthopedics with BenchMark Physical Therapy and is actively participating in Upstream Rehabilitation Institute’s postdoctoral residency and fellowship programs. His scholarship interests are in the areas of: orthopaedic manual physical therapy, therapeutic neuroscience/pain science education, biopsychosocial implications of clinical practice, and dry needling.
- Cathey NortonAssistant ProfessorDPT NeuroRecovery Training Institute; BS (Physical Therapy) Texas Woman’s UniversityLocation: McWhorter Hall 346View Bio
Dr. Norton has been a practicing physical therapist for over 32 years. Her clinical experience encompasses a variety of patient populations in both the inpatient and outpatient settings. Most recently, she was on staff at Vanderbilt Medical Center’s Pi Beta Phi Rehabilitation Institute as the Site Coordinator of Clinical Education and a mentor in the Neurologic Clinical Residency at Pi Beta Phi and Belmont University. Her primary interests are neurologic and vestibular rehabilitation.
She received her Bachelor of Science and Physical Therapy degree in 1986 from Texas Woman’s University and her Doctorate in Physical Therapy from the NeuroRecovery Training Institute in 2017. She is certified as a clinical specialist in Neurologic Physical Therapy by the American Board of Physical Therapy Specialties and holds certifications in adult and pediatric vestibular rehabilitation. She is a member of the APTA’s section on Neurology and the Vestibular special interest group, and has presented at the local, state, and national levels on concussion management, vestibular rehabilitation, facial rehabilitation, balance and falls prevention.
Her publications and research interest are in the area of facial paralysis and the treatment of synkinesis. She has an interest in balance development in children with cochlear implants, as well as international medical service, providing physical therapy services and lectures to physical therapy students in Haiti. She serves as the Academic Residency Director for the Neurologic Physical Therapy Residency at Pi Beta Phi Rehabilitation Institute at Vanderbilt Medical Center and Belmont University.
- Kevin RobinsonProfessorDSc (Orthopedic Tract) Rocky Mountain University; MS (Physical Therapy) University of Kentucky; BS (Physical Therapy) East Carolina UniversityLocation: McWhorter Hall 341View Bio
Dr. Kevin Robinson, PT, DSc, OCS is a tenured Professor in the School of Physical Therapy at Belmont University. Since 1998, he has taught in the areas of orthopedics and biomechanics and he is also the Director of the Motion Analysis Lab for the program. Dr. Robinson has over 30 years of clinical experience with the management of orthopedic and sports injuries and has numerous peer-reviewed publications and book chapters. Dr. Robinson is a reviewer and Associate Editor for the International Journal of Sports Physical Therapy. He has maintained his Certification as an Orthopedic Clinical Specialists from the American Board of Physical Therapy Specialties (ABPTS) since 1995 and is also involved in his clinical practice at the Performance Therapy Institute in Franklin, TN. His clinical practice melds his love of patient care with his formal training in biomechanics and orthopedics. He routinely performs clinical 3D gait and movement analysis to develop rehab and training programs for patients and athletes. Dr. Robinson has worked with many high school, collegiate and professional athletes and has consulted with both the Tennessee Titans and Nashville Predators.
Dr. Robinson has presented his research at many national conferences. Currently, Dr. Robinson has two ongoing research tracts. One involves the identification of at-risk athletes and professional dancers. The goal of this research is to be able to reduce the number and severity of lower extremity injuries acquired during the season by these athletes and performers by performing pre-season testing (3D motion analysis, balance and strength assessments) to build a predictive algorithm to determine injury risk.
Dr. Robinson is also working in collaboration with Vanderbilt University, Department of Neurosurgery and the University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada on a project titled: “The Restoration of Standing and Walking through Intra-spinal MicroStimulation (ISMS) in Humans”. This project was initiated in 2014 and is hopeful to begin human trials in 2019.
Publications and Presentations
Toossi A, Everaert DG2, Seres P, Jaremko JL, Robinson K, Kao CC, Konrad PE, Mushahwar VK. Ultrasound-guided spinal stereotactic system for intraspinal implants. J Neurosurg Spine. 2018 Jun 15:1-14.Jennings D, Sells P, Allison J, Boyd K, Frommert D, Kessler C, Merryman L, Muchmore J, Odom TJ, Salmon R, Robinson TK. Effects of a Season of Subconcussive Contact on Child SCAT3 Scores in 8-12 Year-Old Male Athletes. International Journal of Sports Physical Therapy 2015; 10(5) 667-673.
Jennings D, Sells P, Allison J, Boyd K, Frommert D, Kessler C, Merryman L, Muchmore J, Odom TJ, Salmon R, Robinson TK. Effects of a season of sub-concussive contact on Child- SCAT3 scores in 8-12 year old male athletes. International Journal of Sports Physical Therapy. 2015.
Sells PD, Cavicchio H, Everhart B, Grass B, Lambert J, Robinson TK: The Effect of a Negative Ion Holographic Bracelet on Maximal Aerobic Performance. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, 2014 April 7.
Robinson, TK: The Elbow in Boyce D and Placzek J: Othopedic Physical Therapy Secrets, 3rd Edition, Elsevier, New York, 2014.
- Pat SellsProfessorDA (Exercise Science/Wellness) Middle Tennessee State University; MA (Adaptive Physical Education) Tennessee Technological University; BA (Physical Education) Tennessee Technological UniversityLocation: McWhorter Hall 337View Bio
Dr. Pat Sells received his undergraduate degree at Tennessee Technological University in Physical Education and completed his Master’s degree in adaptive Physical education there as well. After a period of time in the corporate world working for the consulting firm Arthur Anderson, Dr. Sells returned to academia and completed his Doctoral studies at Middle Tennessee State University.
Dr. Sells’ clinical background in exercise physiology includes both Cardiac and Pulmonary Rehabilitation and exercise testing and prescription in athletes. Dr. Sells is certified by the American College of Sports Medicine as a Clinical Exercise Specialist (CES), as an Advanced Cardiac Life Support provider and is certified as a golf fitness instructor by the Titlist Performance Institute. Dr. Sells has research interest in a variety of lines, including concussion in youth sports, Blood Flow Restriction, muscle oxygen saturation, movement studies in golf, dance, and plyometric landing. Dr. Sells teaches courses in Human Physiology, Cardiopulmonary Physical Therapy, Statistics, Critical Inquiry and Health and Wellness. Dr. Sells is a reviewer for the International Journal of Sports Medicine.
Prior to joining the Physical Therapy Department, Dr. Sells served as the Director of Cardiac Rehabilitation at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. His clinical experience includes metabolic testing and rehabilitation with diverse patient populations including; heart transplant recipients, congestive heart failure, COPD, emphysema, cystic fibrosis, obesity, diabetic athletes and children.
Publications and Presentations
"Investigating Neuromuscular Training to Combat Adverse Effects of Acute Fatigue in Collegiate Pivoting Athletes" for the 2020 Combined Sections Meeting (CSM) . ACCEPTEDWilliams, C.L., Dagnan, E., Miner, K.M. and Sells, P. (2018) The Effect of an Animal-Assisted Intervention on Physiological Measures of Stress and Anxiety in Graduate Professional Physical Therapy Students. Open Access Library Journal, 5: e4364.
Jenny Ellison, SPT; Emily Jones, ATC, SPT; Abby Lester, SPT; Kayla Lydon, SPT; Megan Rolfe, ATC, LAT, SPT;, Kevin Robinson, PT, DSc, OCS; Craig Parker, PT, DPT. Pat Sells, DA, CCES. The use of an inertial motion analysis system to evaluate the kinematics of landing before and after a six-session training intervention focused on proximal hip strengthening, motor control, and lower extremity loading strategies.
“Compliance with ankle-foot orthoses in the neurologic population”. Kelly, Christina; Brown, Renee; Sells, Pat. Submitted to Prosthetics & Orthotics International, October 2017.
Comparing motion capture systems for clinical appropriateness in lower extremity frontal plane measurements. Megan Philipp SPT, Lauren Beres SPT, Kenneth Jenkins SPT, Connor Norman SPT, Harrison Hall SPT, Patrick Sells, DA, CCES & Dr. Kevin Robinson. Poster Session Presentation, Combined Sections Meeting, 2017
The relationship between segmental rolling ability and lumbar multifidus activation time. Nicole Clark, PT, DPT, Mike Voight, PT, DPT Sherry Pierce, PT, DPT, Pat Sells, DA, CCES, Ryan Cook, PT, DPT, Clint Henley, PT, DPT Lindsey Schiller, PT, DPT Ashley Campbell, PT, DPT. International Journal of Sports Physical Therapy. JSPT/2017/009779
Examination of Perceived vs. Actual Weight and Height of Full-Time Wheelchair Users. Elise Meade, PT, DPT1, Renee Brown, PT, PhD2, Penny Powers, PT, MS, ATP3, Ginger Devine PT, ATP3, Pat Sells, DA2 Poster Session Presentation, Combined Sections Meeting, 2017
Comparing motion capture systems for clinical appropriateness in lower extremity frontal plane measurements. Megan Philipp SPT, Lauren Beres SPT, Kenneth Jenkins SPT, Connor Norman SPT, Harrison Hall SPT, Patrick Sells, DA, CCES & Dr. Kevin Robinson. 2017 American College of Sports Medicine Annual Meeting
Meyer J, Sells P, Brown RM. Differences in performance on standardized active and passive dynamic visual acuity testing using NeuroCom InVision testing in individuals with vestibular dysfunction: a retrospective study. American Physical Therapy Association Combined Sections Meeting, Anaheim, CA, Feb 2016
Musculoskeletal Interventions: Techniques for Therapeutic Exercise. Chapter 9, Impaired Endurance: Maintaining Aerobic Capacity and Endurance. Eds. Voight, Hoogenboom, and Prentice. McGraw Hill, New York, 2013
Melissa Humphres, Cole Sillaman, Craig Parker, Christine Rettig, Peter Jordan, Patrick Sells. Comparison of Electromyographic Activity of Muscles Associated with Elbow Flexion Using Different Resistance Devices. 2013 American College of Sports Medicine Annual Meeting
- Michael L. VoightProfessorDHSc University of St. Augustine; PT Degree Hannemann Medical School; MS (Athletic Training) University of Virginia; BS Portland State UniversityLocation: McWhorter Hall 336View Bio
Dr. Michael Voight has had a distinguished career as both an educator and clinical physical therapist for over 30 years. Throughout his career he has not only become one of the leading authorities in the rehabilitation of orthopedic and sports injuries, he has worked tirelessly to advance the knowledge of others as a clinician and educator by making significant contributions to the literature. Dr. Voight received his undergraduate training at the University of Oregon and Portland State University in the Pacific Northwest of the United States. From there, he traveled to the University of Virginia and received his master's degree in education with an emphasis in sports medicine. Physical therapy school followed at Hahnemann Medical School in Philadelphia. In 1987, Dr. Voight became one of the nation’s first board certified clinical specialist in Sports Physical Therapy, and in 1994 he received his board certification of advanced clinical competence in orthopedic physical therapy making him one of the nation’s first two-board certified specialists in the Unites States. He has been recertified in both specialty areas several times. In 1995, Dr. Voight received one of the nation’s first doctoral degrees in physical therapy when he was awarded a Doctorate of Health Science from the University of St. Augustine. Dr. Voight is also recognized as a Certified Athletic Trainer and Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist.
Dr. Voight is a tenured professor with Belmont University’s School of Physical Therapy in Nashville TN teaching the orthopaedic assessment and manual therapy coursework along with emergency management – first responder training. He also holds a position of Adjunct Associate Professor in the Vanderbilt School of Medicine – Department of Orthopedics where he is the Co-Director of the Vanderbilt/Belmont Sports Physical Therapy Residency program. Dr. Voight is recognized as a clinician of the highest caliber, and has worked with a number of high-profile athletic organizations. Throughout his career, Dr. Voight has served as a Team Physical Therapist for teams in both the NFL and NBA. In addition, Dr. Voight has consulted with various teams in MLB, NHL and the MLS. Early in his career he became active within the United States Olympic Committee's Sports Medicine Division. He has worked at the Olympic Training Center, Olympic Festivals, Pan Am Games, Olympic Games, and has had the opportunity to travel to almost all of the different continents with various Olympic and national teams. Outside of the classroom, Dr. Voight still maintains a clinical practice at the Nashville Sportsmedicine/Nashville Hip Institute, specializing in orthopedic and sports related injuries particularly with PGA tour players and other professional athletes. His role with the advisory board of the Titlist Performance Institute allows him to consult on the prevention, evaluation, and treatment of golf injuries with many noted golf professionals.
Throughout his career, Dr. Voight has been very active in developing clinical functional movement assessments for both prevention of injury and evaluation of injury. These clinical systems are recognized internationally as one standard for evaluating movement. As one of the co-founders of the Selective Functional Movement Assessment (SFMA), his passion for assessing and training the human movement system continues to evolve. He was recently appointed by the APTA Board of Directors to the APTA movement system task force. In this role, Dr. Voight has worked with the task force and APTA to further define the human movement system and develop a framework for promoting and integrating the concept of the human movement system into physical therapy practice, education, and research. Most of his research interests have centered on movement related topics.
In addition to academic and clinical practice, Dr. Voight has also been extremely active within the field of Sports Physical Therapy. Throughout his career, Dr. Voight has been appointed to a variety of committees and has served four elected terms on the Executive Board of the Sports Physical Therapy Section of APTA. In his last elected position, Dr. Voight served in the capacity of President of the SPTS. Internationally, Dr. Voight was elected to the Executive Board of the International Federation of Sports Physiotherapy-WCPT and served two terms on the board working closely with the scientific congress committee, the IOC medical commission and assisted in the development of worldwide educational standards for sports physical therapy. He is also member of the National Athletic Training Association; the American College of Sportsmedicine; the National Strength Coaches Association; the United States Olympic Sportsmedicine Society; the International Federation of Sportsmedicine; the International Society for Arthroscopy, Knee Surgery, and Orthopedic Sportsmedicine; the European Society of Sports Traumatology, Knee Surgery and Arthroscopy; the International Society for Hip Arthroscopy, and the prestigious American Orthopedic Society for Sports Medicine.
Dr. Voight has lectured extensively at various conferences, symposiums, and congresses both nationally and internationally having given over 900 professional presentations on a variety of orthopedic and sports medicine topics. Dr Voight holds a senior teaching position for the North American Institute of Sports Physical Therapy (www.rehabeducation.com) continuing education division. Dr. Voight is a principle reviewer for the prestigious American Journal of Sports Medicine and actively resides on the editorial boards of several different journals. He played an instrumental role in the development of the North American Journal of Sports Physical Therapy and is currently the Editor-in-Chief of the International Journal of Sports Physical Therapy. He has authored over 80 papers, textbook chapters on various topics, and has written three textbooks on functional exercise. During his career, he has been award the Distinguished Educator Award from the Sports Physical Therapy Section three times making him the only person to have been presented this award multiple times and in 2010 he was presented with the inaugural SPTS “Lifetime Excellence in Education Award”. Additionally, he has been awarded the Tennessee Educator of the tear twice.
Dr. Voight is a clinician, educator, and researcher who is regarded by his peers as one of the leading musculoskeletal physical therapists in the world. In 1997, he was presented the Sports Physical Therapy Section’s (SPTS) distinguished service award for his dedication to service. In 2008, he was presented the President’s award for his career of service to the SPTS and was also presented the prestigious Ron Peyton award for career achievement. In 2010, Dr. Voight was elected into the SPTS Hall of Fame for a lifetime of excellence in sports physical therapy. His many accomplishments were again validated in 2011 when the American Physical Therapy Association presented Dr. Voight with their highest honor, naming him a Fellow of the APTA. Outside of the APTA, Dr Voight was elected into the inaugural Hall of Fame class from the Titlist Performance Institute. In addition to being active within the field of physical therapy, Dr. Voight is an active member in numerous medical societies (AOSSM, ISHA, ESSKA, ISAKOS, ISHA) and was one of the founding members of the ICCUS Society. He remains extremely active in patient care, education, and research activities and his lectures are both well attended and receive excellent reviews based upon his innovative presentation of the scientific evidence and the interactive fun approach to teaching.
Recent Scholarship
Publications
Paine R, Voight ML: The role of the scapula. Int J Sports PT 8(5):617-629, 2013.Cook G, Burton L, Hoogenboom BJ, Voight ML: Functional Movement Screening: The use of the fundamental movements as an assessment of function – Part 1. Int J Sports PT 9(3): 396-409, 2014
Cook G, Burton L, Hoogenboom BJ, Voight ML: Functional Movement Screening: The use of the fundamental movements as an assessment of function – Part 2. Int J Sports PT 9(4): 549-563, 2014
Rose G, Cheetham P, Voight ML: Golf Swing Efficiency – A Biomechanical Approach. In: Becker L, Manske R (Eds): Management of the golfing athlete throughout the lifespan. SPTS Home Study Course, 2015
Hoogenboom BJ, Voight ML: Rolling Revisited: Using Rolling to assess and treat neuromuscular control and coordination of the core and extremities of athletes. Int Journal Sports PT 10(8):787- 802, 2015.
Page P, Hoogenboom B, Voight ML: Improving the reporting of therapeutic exercise interventions in rehabilitation research. Int Journal Sports PT 12(2):297-304, 2017.
Saladin L, Voight M: Introduction to the movement system as the foundation for physical therapist practice, education, and research. Int Journal Sports PT 12(6):858-861, 2017.
Clark N, Voight ML, Campbell A, Pierce S, Sells P, Cook R, Henley C, Schiller L: The relationship between segmental rolling and lumbar multifidus activation time. Int Journal Sports PT 12(6): 921-930, 2017.
Voight M, Page P, Chidester M, Hardiek L, Macko S, Sexton Z, Sells P: The impact of hip abduction elastic-resistance neuromuscular feedback on frontal plane knee kinematics in female volleyball athletes. J of Performance Health Res 1(2): 23-30, 2017.
Notable Presentations
Lecturer – Hygenics/Performance Health TRAK Research Symposium, Moscow, Russia / August 2013.Lecturer – Hygenics/Performance Health TRAK Research Symposium, Park City, UT / August 2014.
Lecturer – World Golf Fitness Summit: Evaluation and treatment of hip dysfunction in golfers, Oceanside, CA / October, 2014.
Lecturer – Hygenics/Performance Health TRAK Research Symposium, Vancouver, BC Canada/ August 2015.
Keynote Lecturer – International Society for Hip Arthroscopy Annual Meeting, Cambridge, UK / September 2015.
Invited Lecturer – First World Congress of Sports Physical Therapy – Return to Play, Bern, Switzerland / November 2015.
Lecturer – APTA Annual NEXT Conference – Human Movement System, Nashville, TN / June 2016.
Lecturer – Hygenics/Performance Health TRAK Research Symposium, Copenhagen, Denmark / July 2016.
Lecturer – International Society for Hip Arthroscopy Annual Meeting, San Francisco, CA / September 2016.
Lecturer – APTA Movement System Summit, Alexandria, VA / December, 2016
Lecturer – APTA Annual NEXT Conference – Human Movement System, Boston, MA / June 2017.
Lecturer – Hygenics/Performance Health TRAK Research Symposium, Kona HW / August 2017.
Lecturer - International Society for Hip Arthroscopy Annual Meeting, Santiago, Chile / October 2017.
Lecturer – Orthopedic Summit, Las Vegas, NV / December 2017
Lecturer – Hygenics/Performance Health TRAK Research Symposium, New Orleans, LA / July 2018.
Lecturer – Sports Hip 18, Warwick, UK / July 2018
Roundtable Participate – Warwick Consensus Panel: FAI Rehabilitation, Warwick, UK / July 2018
Lecturer - International Society for Hip Arthroscopy Annual Meeting, Melbourne, Australia / October 2018.
Research Poster: Voight ML, Campbell A, Bardowski B: Arthrogenic neuromuscular inhibition: The Effect of Ultrasound guided intra-articular injection of anesthetic on hip strength – ISHA Annual Meeting – 2019 Melbourne Australia.
Research Poster: Voight ML, Smith S, Davis J, Tapp R, Lester C: Hip Rotational Range of Motion in PGA Tour Golfers – TPTA Annual Meeting Poster Presentation – 2018
Lecturer – Orthopedic Summit, Las Vegas, NV / December 2018
Lecturer/Research Jury Panelist – Scandinavian Sports Medicine Congress 2019, Copenhagen, Denmark / February 2019.
Lecturer – Tennessee Physical Therapy Association, Nashville, TN / April 2019.
Lecturer - 2019 XVIII Airborne Corps Human Performance Optimization Symposium, Fort Bragg, NC / May 2019.
Lecturer – APTA Annual NEXT Conference – Human Movement System in Professional Sports, Chicago, IL / June 2019.
Lecturer – Hygenics/Performance Health TRAK Research Symposium, Dublin, Ireland / July 2018.
Lecturer - International Society for Hip Arthroscopy Annual Meeting, Madrid Spain / October 2019.
Lecturer – Orthopedic Summit, Las Vegas, NV / December 2019
- Christi WilliamsAssociate ProfessorDPT (Physical Therapy) Belmont University; BS (Psychology) Clemson UniversityView Bio
Dr. Christi Williams received her bachelor of science degree in psychology from Clemson University in 2002 and obtained her doctorate in physical therapy from Belmont University in 2005. Following several years of clinical practice in a local outpatient orthopedic clinic, Dr. Williams returned to Belmont providing her the unique role of being the only full-time faculty member in the School of Physical Therapy who is also an alumnus of the program.
Dr. Williams is an APTA Board Certified Clinical Specialist in Orthopedics and has also received her certification from the McKenzie Institute as a specialist in Mechanical Diagnosis and Therapy of the Spine. In addition, Dr. Williams has specialized training in the use of motion analysis equipment for the evaluation and treatment of lower extremity orthopedic conditions, running analysis and ACL prevention / return to sports assessments. Dr. Williams maintains a clinical practice with a focus on full-circle care including prevention, rehabilitation and return to sports activities in clinic and wellness settings.
At Belmont University, Dr. Williams co-teaches human anatomy for first-year students in the Fall semester, which includes full cadaveric dissections. In the Spring semester, she teaches Clinical Pathophysiology II and Kinesiology labs which help link the students’ basic understanding of anatomy & physiology to understanding the disease process and developing basic clinical examination skills. In the second year she co-teaches Clinical Experience I and II courses which focus on integrating classroom knowledge into clinical application. Dr. Williams also instructs students in Clinical Inquiry III, IV and V courses in which she serves as a research mentor for student research projects in the areas of injury prevention and return to sports, inter-professional teaching and learning in the cadaver laboratory and animal assisted therapy.
In addition to her teaching responsibilities at Belmont, Dr. Williams provides continuing education courses with the use of human anatomy dissections for clinical application of various nerve injuries and musculoskeletal pathology for practicing Physical Therapists. She also serves as an adjunct faculty member at Middle Tennessee School of Anesthesiology in their Acute Surgical Pain Management Fellowship program.
Dr. Williams is very involved in organizing and coordinating various annual community service activities involving the physical therapy students at Belmont University. She serves as a board member for the Sara Walker Foundation which is a Foundation that was created in honor of a former 2003 Belmont DPT alumna, Sara Pigg Walker who passed away from colon cancer. Williams believes that Sara’s story is the perfect representation of Belmont University’s mission and what it is that makes the physical therapy program here at Belmont so special. Each year, Williams organizes student groups to volunteer at the annual Sara Walker Run and Kids For Kids Fun Run which raises money to support several mission trips to Africa, the Sara Pigg Walker Scholarship Fund which was established for Belmont PT students, and future mission trip opportunities for Belmont students. Another community service activity in which Belmont PT students are involved in annually under the direction of Dr. Williams, is Garrett’s Hero Run. This event is organized by a fellow 2005 alumna in support of her son, Garrett who has Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy. Belmont students volunteer at this event and help raise money and awareness for the organization Parent Project Muscular Dystrophy.
Outside of teaching and clinical work, Dr. Williams is passionate about serving as a volunteer Certified Pet Therapy Team with her yellow Labrador Retriever, Layla. Together they volunteer at Vanderbilt 100 Oaks to assist physical therapists and occupational therapists in the Pediatric Rehabilitation Clinic utilizing Layla in therapy sessions for various gross motor and fine motor activities. They also visit children in the Pediatric Hematology/Oncology Clinic at Monroe Carell, Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt in which they have participated in a research study assessing the effects of a therapy dog on stress and anxiety of children undergoing chemotherapy treatment at this clinic.
Dr. Williams’ scholarly activity and research activities revolve around her passions as a clinician, teacher and volunteer. Her clinical line of research focuses on the biomechanical analysis of lower extremity movement and the relationship between injury prevention programs and improvement in sports performance. Her interests in the scholarship of teaching and learning focus around developing interdisciplinary and inter-professional teaching and learning opportunities related to cadaver-based education. Her research related to volunteer work with Animal Assisted Therapy is her third line of research and focuses on assessing the impact of a certified therapy dog on stress and anxiety levels of students prior to taking an exam. Williams has received several grants for her research on animal assisted therapy and has presented at both the state and national levels.
Peer-Reviewed Publications
Barton, C., Williams, C., Halle, J., & McGrew, L. (2018). Graduate and Undergraduate Faculty Collaboration Utilizing Peer Observation to Enhance Educational Opportunities for Students and Faculty: A Case Example. Journal of the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning, 18(3). https://doi.org/10.14434/josotl.v18i3.2270Williams C, Dagnan E, Miner K, Sells P. (2018). The Effect of an Animal-Assisted Intervention on Physiological Measures of Stress and Anxiety in Graduate Professional Physical Therapy Students. Open Access Library Journal, 5:e4363. https://doi.org/10.4236/oalib.1104364
Williams, C., Gensheimer, C., Halle, J. and Moss, P. (2018) Student Perspectives of an Interprofessional Education Experience for Nurse Anesthetist Students and Physical Therapy Students in a Cadaver-Based Anatomy Review Course. Open Access Library Journal, 5: e4782. https://doi.org/10.4236/oalib.1104782
Williams, C., Emond, K., Maynord, K., Simpkins, J., Stumbo, A., Terhaar, T. (2018) An Animal-Assisted Intervention’s Influence on Graduate Students’ Stress and Anxiety Prior to an Examination. Open Access Library Journal, 5: e4831. https://doi.org/10.4236/oalib.1104831
Peer-Reviewed Presentations – National Level
Therapy Animal Effect on Biometric Measures of Stress and Anxiety in Graduate Professional Physical Therapy Students. Williams C, Dagnan E, Miner K, Sells P. Presented at American Physical Therapy Association’s Combined Sections Annual Meeting. 2017Graduate and Undergraduate Faculty Collaboration Utilizing Peer Observation to Enhance Educational Opportunities for Students and Faculty: A Case Example. Barton C, Williams C, Halle J. Presented at American Physical Therapy Association’s Combined Sections Annual Meeting. 2017
Peer-Reviewed Presentations – State Level
Therapy Animal Effect on Biometric Measures of Stress and Anxiety in Graduate Professional Physical Therapy Students. Williams C, Dagnan E, Miner K, Sells P. Presented at Tennessee Physical Therapy Association’s Spring Meeting. 2017Grants
Therapy Animal Effect on Biometric Measures of Stress and Anxiety in Graduate Professional Physical Therapy Students. Williams C, Dagnan E, Miner K, Sells P. Awarded through the Tennessee Physical Therapy Association. 2016Therapy Animal Effect on Biometric Measures of Stress and Anxiety in Graduate Professional Physical Therapy Students. Williams C, Dagnan E, Miner K, Sells P. Awarded through the College of Health Sciences at Belmont University. 2017
- Chris WolfeAssistant ProfessorMPT (Physical Therapy) Medical College of Georgia; BS (Biology) Freed-Hardeman UniversityLocation: McWhorter Hall 340View Bio
Chris Wolfe has been a practicing physical therapist for over 13 years in middle Tennessee, and he has spent his career specializing in outpatient orthopedics and sports medicine with a concentration in the endurance athlete. His primary interests are running related injuries and multisport overuse pathologies.
Chris received his Bachelor of Science from Freed-Hardeman University in 2004 and completed his Masters in Physical Therapy from the Medical College of Georgia in 2006. He is currently completing his Doctorate in Physical Therapy from Shenandoah University. Chris is an APTA Board Certified Clinical Specialist in Orthopedics and has also received his certification in Mechanical Diagnosis and Therapy of the Spine from the McKenzie Institute and also Integrative Dry Needling. In addition, Chris has specialized training in the use of running analysis equipment for the evaluation and treatment of overuse and traumatic lower extremity orthopedic conditions. Chris owns and operates his clinical practice in Nashville with a focus on health, fitness and sports performance.
Part-Time Faculty
- Lydia BradfordLecturerBHS (Physical Therapy) University of KentuckyLocation: McWhorter Hall 340View Bio
Lydia has been a physical therapist for over 30 years. She began her clinical practice at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, serving as a staff and senior therapist for 16 years in acute care, the burn unit, the adult neurological rehabilitation unit, the sub-acute unit, and the wheelchair seating clinic. She helped to plan and open the PT department at Vanderbilt Stallworth Rehabilitation Hospital as the clinical coordinator. She participated in a variety of continuing education opportunities including an intensive 2-week PNF course and earned the NDT Adult Hemiplegia certification. She served as a clinical instructor to PT students, as an instructor in a continuing education course, and as a speaker in orthotics courses.
Later, she began working in the field of geriatrics at National Health Care and received the geriatric clinical specialist (GCS) certification in 2014.
In 2004, she began her role as an adjunct instructor for the adult neurological lab and orthotics speaker at Belmont School of Physical Therapy. She currently teaches Patient Care Skills, PT Foundations II (Orthotics and Prosthetics), Adult Neuro lab, Clinical Pathophysiology III, and assists the Director of Clinical Education with reading online student clinical evaluations.
Faculty Emeriti
- Gail BurschFaculty EmeritusMS.Ed University of Kentucky; BHS (Physical Therapy) University of KentuckyView Bio
Gail Bursch was honored as Faculty Emeritus of Belmont University School of Physical Therapy in 2021. She served as a faculty member and clinical education coordinator for the DPT program from 1997 until 2021.
Before coming to Belmont, Ms. Bursch taught in the physical therapy programs at the University of Kentucky and Tennessee State University, as well as in the physical therapy assistant program at Volunteer State Community College. For many years in clinical practice, she served as a clinical instructor and a center coordinator of clinical education. Serving as Administrative Director of Rehabilitation Services for Centennial Medical Center in Nashville (1984-1995), Ms. Bursch led 90 multidisciplinary employees, designed and implemented a 20-bed inpatient Rehab Unit, administered a 26-bed Subacute Care Unit and developed community rehabilitation services. Her clinical focus was wound care; attaining board certification as a nationally Certified Wound Specialist in 2009.
- John HalleFaculty EmeritusPhD (Exercise Science) University of Iowa; MPT (Physical Therapy) U.S. Army-Baylor University; MS (Health Education) University of Oregon; BS (Community Health) University of OregonView Bio
Dr. Halle was honored as Faculty Emeritus of Belmont University School of Physical Therapy in 2021. He started at Belmont in 1997, serving as Chair and Associate Dean from 2005 through May of 2013. In January of 2013, the John S. Halle Anatomy Lab opened on campus and was named in his honor.
Dr. Halle is a Diplomate, American Board of Physical Therapy Specialties, with his certification as an Electrophysiologic Clinical Specialist. In addition to his academic position at Belmont University, Dr. Halle maintained a practice performing clinical electrophysiologic testing at Blanchfield Army Community Hospital at Fort Campbell, Kentucky, and had an adjunct appointment within the Department of Medical Education and Administration, at the Vanderbilt University School of Medicine. At Vanderbilt, Dr. Halle taught the first year medical students gross anatomy.
Prior to accepting this teaching position in Nashville, Dr. Halle was the Acting Director of the Army Physical Fitness Research Institute at the U.S. Army War College in Carlisle, Pennsylvania. His other jobs in the Army included working as a staff therapist, serving as a physical therapy clinic supervisor, teaching at the undergraduate level, and teaching for four years as a faculty member at the U.S. Army-Baylor University Graduate Program in Physical Therapy.
Dr. Halle was a reviewer and Editorial Review Board Member for theJournal of Orthopaedic and Sports Physical Therapy, and published articles in a variety of journals to include:Physical Therapy, Journal of Electromyography and Kinesiology, Journal of Sport Rehabilitation, Electromyographical Kinesiology, Medical Problems in Performing Artists, Percussive Notes, Clinical Anatomy, International Journal of Sports Physical Therapy, and Journal of Orthopaedic and Sports Physical Therapy.He served as a Specialty Council Member of the Clinical Electrophysiology Section of the American Board of Physical Therapy Specialties (ABPTS), and as a Board Member the ABPTS, serving as the sports section representative. Additionally, he authored several book chapters dealing with electrophysiological testing and musculoskeletal evaluation.
Publications and Presentations
Williams CW, Gensheimer C, Halle JS, Moss P. Student perspectives of an interprofessional education experience for nurse anesthetist students and physical therapy students in a cadaver-based anatomy review course. Paper ID: 1104782, OALib Journal, Volume 5:8 (August 2018).Greathouse DG, Ernst G, Halle JS, Shaffer SW. GEHS neurophysiological classification system for patients with neuropathy of the ulnar nerve at the elbow. The Army Medical Department Journal. October-December, 2017:26-35.
Barton C, Williams C, Halle JS, McGrew L. Graduate and undergraduate faculty collaboration utilizing peer observation to enhance educational opportunities for students and faculty: a case example. J Scholarship of Teaching and Learning, accepted July 2017.
Halle JS, Greathouse DG: “Principles of Electrophysiologic Evaluation and Testing” (Chpt 8), in Prentice WE (ed),Therapeutic Modalities, 5th ed., New York, McGraw-Hill Company, 2017.
Halle JS, Greathouse DG: "Nerve Entrapments of the Lower Extremity" (3rd ed) (Chapter 74), in Boyce DA (ed),Orthopaedic Physical Therapy Secrets, Elsevier, St. Louis, MI, 2017.
Halle JS, Halle RJ. Pertinent dry needling considerations for minimizing adverse effects – part two.Int J Sports PT, Oct 2016, 11(5):810-819.
Halle JS, Halle RJ. Pertinent dry needling considerations for minimizing adverse effects – part one.>Int J Sports PT, Aug 2016,11(4):650-662.
Greathouse DG, Ernst G, Halle JS, Shaffer SW. GEHS neurophysiological classification system for patients with.carpal tunnel syndrome. The Army Medical Department Journal. January-March, 2016:60-67.
Greathouse DG, Ernst G, Halle JS, Shaffer SW. GEHS Neurophysiological Classification System for Patients with Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. Ammed J. 2016 (Jan-Mar): 1-8.
Halle JS, Hayes M, Halle RJ: Dry needling while minimizing potential adverse effects. Combined Sections Meeting, Indianapolis, IN, February 2015.
Halle JS, Greathouse DG: Lower Extremity Electrophysiology Facilitating Musculoskeletal Evaluation. Combined Sections Meeting, Indianapolis, IN, February 2015.
Greathouse DG, Halle J: Nerve Entrapments of the Lower Extremity (3rd ed) (Chapter 74), Boyce DA (ed), Orthopaedic Physical Therapy Secrets, Hanley & Belfus Medical Publishers (Elsevier), Philadelphia, PA, 2014.
Halle JS: Performing a Scan Examination (Chpt 4), Voight, Hoogenboom, Prentice (ed), Musculoskeletal Interventions: Techniques for Therapeutic Exercise, McGraw-Hill Medical, New York, 2014.
Golden J, Miller T, Costa A, Tong J, Halle JS: Determining the reliability, validity, and assessment time of the iPhone goniometer, iPhone inclinometer, and the standard goniometer for measuring hip abduction. Tennessee Physical Therapy Association’s State Meeting, Nashville, TN, March 2014.
Halle JS. Electrophysiologic Clinical Specialist – Continuing Competence. 25th Annual Electroneuromyographic Symposium, Provo, UT, March 2014.
Halle JS. Introduction to electrophysiological testing. University of Tennessee, Chattanooga School of Physical Therapy, May 2014.
Halle JS, Williams C: Anatomical overview contrasted with identifying structures with ultrasound. Presented to the Middle Tennessee State School of Anesthesiology, Madison, TN, June 2014.
- Cathy HintonFaculty EmeritusPhD (Public Administration) Tennessee State University; MS (Physical Therapy) Boston University; BA (Biology) University of Tennessee Chattanooga
Administrative Staff
- Molly DuncanProgram Assistant, School of Physical TherapyLocation: McWhorter Hall 349
- Lyndsey ManuelAcademic Support AssistantBA (Communication) University of Tennessee at ChattanoogaLocation: McWhorter Hall 348
- Kristin LewisClinical Education Support AssistantMA (Industrial-Organizational Psychology) Seattle Pacific University; BA (Psychology) University of St. ThomasLocation: McWhorter Hall 340
- Sarah CaylorAssistant Director of Graduate Admissions College of Health SciencesBA (Fashion Merchandising) Middle Tennessee State UniversityLocation: Freeman Hall