Daemen University Physical Therapy Research Symposium
Saturday, December 7, 2024
Spring/Summer 2023 Edition
Welcome New Faculty
Colleen joined the Daemen University PT team as the Associate Director of Clinical Education. Colleen received her BS/MS in PT from D’Youville College in 2000 and then her DPT from D’Youville in 2007. Colleen spent the last thirteen years in academia serving as a PT faculty member and Assistant Director of Clinical Education.
The focus of her work has been on improving processes to carry out clinical education with efficiency, accuracy, excellence, and a strong connection to all stakeholders. She served in leadership roles as Chair of multiple committees focused on clinical placements, including interprofessional committees and task forces. She has also been an active member of the New York – New Jersey Physical Therapy Clinical Education Consortium. Prior to entering academia, Colleen’s clinical work focused on pediatrics, including school-based, outpatient, and early intervention.
Kira received her BS in Environmental Forest Biology from SUNY Environmental Science and Forestry and then her DPT from SUNY Upstate Medical University. Kira has been a board-certified specialist in Orthopedic PT since 2015. Her clinical experience focuses on orthopedic care with specialty education in spinal disorders as well as sports injuries and vestibular dysfunctions. Kira has a McKenzie certification in Mechanical Diagnosis and Therapy (MDT), a treatment technique primarily focusing on spinal driven pain. Kira has been a full-time clinician since 2011, primarily in an outpatient setting with some experience in acute, subacute, and homecare settings.
Kira continues to be a practicing PT. Her primary teaching responsibilities will be in several courses relating to musculoskeletal rehabilitation, and research. Her personal research has been published on Plyometric training and ACL rehabilitation with continued focus on Orthopedic subjects.
Pam received her BS in PT from Daemen College and then her DPT from D’Youville College. Pam has been a board-certified specialist in cardiovascular and pulmonary PT since 2005, (recertified 2015). Her clinical experience focuses on cardiovascular and pulmonary care, but has also included experience in the rehab of adults with neurologic system impairments. Since 2004, Pam has been full-time faculty and is now returning to Daemen with that expertise and experience. Her primary teaching responsibilities will be in cardiovascular and pulmonary rehab, research, and clinical fieldwork.
Her personal research has been published in multiple peer- reviewed journals and textbooks. This includes seven textbook chapters in the past two years, most of which are in nationally recognized cardiopulmonary PT texts. National presentations include presentations at numerous APTA’s CSM conferences, the American Association of Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Rehabilitation (AACVPR), and the national conference for the American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance (AAHPERD). Pam is also the Vice President of the APTA’s Academy of Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Physical Therapy.
Faculty on the Move
- Dr. Laura Favaro completed her DSc in Physical Therapy from Bellin College in December 2022.
- Dr. Jen Priore has been selected by the American Board of Physical Therapy Specialties (ABPTS) to serve a 4-year term on the national Pediatric Specialty Council.
- Dr. Greg Ford has been elected by the Commision on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE) as a Commissioner serving on the PT Panel 2022-25.
- Dr. Michael Seils has been appointed as a board member for RAA: Rochester Accessible Adventures (RAA). RAA is a community-based and community-driven non-profit organization which focuses on accessibility, inclusion, and adaptive sports for the Rochester, Finger Lakes, and Western New York area.
Summer PT Institute
Daemen University launched a unique new program this summer – a PT institute for high school students.
Twenty-six students attended the week-long event from as far away as Vermont, Rochester, and Pennsylvania.
Students who completed the program earned two hours of university credit and a $1,500 scholarship to use at Daemen. The curriculum offered an overview of major areas of physical therapy, including cardiopulmonary, neurology, orthopedics, pediatrics, and others.
“Not only did students learn about the profession in a hands-on way, they also got a head start if they choose to pursue this path as a career,” said Michael Ross, associate professor of physical therapy at Daemen and co-director of the institute.
The institute will become an annual offering and new outlet for teaching physical therapy for a department that awards the only doctoral-level degrees at the university.
Interprofessional Education Event
Daemen University students and faculty from many healthcare disciplines joined forces for the 6th annual Interprofessional Education Event (IPE), which emphasizes a comprehensive healthcare approach to provide the best possible patient care.
This year’s event saw its largest and most diverse departmental turnout, with 122 student participants from majors including behavioral science, health promotion, nursing, physician assistant studies, physical therapy, psychological sciences, and social work, among others.
Groups of students were facilitated by 22 faculty members from across disciplines and were presented with a case study about a “struggling, complex patient,” said Michael Ross, associate professor in the physical therapy department.
Based on their health profession, students analyzed the case and shared their perspectives on a diagnosis.
“This event gave me the opportunity to hear from other students in a variety of healthcare majors, describing in their own words how they approach treating patients,” said Doctor of Physical Therapy student Nicholas Jodush ’23, who attended the event. “This afforded me insight that will guide my interprofessional relationships as I move into my career.”
Annual Physical Therapy Clinical Instructors Course & Continuing Education Presentation
On October 20, 2022 the Daemen physical therapy department hosted their annual continuing education seminar. This year's course focused on Cardiopulmonary Assessment and Interventions. Forty participants attended this professional development opportunity. Speakers included Dr. Michael Seils, PT, DPT, Ed.D, GCS, CSRS and Jeremy Voorhees, PT, CCS, CCRP.
Dr. Seils has an advanced competency in home health care and board certification in geriatric physical therapy. Jeremy Voorhees has been practicing in the field of physical therapy for 21 years. He is one of a few area practitioners designated as a board-certified specialist in cardiopulmonary physical therapy. He is a Daemen alumnus (2000) and the founder of Cardio Physical Therapy. At his business, he provides individualized cardiac and pulmonary rehabilitation.