Neurology Section Awards 2011
Service to the Section
Purpose: To acknowledge and honor a member of the Neurology Section whose contributions to the Section have been of exceptional value.
Recipient: Cindy Zablotny, PT, DPT, MS, NCS
Dr Cindy Zablotny has a long history of volunteering her time and expertise to support Neurology Section activities and contributing to the advancement of neurologic physical therapy practice since 1997. She has been a member on several standard setting panels and an item writer for the neurology specialty examination. Recently, she has contributed to implementation of one of the Neurology Section's advanced continuing education courses, Neurologic Practice Essentials: Clinical Decision Making as a Foundation for Expert Practice, and currently, she serves as chair of the Neurologic Specialty Committee for the Neurology Section. Not only does Cindy serve tirelessly, but she also welcomes contributions of others. To quote her nominators: "Cindy welcomes newcomers to the committee, making each feel valued at initial contact. She respectfully listens to and acts on each person's suggestions and feedback, and encourages participation. Her servant-leader qualities are a significant asset to our Section."
For a list of past award recipients, please click here.
Clinical Excellence
Purpose: To acknowledge and honor a member of the Neurology Section whose major professional involvement is currently with the practice of neurologic physical therapy.
Recipient: Mike Studer, PT, MHS, NCS
The recipient of the Clinical Excellence in Neurology Award is Mike Studer. Mike is described as the very essence of clinical excellence in all aspects of his career. He is a consummate professional who always has the welfare of his patients as his top priority. He has also provided valuable contributions to the field of physical therapy through his service within physical therapy as well as dissemination of his clinical expertise to those around him. To quote from his nominators: "Mike has had a profound influence on thousands of students, teachers, patients, and colleagues in the field of neurology." "I remember the light bulb coming on after listening to him speak on motor learning. It was presented in such a way that I had the tools needed to quickly apply the principle and theory that was research based." And, "Every day is a pleasure working with Mike in the clinic. I enjoy his enthusiasm and his goal for excellence."
Mike shares his clinical excellence unstintingly, including continuing education courses in 27 states, mentoring students and colleagues, all while managing his own clinic, Northwest Rehabilitation Associates, which he initiated in 2004."
For a list of past award recipients, please click here.
Clinical Excellence in Education
Recipient: Anne Kloos, PT, PhD, NCS
Dr Anne Kloos is a passionate and dedicated clinician and educator. She is associate professor of clinical allied medicine at The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio. Currently, she serves as a consultant at 3 local and university clinics, including a movement disorders clinic, an MS clinic, and the Physicians Free clinic in Columbus, Ohio. Anne is recognized as an exemplary educator, someone who consistently receives the highest student evaluations for her enthusiasm and eagerness for teaching. One of her nominators wrote, "What I noted most, though was the kindness that Dr. Kloos exhibited when working with people whose lives had forever been changed." Another stated, "For Anne-being a teacher can only be accomplished by staying in the clinic." And yet another stated, "Dr. Kloos is passionate about physical therapy, neurology and teaching. She is caring, amicable, and incredibly smart. ... She thrives in many roles as an educator and researcher and it is truly a privilege to have learned so much from her."
The Awards for Clinical Excellence in Education was awarded for the first time in 2009.
For a list of past award recipients, please click here.
Excellence in Research
Purpose: To acknowledge and honor a member of the Neurology Section who has demonstrated continuing excellence in research related to neurologic physical therapy science, theory, practice, or education.
Recipient: Janis Daly, PT, PhD
Janis Daly is recognized as an outstanding researcher not only by other physical therapists but also by engineers, basic scientists, and physicians in the fields of neuroscience and neurorehabilitation. Her early clinical experiences stimulated her to further her education and build a research career. In 1991, Janis was awarded her first VA grant and has not looked back since. Over the past 2 decades, she has been a principal investigator, coprincipal investigator, or coinvestigator on countless federal projects related to neurologic physical therapy. Her research has centered around questions of how to restore function and participation to people with stroke, including investigations related to response of paralyzed muscle to electrical stimulation, and the implications for improving gait and upper extremity movement control. She has had a continuous record of funding and more than 35 high-quality publications for 2 decades. Janis is currently a Senior VA scientist, a full professor at Case Western Reserve University, and the director of the Cognitive and Motor Learning Laboratory. She has recently been awarded a National Institutes of Health EUREKA award (for highly innovative, cutting-edge science) for her work related to using brain-machine interfaces to restore upper extremity function post stroke.
For a list of past award recipients, please click here.
Barnes-Leahy PODS I & II Scholarships
Purpose: An award for post-professional studies in neurology given in memory of Neurology Section members and accomplished physical therapists Marylou Barnes, PT, FAPTA and Patricia Leahy, PT. Members of the Neurology Section provided generous support for this award through the Foundation's Neurology Endowment Fund.
pods I: Miriam Rafferty, PT, DPT, NCS, University of Illinois at Chicago
PODS I Scholarships provides up to $7,500 per year in support of the coursework phase of post-professional doctoral studies prior to candidacy. This award is given in memory of APTA Section on Neurology member, accomplished physical therapist, and Foundation Doctoral Training Research Grant recipient, Patricia Leahy, PT, MS, NCS. Leahy was a professor at the University of the Sciences in Philadelphia and
was one of the first physical therapists ever to receive the Neurologic Certified Specialist (NCS) certification.
pods II: Elisa Gonzalez-Rothi, PT, DPT, University of florida
PODS II scholarships provide up to $15,000 in support of the post-candidacy phase of post-professional doctoral studies. This
award is given in memory of APTA Section on Neurology member and accomplished physical therapist Mary Lou Barnes, PT, FAPTA. Barnes was the founding director of the West Virginia University physical therapy program and served as chair of Georgia State University's program. During her terms, both programs achieved national recognition. Members of the Neurology Section provided generous support for this award through the Foundation's Neurology Endowment Fund.
Golden Synapse Award
Purpose: The award recognizes the most outstanding article published in JNPT each year.
The decision is made by the JNPT Reviewers and Associate Editors and is based on the article’s conceptualization, execution, presentation and contribution to physical therapy practice.
Efficacy of Gaze Stability Exercises in Older Adults With Dizziness
Courtney d. hall, pt, phd, lisa heusel-gillig, pt, dpt, ronald j. tusa and susan j. herdman, pt, phd
For a list of past award recipients, please click here.