Neurology Section Awards 2009
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: Judith Deutsch, PT, PhD
During her 12 years of near continuous appointed service, Dr. Judy Deutsch has “exemplified the essence of this award.” One supporter for Judy to receive this award wrote, “….there is not a single member who would be unable to cite at least a few of Judy’s contributions.” As a member of the Neurology Section Dr. Deutsch has served on the Neurology Section’s Compendium Committee, Executive Committee, Communications Committee, and Publications Committee. She is a “tireless advocate for individuals with neurological dysfunction and the clinicians who treat them”. She has long been a strong activist for best practice for the treatment of neurologic dysfunction. More recently under her leadership as Editor-in-Chief, the Journal of Neurologic Physical Therapy was elevated to medline status and has a commercial publisher, innovative digital media, web-based publishing and international reach. “It seems no goal is out of reach for her- she thinks big.” But what makes Judy most endearing to all of us is her approachable, non-intimidating manner in which she shares her intellectual insights with all of those who seek her. Dr. Judy Deutsch’s diligent, meticulous and conscientious service to this section, and her ever present big smile, is what makes her most deserved of the APTA Neurology Section Award for Service to the Section.
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: Diane Nichols, PT, NCS
Diane Nichols is an expert clinician whose long career, treating neurologically impaired individuals, has spanned the entire spectrum of physical therapy: acute care, out-patient, home-care, long term care and inpatient rehabilitation. For the past 10 years Diane has practiced at the National Rehabilitation Hospital in Washington, D.C. where she primarily treats patients with stroke and traumatic brain injuries. As a Senior Physical Therapist, Diane serves as a role model, mentor, and clinical instructor for students and conducts clinical research through NRH’s Neuroscience Center. Diane’s spirit of inquiry and drive for clinical excellence has continuously led her to seek opportunities within herself and others to advance. Evidence of commitment has been achievement of APTA Clinical Instructor certification, certification in lymphadema management and national recognition as a Neurologic Clinical Specialist through the APTA Board of Clinical Specialties. Diane is highly regarded across many disciplines for her knowledge, application of evidence based practice, ability to analyze movement and to approach each of her patients from a holistic perspective. Diane’s supervisor has described her as “the most effective, gifted, neurologic physical therapist” that she has ever worked with.
Diane strives to bridge the gap between clinical practice and research in various ways. In the past few years, she has co-authored a number of journal articles related to stroke rehabilitation, presented poster presentations at APTA Combined Section meetings, and participated on panel discussions. At area universities, Diane has played an active role in the education of physical therapy students as she has served as a lecturer and lab instructor. One of Diane’s colleagues best captures her practice stating that “she represents our profession in a noble manner, quietly making a difference one patient at a time, one student at a time, one colleague at a time.” It is an honor to recognize Diane Nichols for the Clinical Excellence in Neurology Award.
For a list of past award recipients, please click here.
Clinical Excellence in Education
Recipient: Terry Ellis, PT, PhD, NCS
Terry Ellis, PT, PhD, NCS is acknowledged by students, academic colleagues, clinical colleagues, and patients as an outstanding clinician and educator. Writing in support of her nomination for the Clinical Excellence in Education award were 50 current and former students from Boston University’s Physical Therapy Department, colleagues on faculty at Boston University, clinical colleagues including physical therapists, a nurse, and a neurologist, and one of her patients. Dr. Ellis has received excellent teaching evaluations for over ten years. She spends time every week in an area rehabilitation hospital as a clinical resource for practicing clinicians. In that setting, she has mentored clinicians and implemented a unique model whereby selected entry level DPT students help bridge the gap between clinical practice and theory learned in the school setting. Dr. Ellis is an active educator and clinician in the community. She has developed and implemented educational seminars for disease management and wellness programs for individuals with Parkinson’s disease. In addition to her accomplishments as an educator, she is part of an active research team trying to better understand physical intervention for people with PD and is lead author on a randomized clinical trial examining physical intervention for people with PD. As one colleague noted, no letter could capture her "spirit", but meeting her says it all. To quote her students: ‘She uses not only her knowledge to educate the future of our profession, but also her passion and dedication to fuel those around her to never stop pushing forward.’ Dr. Ellis has touched the lives of many individuals from many disciplines as an educator, clinician, and researcher.
The Awards for Clinical Excellence in Education was awarded for the first time in 2009.
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.
In 2009, no award was given for Excellence in Research.
For a list of past award recipients, please click here.
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.
Neural Substrates of Cognitive Load Changes During a Motor Task in Subjects with Stroke authored by Teresa Jacobson Kimberley PT PhD, Scott M. Lewis MD PhD, Carolyn Strand, Brooke Darst Rice, Stephanie Hall, and Patricia Slivnik, published in the September 2008 issue of JNPT (Volume 32, Number 3, pp.110-117).
The authors were recognized and award plaques at the Neurology Section 2009 Business Meeting in Las Vegas, NV.
For a list of past award recipients, please click here.
Student Awards
Each year the Neurology Section Research Committee recognizes outstanding abstracts submitted for the Combined Sections Meeting by students at the post-professional and professional levels.
The winners of the 2008 post-professional student award were:
Jeanne Lojovich, PT, NCS for the presentation "Cortical Activation Patterns in Neurologically Intact Subjects During an N-Back Working Memory Task: An fMRI Study”
The winners of the 2008 professional student award were:
Lesley Hlad, Rachel Breslin, Alex Lanton, and Jamie St. John for the presentation "Non-Paretic Leg Muscle Activity Influences Paretic Leg Activity Post-Stroke"
President's Award
The President's Award is a determined at the descretion of the Section President to individuals that have provided service to the Section, above and beyond their typical duties, that have had high impact to advance the Vision and Mission of the Neurology Section.