Special Interest Groups Leadership

Special Interest Groups Leadership

Balance and Falls

The intent of this SIG is to raise the awareness of the impact of neurologic impairments in falls and fall prevention and improve our understanding of assessment and interventions for balance dysfunction and fall risk and prevention in neurologic disorders.

Chair

Linda Ann Csiza, PT, DSc, NCS
E-mail: lcsiza@twu.edu

Vice Chair

Melissa Fong, PT, DPT, NCS
E-mail: melissa.fong@usc.edu

Secretary

Cecelia A. Griffith, PT
E-mail: cece_griff@yahoo.com

Nominating Committee

Rene Crumley, PT, DPT, NCS
E-mail:
crumlerd@crstlukes.com

Tammie Keller Johnson, PT
E-mail:
Tammielkjohnson@gmail.com

Renee Hakim, PT, PhD, NCS
E-mail: hakimr2@scranton.edu

Spinal Cord Injury

The purpose of this group is to provide an avenue of communication and networking for clinicians, educators, and researchers working with or interested in SCI.  The SIG provides a forum for discussion of topics related to SCI at physical therapy national meetings.

Chair

Jennifer D. Hastings, PT, PhD, NCS
E-mail: jhastings@ups.edu

Vice Chair

Therese E Johnston, PT, PhD
E-mail: skatertree@aol.com

Secretary

Rebekah Griffith, PT
E-mail: rebekah.griffith@yahoo.com

Nominating Committee

Patrick Kitzman, PT, PhD, MSPT
E-mail: phkitz1@email.uky.edu

Heather Henderson, PT
E-mail: heather.henderson@rosalindfranklin.edu

Kristina Beekhuizen, PT, PhD
E-mail: Beekhuiz@nova.edu

Brain Injury

Provides an avenue for communication among clinicians, educators, and researchers regarding brain injury rehabilitation and acts as a liaison between interested members of the Neurology Section/APTA and other organizations with interest in brain injury rehabilitation.

Chair

Michelle Diane Peterson, PT, DPT, NCS
E-mail: michelle.peterson@med.va.gov

Vice Chair

Deborah Crea, PT
E-mail: dcrea@asante.org

Secretary

Lynnette Karin Leuty, PT
E-mail: lynnette.leuty@allina.com

Nominating Committee

Sarah Trout, PT
E-mail: trouts@einstein.edu

Aimee E. Perron, PT
E-mail: aimeehd@comcast.net

Carolyn G. Tassini, PT, NCS
E-mail: ow25@aol.com

Stroke

The SIG creates a forum for the discussion of rehabilitation issues associated with stroke survivors and form liaisons between APTA and the medical community through the support of research and through national organizations such as the National Stroke Association. Integrate into the community and provide information to the public about the risk factors of stroke and about living with the sequela of stroke.

Chair

Susanne L. Tinsley, PT, PhD
E-mail: stinsl@lsuhsc.edu

Vice Chair

Susan D Ryerson, PT, DSc
E-mail: ryersu@aol.com

Secretary

Ann Medley, PT
E-mail: smedley@twu.edu

Nominating Committee

Maura Ament, PT
E-mail: mament@partners.org

Maureen Whitford, PT
E-mail:
whitf026@umn.edu

Sandra McCombe-Waller, PT, PhD, NCS
E-mail: smccombewaller@som.umaryland.edu

Degenerative Diseases

The SIG updates members regarding current research and treatment through the SIG newsletter and provide a forum for discussion of topics related to neurodegenerative diseases at APTA meetings. We aim to support and develop educational materials about degenerative diseases and provide an avenue of communication and networking for clinicians, educators, and researchers working with or interested in individuals with neurodegenerative diseases.

Chair

Anne D. Kloos, PT, PhD, NCS
E-mail: kloos.4@osu.edu

Vice Chair

Donna Fry, PT
E-Mail: donnafry@umflint.edu

Secretary

Evan Cohen, PT, MA, NCS
E-mail: ecohen@gmail.com

Nominating Committee

Kirkwood Personius, PT, PhD
E-mail: kep7@buffalo.edu

Daniel White, PT, NCS
E-mail: dwtbn@bu.edu

Deb Kegelmeyer, PT, DPT, MS, GCS
E-mail: deb.kegelmeyer@osumc.edu

Vestibular Rehabilitation

The goal of the SIG is to facilitate exchange of information that would impact the treatment of the vestibular patient between researchers and clinicians.  Act as a liaison between SIG members and organizations with interest in vestibular rehabilitation. Monitor and share information on reimbursement systems and the coverage policies for vestibular rehabilitation.

Chair

Susan L. Whitney, PT, PhD, NCS, ATC
E-mail: whitney@pitt.edu

Vice Chair

Julie Tilson, PT, DPT, NCS
E-mail: tilson@usc.edu

Secretary

Michelle Lea Gutierrez, PT
E-mail: mlgutierrez@zianet.com

Nominating Committee

Becky Olson-Kellogg, PT, DPT, GCS 
E-mail: olso0184@umn.edu

Kenda S Fuller, PT, NCS
E-mail: kendafuller@hotmail.com

Debbie Struiksma. PT, NCS
E-mail: DStruiksma77@aol.com


The Section would like to extend a special thanks to all of the partnering organizations that have joined in to make the organization an invaluable resource for information, tools, and support for the population we serve.