In Motion Volume 1 2005

PHYSICAL THERAPY IN MOTIONDEPARTMENT OF BIOKINESIOLOGY AND PHYSICAL THERAPY

Volume 1, 2005

PHYSICAL THERAPY IN MOTIONDepartment Awarded $1.2 Million to StudyKnee Injury in Female Athletes

Continued on page 19


Faculty Practice Continues to EvolveWHAT’S INSIDE

Message from the Chair ..... 2

Record Class Sizes ............... 2

New Curriculum .................. 3

Student News...................... 4

Clinical Education News ..... 6

Continuing Education ........ 7

Academic Convocation ...... 8

Alumni News ....................... 10

Honor Roll of Donors ......... 13

Community Clinic ............... 14

Orthopedic Residency ........ 15

Faculty News ....................... 16

Homecoming 2004 .............. 19

Let’s Keep in Touch ............ 20

The USC Department ofBiokinesiology and

Physical Therapy continuesto fulfill its mission ofenhancing the physical well-being and quality of life ofpatients and clients byadvancing the practice ofphysical therapy and thescience upon which it isbased. One of the ways inwhich this is accomplished isthrough the Department’sevolving faculty practice,USC PT Associates.

USC PT Associates is a nonprofit corporation established in 1991 bythe faculty of the Department to provide physical therapy services to thecommunity surrounding USC. These two clinics, USC PT Associates atHealth Sciences Campus (HSC) and USC PT Associates at University ParkCampus (UPC), serve as a locus for clinical education of students and clinicalresearch conducted by the Department’s faculty. At the practice, facultyand Neurologic and Orthopedic Residents provide high-quality, evidence-

Dr. Christopher Powers, PrincipalInvestigator for “ACL Project Prevent.”

The National Institutes of Healthhas awarded a $1.2 million three-

year research grant to Principal In-vestigator Christopher M. Powers,PhD, PT, to examine mechanics ofnon-contact anterior cruciate liga-ment (ACL) injuries in female ath-letes. This project represents a col-laborative effort between several in-stitutions including the Universityof Southern California Departmentsof Biokinesiology & PhysicalTherapy and Preventive Medicine;University of North Carolina atChapel Hill Department of Epide-

miology; Santa Monica OrthopaedicGroup, Santa Monica, CA; and theCompetitive Athletic Training Zone,Pasadena, CA.

As female participation rates atall levels of sporting activity havedramatically increased, so have cer-tain sports injuries. In particular, theincidence of ACL injury in femaleathletes has been reported to be 4 to6 times greater than male athletesparticipating in the same sports.Seventy percent of these injuriesoccur during an incident that in-

Physical therapists practicing in the gym of the newUSC PT Associates clinic at University Park Campus.

The space was a bank before remodeling.

Volume 1, 2005 www.usc.edu/ptUSC Department of Biokinesiology & Physical Therapy [2]

MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIR

Dr. James Gordon

Restructuring the IndependentHealth Professions

Record Class Sizes

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In August 2004, 95 new studentsenrolled in the Entry-Level Doctor of

Physical Therapy Program, the largestentering class in the program’s 60-yearhistory. In the past 10 years since movinginto our new spacious facility, the facultyhas carefully planned a target of 84 newenrollees each fall. This year, we had awindfall acceptance to our offers ofadmission. We believe this windfall wasrelated to the release of US News andWorld Report rankings for physicaltherapy programs which placed USC’sprogram at number one. “The facultywas pleased to welcome additionalincoming students to the Class of 2007,all of whom have outstanding academiccredentials,” said department chair JamesGordon. Although the large increase in2004 was unexpected, the Departmenthad been preparing to increase class sizein the near future. The facultyappreciates the advantages that largenumbers of students bring to theclassroom. These can include culturaldiversity, unique personalities, a widerange of undergraduate focus and variedproblem solving strategies. “We arehappy to have the physical capacity andfaculty to embrace this new class,” saidGordon.

The PhD in Biokinesiology also hada record number of incoming students:eight new students entered the programbringing the total number of PhDstudents to 21, the largest it has everbeen. “This increase is the result of acarefully planned process – it is a clearindication of the controlled expansionof the Department’s research programs,”commented Dr. Gordon.

DPT I students, at their White Coat Ceremony,are initiated into the physical therapy profession.

As I enter our building every morning, I walk by the portraits of Helen Hislop and Jaquelin Perry;

two of the legendary figures whose vision and laborhelped make the Department what it is today. Italways makes me wonder, as their eyes follow me

down the hall, “What are they thinking about how far we have all cometogether? Can we act with their same vision and boldness in the directionthat we now must take?” Those questions have confronted me and otherDepartment senior leaders in an especially direct way over the past yearas we have become engaged in a fundamental restructuring of theDepartment’s administrative framework.

For the past two decades, the Department of Biokinesiology &Physical Therapy (PT) has been part of a loose configuration ofdepartments within USC called Independent Health Professions. Theother two members of the division were the Departments of Nursingand Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy (OT). When thedivision was formed, in the late 1980s, it accomplished a nice balancingact for these three professional programs – allowing a high degree ofautonomy while at the same time affording an administrative homewithin the huge organization that is USC. Indeed, for PT and OT, thepast two decades have seen a remarkable period of growth andmaturation. Each is now ranked #1 in the country among graduateprograms in their respective disciplines.

Unfortunately, USC’s Department of Nursing did not fare so well –it has now closed. Because there are now only two departments in thedivision, the University administration has determined that PT and OTshould join with a larger school. For the last year or so, we have beenexploring different opportunities and have narrowed down thepossibilities to a very few. We are now in the final stages of sensitivenegotiations. I cannot give more details, but feel optimistic that we willbe able to announce our new administrative arrangement in the nearfuture.

One of the very positive outcomes of this process has been thedevelopment of a closer working relationship with the leadership of OT.As we have moved forward in negotiations, we have come to realizethat the two departments actually have a great deal of common vision.It is definitely in our best interests to work together.

It is important to point out that in the next months and year, as weimplement this restructuring, there will be little observable impact onthe day-to-day operations of the Department. The real impact will be onthe Department’s long-term health and wellbeing. As society transformsand the health care system changes, so must the University. Ouroverriding goal has been to establish the Department in the strongestpossible position within USC – to be part of the creation of the Universityof the Twenty-first Century.

USC Department of Biokinesiology & Physical Therapy Volume 1, 2005 www.usc.edu/pt[3]

New Third-Year Curriculum in Place

Q. Dr. Landel, why was the 3rd year curriculum restructured?A. The curriculum was restructured for several reasons,

among them:1. to improve the students’ ability to integrate and apply

the skills, knowledge and abilities they learned in thefirst two years;

2. provide opportunities to solve patient problems posedby patients with multi-system involvement;

3. move to a learner-centered teaching method;4. provide a mechanism for evaluating the effectiveness

of the curriculum as a whole;5. and reduce the students’ tendency to categorize

patients into orthopedic, neurologic and cardio-pulmonary problems brought about by groupingtheir instruction into these units;

Q. What are the major changes to the curriculum?A. First, we dropped all the elective courses. We felt thatif there was information that was important enough toinclude in an elective for some of the students then it wasprobably important enough that all the students shouldlearn it. Grand Rounds, in which students presented casesfrom their clinical experience, was also dropped as the newcurriculum duplicates the skill set previously developedas part of the class.

In their place a 5-unit course, Integrated PatientManagement Seminar (PT 632), was instituted andorganized around complex patient cases. As a whole, thecourse emphasizes 11 key skills that we felt the studentsshould have mastered upon graduation from our program.These skills include:1. determining if a patient is appropriate for physical

therapy management;2. performing a differential diagnosis;3. planning and performing an evaluation and plan of

care that accounts for musculoskeletal, cardiopul-monary and neurologic problems across thelifespan;

4. determining a prognosis;5. applying the principles of evidence-based practice;6. linking pathologies, impairments, functional

limitations, and disabilities;7. and functioning within the healthcare system.

This new course uses a teaching method called TeamGroup Learning, a small group learner-centered approachthat emphasizes sharing of individual knowledge withthe group in order to advance the knowledge and skill ofthe class as a whole. The emphasis of this course is onthought process and decision-making.

Finally, two of the electives, Advanced Managementof the Spine and Advanced Management of the LowerExtremity, are now mandatory and were re-worked toinclude cardiopulmonary and neurologic conditions andto include the upper extremity. The focus of these coursesis hands-on skills. All three courses occur on Tuesdaysand Thursdays and take advantage of the clinical rotationpatient experiences on the intervening days.

Q. How successful have the changes been?A. The feedback from the students has been very positive.They enjoy the difficulty and complexity of the cases, andlike the Team Group Learning format.

From the faculty point of view, the students have madetremendous strides in integrating material from the firsttwo years, and applying it to solve the problems presentedby complex patients. The student interactions anddiscussions have been exciting to experience, making theclass a joy to teach.

Q. Were any changes made to the first and second yearcurriculum?A. Because the elective courses were dropped, materialfrom the Pediatric and Geriatric courses had to beassimilated into the first two years. This is an on-goingprocess, the effectiveness of which will not be apparentuntil the current 2nd year students finish the 3rd yearcourses. The performance of the students in the third yearwill serve as a gauge on how well material is beingpresented in the first two years. The Curriculum OversightCommittee was formed, in part, to take feedback from the

After three years of planning a new curriculum for the third-year of the Department’s Entry-Level Doctor ofPhysical Therapy program, the faculty has begun to implement the curriculum. The following is an interview

conducted with Dr. Rob Landel, who oversaw the curriculum planning process and third-year student, JonathanSum.


Team Group Learning in action.


STUDENT NEWS

USC Student Receives Outstanding PT StudentAward from the APTA

Jonathan Sum, a third-year student in theDoctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) program

at USC, has been awarded the OutstandingPhysical Therapy Student Award given by theAmerican Physical Therapy Association. Theaward will be presented at the APTA’s 2005Annual Combined Sections Meeting in NewOrleans, February 23-27.

The purpose of this award is to identify astudent physical therapist with exceptionalscholastic ability and potential for contributions toorthopaedic physical therapy. The eligible student shallexcel in academic performance in both the professionaland pre-requisite phases of their educational program,and be involved in professional organizations andactivities that provide potential growth andcontributions to the profession and orthopaedic physicaltherapy.

The mission of the USC DPT program is to educateauthoritative practitioners and future leaders in theprofession of physical therapy. “Jonathan has embracedthis mission wholeheartedly through his pursuit ofexcellence in community service, rehabilitation scienceresearch and patient care. Many know of his leadershipstyle and contagious enthusiasm for professionalism andcitizenship. Jonathan is equally effective when workingwith the less privileged members of the Los Angeles

community as well as the most privileged,”said Kornelia Kulig, associate professor atUSC, who nominated Sum for the award.

Sum has completed full-time internshipsat Rancho Los Amigos NationalRehabilitation Center and at Hopi IndianHealth Services on the Hopi Native Americanreservation. When in the clinic, Sum hasdemonstrated superb communication,interaction and education skills with patients

and colleagues. His research included participation ina funded research project investigating thebiomechanical and clinical characteristics of the lumbarspine under loaded and unloaded conditions insymptomatic and asymptomatic subjects.

“It is truly an honor and privilege, not simply forthe award, but to be recognized by leaders in ourprofession and to be in the company of previous USCrecipients,” said Sum.

“Jonathan is truly an outstanding student, soon tobecome an insightful and well-educated practicingphysical therapist with a tremendous potential tocontribute to the Orthopaedic Section of the APTA,”said Kulig.

Sum received his baccalaureate degree from USCand will graduate in May of 2005 from the USC DPTprogram.

Department Debuts New DVD/DVD ROM

As part of a new identity and marketing campaign that began when welaunched our new website last summer, the Department is now introducing

a new DVD/DVD ROM. With the slogan of “Uniting Education, Research, andPractice,” the new DVD/DVD ROM will be used as a tool to promote theDepartment and to recruit prospective students, faculty, and donors.

The DVD/DVD ROM is an interactive disk that highlights the education,research, and practice components of the Department through text, videointerviews of students, alumni, and faculty mixed with video of related actionshots, and web links.

The disk can be played both on a computer and on a DVD player for television.The television version can be watched as you would watch any movie from your video rental store. Thecomputer version is interactive—you can read text, watch videos, and connect to the Department’s website.

The DVD/DVD ROM was produced by Earthbound Media Group, partly owned by alumnus and Boardof Councilors member Blaine Behringer (DPT ’00).

To obtain a copy of the DVD/DVD ROM, please contact the Department at 323-442-2900.

Jonathan Sum


McMillan ScholarshipAwarded to PhD Student

STUDENT NEWS

Maureen Whitford, PT,MHS, a first year PhD

student in the Biokinesiologyprogram is one of sixdoctoral students acrossthe nation who receiveda McMillan DoctoralScholarship awarded by theFoundation for PhysicalTherapy Board of Trustees.

The $5,000 scholarships, funded by theFoundation’s Henry O. and Florence P. KendallEndowment Fund, were awarded last fall tophysical therapy doctoral students in their firstyear of study with outstanding potential fordoctoral studies.

“The Foundation is excited to support thisyear’s scholarship winners,” Foundation President/Chair Nancy White, PT, MS, OCS, said. “We lookforward to following their progress andcontributions to the physical therapy profession.”

Whitford is currently working under thedirection of Professor Carolee Winstein on aproject that investigates the potential benefits ofvirtual reality in combination with physicaltherapy on the upper extremity recovery ofindividuals post-stroke.

Maureen Whitford

Robin Beauregard, a first-year Doctor of

Physical Therapy student,is a member of the U.S.Women’s Water PoloTeam that competed atlast year’s Olympics inAthens. S h e a n d h e rt e a m mates won abronze medal on August26 after a 6-5 win overthe Australian Team.Beauregard made one ofthe six U.S. goals.

“This is the hardest game you play in because there’s noconsolation prize for the losers,” Beauregard was quoted assaying to the San Jose Mercury News. “You could tell bothteams were really fighting out there,” she said.

A native of Huntington Beach, Beauregard graduatedwith a double major in psychobiology and physiologicalscience from the University of California, Los Angeles(UCLA). A three-time first-team All-American, she was amember of UCLA’s NCAA Championship Water Polo teamsin 2001 and 2003.

Beauregard is in her sixth year on the U.S. national teamand in her second Olympics, after winning a silver medalwith her teammates at the 2000 Sydney games.

USC DPT Student in theOlympics

Biokinesiology Student Receives Award from theAmerican Physiological Society

Alberto Vallejo, PhD student in the Biokinesiology program received a Minority Travel Fellowship Award from the American Physiological Society (APS) of the

National Institutes of Health.The award covered all expenses for Vallejo to attend the 2004 APS Translational

Research Conference on Integrative Biology of Exercise, October 6-9, 2004 in Austin, TX.The APS is a nonprofit organization devoted to fostering education, scientific research,and dissemination of information in the physiological sciences. The intent of the awardis to increase participation of pre- and postdoctoral minority students in physiologicalsciences.

Vallejo’s research at USC, under the direction of Drs. Fred R. Sattler and E. ToddSchroeder, focuses on examining the metabolic cost of concentric and eccentriccontractions during bouts of resistance training at sub-maximal intensities. “The goal

of my research is to determine if eccentric contractions are more effective for rehabilitation of populations withimpaired muscle strength and endurance who cannot perform traditional resistance training due to its highermetabolic demand,” said Vallejo.

Alberto Vallejo

Robin Beauregard at an interna-tional water polo tournament

held in Long Beach.

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CLINICAL EDUCATION NEWS

Clinical Education Sites Needed

The Department is always looking for additional qualityclinical education sites for our entry-level DPT students.

We are especially interested in sites where our graduates areclinical instructors, and experiences that range from two- orsix-week commitments to full 16-week positions.

Facilities outside the Los Angeles area that can offer freeor inexpensive housing provide students with invaluable op-portunities to complete their clinicals in places they wouldnot otherwise experience. If your facility is interested inpartnering with USC, please contact Chris Sebelski, Directorof Clinical Education at (323) 442-2935 or at [email protected].

Effective July 1, 2004 the USC Department of Biokinesiology and PhysicalTherapy has a new coordinator of clinical education—Ms. Nena Becerra.

An intense search was initiated after Jo Ochoa announced her retirement ascoordinator of clinical education.

Ms. Becerra first became affiliated with USC on February 2003 when shebegan to work for the Zilkha Neurogenetic Institute (ZNI) as an appointmentsand promotions coordinator. Her main tasks and challenges were to recruittop scientists from around the country, coordinate seminars for prospectivefaculty members and market USC’s newly constructed ZNI building. Sheearned her bachelors degree in business administration with an emphasis oninternational business at California State University, Long Beach.

“I am delighted to have been given the opportunity to take the position ofclinical coordinator for the Department of Biokinesiology and Physical Therapy. I am fortunate to be part of agroup of dedicated faculty and staff members whose hard work has produced the best PT program in the nation,”said Ms. Becerra.

Coordinator of Clinical Education Appointed

The Department’s Clinical Education office, inpartnership with the USC Orthopedic

Residency Program, welcomed two nationallyrenowned speakers during the fall semester.

Dr. Tim Flynn from Regis University inColorado lectured on September 17-18, 2004 onManipulation of the Cervical Spine. Dr. Flynninteracted with the orthopedic residents for onefull day providing individualized instruction andsmall group interaction on a variety of concepts.During the community program, Dr. Flynn spokeon evidence supporting manipulation of thecervical spine with a hands-on lab for our clinicalinstructors and faculty.

Dr. Bill Boissonnault, faculty member at theUniversity of Wisconsin in Madison, lectured onNovember 5-7, 2004 on Medical Screening for thePhysical Therapist. Interaction with the orthopedicresidents shaped the format of the first day. Dr.Boissonnault presented a two day course open toour community of clinical instructors and facultyon the importance of medical screening for theclinician.

These courses were offered as part of theDepartment’s continuing education component inan effort to facilitate the knowledge of ourclinicians, and as a thank you for supporting ourprogram. Please look on page 7 of this newsletterfor upcoming continuing education courses thisspring.

Distinguished Invited Speakers

Center Coordinators of Clinical Education (CCCEs) and Clini-cal Instructors (CIs) who strongly support our program and

regularly participate in our students’ clinical education experiencesare invited by the Department to become “Volunteer Clinical Fac-ulty.” This is a great opportunity to work closely with the Depart-ment and to receive the following benefits:

• USC Volunteer Faculty ID Card• Access to the USC libraries, including online OVID

search engine• 10% discount at the USC bookstores• Faculty discounts for USC sporting events, plays,

concerts, etc.

If you are interested in these benefits and would like to become aregular Clinical Instructor for USC DPT students, please contactChris Sebelski at (323) 442-2935 or [email protected].

Volunteer Clinical Faculty

Jo Ochoa (left) and Nena Becerra atJo’s farewell party.


Continuing Education Courses - Spring 2005

One of the missions of the Clinical Education Department at the USC Department of Biokinesiology and Physical Therapyis to foster a relationship with our community of clinical instructors. We are grateful for your continuing support of our

students during their clinical experiences and value your insight into our curriculum. As a component of this mission and asa thank you for supporting our program, we wish to offer quality continuing education courses to facilitate the knowledge ofour clinicians. Clinical instructors (CI’s) of USC students receive a generous 50% off the Non CI Cost for all offered courses.Courses are open to the physical therapy community. However, space is limited and CI’s will be given priority for participationin the courses.

March 5, 2005 Documentation for the Practicing Clinician (Non CI Cost: $50)Jim Gordon, EdD, PT

March 26, 2005 Cadaveric Anatomy of the Upper Quadrant (Non CI Cost: $200)Susan Sigward, PT

April 1 – 2, 2005 Manipulation of the Spine (Non CI Cost: $500)Peter Gibbons and Philip Tehan

April 3 – 4, 2005 Advanced Concepts for Spinal Manipulation (Non CI Cost: $500)Peter Gibbons and Philip TehanEvidence of previous manipulation experience/training required to attend

The courses listed below are part of our Orthopedic Residency program and Post-Professional DPT program. The majority oftime in each course is spent in hands on lab sessions. Evidence-based practice is emphasized via pre-course reading andliterature review. Each weekend session may be taken individually as continuing education for the non CI price of $400 or theentire series can be taken for $1900. Again, all CI’s will receive 50% discount off of these prices.

Advanced Management of the Spine

February 5 – 6, 2005 Advanced Management of the Spine – Cervical *Rob Landel, PT, DPT, OCS

February 12 – 13, 2005 Advanced Management of the Spine – Thoracic*Kornelia Kulig, PT, PhD

March 19 – 20, 2005 Advanced Management of the Spine – Lumbar*John Meyer, DPT, OCS

April 23 – 24, 2005 Advanced Management of the Spine – SIJ/Pelvis*Mike O’Donnell, PT, DPT, OCS

May 7, 2005 Advanced Management of the Spine – Manipulation (*Above courses are prerequisites)Derrick Sueki, DPT

Please complete the registration form below and CIRCLE the courses which you are signing up:

Name: __________________________________________________ Email: __________________________________________

Address: _________________________________________________________________________________________________

Telephone: _______________________________________________ Fax: ____________________________________________

Name of Facility: __________________________________________City/State: _______________________________________

Name of USC student mentored during the past year: ___________________________________________________________

You may fax this form to Chris Sebelski at 323-442-1515 orMail: USC BKN & PT; 1540 Alcazar St., CHP155; Los Angeles, CA 90089-9006

Check our website for course descriptions as they become available. http://pt.usc.edu/quick_links/cont.htm


Department Holds Second Annual Academic Convocationand White Coat Ceremony

Jorge Orozco delivering hisinvited address.

The Department of Biokinesiology and PhysicalTherapy held its second annual Academic

Convocation and White Coat Ceremony to begin theacademic year in August 2004. Faculty, staff, alumni,students and their family members gathered to honorand celebrate the accomplishments of our students andto initiate the first-year DPT students into the professionof physical therapy.

The Department continued the new tradition of thewhite coat ceremony, in which incoming Doctor ofPhysical Therapy students are each given a white coatby a second- or third-year student, as a symbol of theprofession’s commitment to professionalism,responsibility, and humanism.

Jorge Orozco,Director of Rehab-ilitation Services atRancho Los AmigosRehabilitation Centergave the invitedaddress, emphasizingthe importance ofworking on the skill ofempathy…

Empathy is the ability to understand the patient’s situation,perspective, and feelings and to communicate that understanding.In essence it is your ability to connect with patients. This is not askill that is mastered in the classroom. Rather empathy is taughtto us by patients and is a reflection of our understanding andcommitment to our patients. Patients in pain, suffering and illnessseek relief from physical therapy, but they also seek human comfort,understanding, and empathy. Empathy allows you to becompassionate; it allows the patient to feel understood, validatedand respected. The effective use of empathy promotes diagnosticand therapeutic effectiveness and patient satisfaction—in shortempathy allows you to be an effective physical therapist.

During the awards ceremony preceding the whitecoat presentation, students from the second- and third-year in the DPT program and from the Biokinesiologyprogram received merit-based scholarships honoringoutstanding academic achievement, service to theDepartment, potential to contribute to the advancementof clinical practice, and leadership and excellence inphysical therapy (see page 9 for award descriptions andrecipients).

A highlight of the event was the awarding of thefirst Distinguished Alumnus Award presented to honoran alumnus for his or her professional accomplishmentsand service to the profession. The inaugural recipientof the award was Jack Close, MA, PT, FAPTA. “If I hadto sum up Jack’s career in one word, it would beleadership,” said Department chair, Dr. James Gordonwhen presenting the award to Mr. Close. “I have found,somewhat to my surprise that his leadership abilitystems not just from his intelligence and commitment,but more importantly, by an extraordinary gentlenessand sensitivity that he projects in all one encounterswith him,” said Gordon.

As the closing part of the ceremony, Mr. Jack Closewas invited to administer the Oath of the PhysicalTherapist to the DPT students.

The Department gratefully acknowledges the followingsponsors who helped support this important event:

Cheryl Resnik, DPT ‘97 – ReceptionFedEx Kinko’s, Monterey Park – ProgramSouthern California Trophy Co. – Awards

DPT Class of 2006 wearing their white coat, which was presentedto them at last year’s inaugural White Coat Ceremony.

DPT I students (from left to right) Kirsten Nelson, Kelly Ophof,Darla Philips, and Heather Petersen, wearing their white coat, which

was prensented to them by second- and third-year DPT students.

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Distinguished Alumnus AwardTo honor an alumnus of the Department for his or her professionalaccomplishments with high distinction. This year’s recipient is:

Jack Close, MA, PT, FAPTA

Jack Close graduated from USC in 1970 with a post-baccalaureatecertificate in physical therapy. After graduation, he settled in Las Vegas,

NV and established one of the premier private practices in the nation, infact, one that has been a major contributor in developing the very conceptof private practice physical therapy. He also became a leader in theAmerican Physical Therapy Association, at the regional, state, and nationallevels. Mr. Close has been elected to several political offices, includingtwo terms in the Nevada State Assembly. He is very active as an educator,in his church and in the community. With all of that, Mr. Close stillfinds the time to help USC, most notably by serving on the Department’sBoard of Councilors.

We congratulate the following individuals who werehonored at the awards presentation portion of the

Fall Academic Convocation and White Coat Ceremony:

Departmental Scholarships and Honors

Members of the DPT Class of 2006 receiving their AcademicExcellence Scholarships from Department Chair, James Gordon

Academic Excellence ScholarshipRecognizing DPT students preparing to enter thesecond- and third-year of the entry-level DPT programfor outstanding academic achievement across both basicscience and clinical courses. This year’s recipients are:

Year 2:Alison R. Brown, Stephanie M. Babbidge, JoAnne DelosReyes, Sabrina Seraj, Kate M. Warren, Rebeca L. Garvin,Lori M. Ginoza, Tiffany L. Brown, Morgan L. Fones,Cherie V. Le Doux

Year 3:Katherine M. Weimer, Leesha S. Perryman, Kristina A.Helquist, Claire L. Irvin, Heather A. Schumacker, VivianM. Chan, Sapna J. Patel, Jason M. Smith, Erica V. Pablo,Rozalyn M. Pelayo, Jeanne K. Hicks

Josette Antonelli Departmental Service ScholarshipHonoring an entry-level DPT student who hasdemonstrated extraordinary leadership and service tothe Department or community. This year’s recipient is:

Jennifer E. Penn

Beth E. Fisher ScholarshipAcknowledging a third-year entry-level DPT studentwho demonstrates empathy for the patient’s perspective,integrates and applies knowledge in new and innovative

ways, and has the potential to advance clinical practice.This year’s recipient is:

Katherine Weimer

Helen Hislop Scholarship in Support of Vision andExcellence in Physical TherapyHonoring and acknowledging an entry-level DPTstudent preparing to enter the third-year whodemonstrates leadership and excellence in physicaltherapy. This year’s recipient is:

Jonathan C. Sum

Jacquelin Perry Scholarship AwardRecognizing a student in the Master of Science or Doctorof Philosophy program who has performed with highdistinction. This year’s recipient is:

Jarugool Tretriluxana

Dr. James Gordon (left) presents the firstDistinguished Alumnus Award given by the

Department to Mr. Jack Close (‘70)


ALUMNI NEWS

Keeping in TouchE-mail providers come and go,but your USC connection isforever.

No need to worry about complicated,hard-to-remember e-mail addressesthat change every six months. Asan automatic member of the USC

Alumni Association, you can sign up for free lifetime e-mailforwarding with a USC domain name.

Visit http://alumni.usc.edu to find out how you can [email protected] and never have to change e-mail addresses again!

Once you have your e-mail address, sign up for the PTAlumni Listserve by submitting it to [email protected] never miss another USC PT announcement.

LIFETIME E-MAIL FORWARDING FOR ALUMNI

GRAD 1959Ruthanne Harback Wise – I am interested in findingmy classmates. They can e-mail me [email protected].

GRAD 1968Anita Lynne Brooks – I retired from USAF as a Majorin 1998. I am working for Applegate Home Health andHospice and at Gentiva Health Services & RehabWithout Walls. Edward James (DOB Sept, 2, 1979) is aHelitack firefighter for NPS & based at Mesa Verde Co.He also worked at Snowbasin during the 2002Olympics, Paralympics. In 1991 I designed and builtour home on an acre just on the back side of Snowbasin.We love to ski and have visitors.

GRAD 1970Beverly Toyama – I have been a mentor for USC’sConnections program of APASS (Asian Pacific AmericanStudent Services) since 1997, and this year, I’m matchedwith a Chinese-American freshman, Shuinn Chang.Shuinn is thinking about pre-med, but is also lookinginto other health fields. Maybe I can persuade her toseriously consider physical therapy as a rewardingcareer! I enjoy being a mentor, but would sure likeother USC PT alumni of Asian/Pacific Island ethnicitiesto consider this opportunity to help students. Ifanybody is interested, they can reach me [email protected].

GRAD 1973Raymond L. Blessey is one of three attorneys at Bonne,Bridges, Mueller, O’Keffe & Nichols Law Firm to beselected as “Rising Stars” by Southern California SuperLawyers. “This honor isrestricted to the top two andone-half percent of attorneysunder age 40 or practicing 10years or less, as chosen by theircolleagues,” said Mr. O’Keefe.An article profiling Mr. Blesseyand his two colleaguesreceiving the same honorappeared in the September2004 issue of Los AngelesMagazine and SouthernCalifornia Super Lawyers–RisingStars Edition Magazine.

Thomas M. Eggleton – After 32 years of practicing PT, Istill love it. I completed my DPT in 2003 at RockyMountain University.

GRAD 1974John F. Iams – I am married and have three sons, all intheir 20’s, and they’re doing great. After 25 years ofprivate practice, I discovered a major source ofmusculoskeletal pain—primal reflexes. This has lead toteaching seminars, almost monthly, in Poway, Californiawhere I live. I have now trained over 100 practitionersfrom around the country.

I have found a never before described relationshipbetween the dura mater and upregulated reflexes suchas the startle, withdrawal and joint protective. My 1Minute NocioceptivExam™ gives me clues where thepatient is having problems with these various reflexes.

My treatment takes only seconds and involves theuse of concepts such as reciprocal inhibition and eventhe use of a reflex hammer. Results are instantaneous.There is usually improvement in ROM, speed of motionand pain.

What’s exciting about the Primal Reflex ReleaseTechnology™ is how fast these techniques are spreadingaround the country. By 2005, I expect to go internationalwith my work.

GRAD 1973 continued


Keeping in Touch

ALUMNI NEWS

GRAD 1977Debi Hopee (Kreide) – I have been teaching Sympto-Thermal Natural Family Planning for the past 12 yearsfor the Diocese of Orange. Couples learn fertilityawareness without succumbing to harmful side effectsof drugs.

GRAD 1983Lisa Marie Rehm Didone – I now work per diem for afew different companies, so that I can work only whenmy kids are in school. I take school holidays andsummer off. My kids are: Danielle (14), Stephanie (11)& Kyle (9). Kurt and I celebrated our 17th anniversaryin April.

GRAD 1987Karen Elizabeth Frederick – I have recently joined LittleCompany of Mary Health Services as the Director ofRehabilitation Services. The Little Company of Maryservices area includes five facilities in the greater SouthBay region. I am also the chair of the Long Beach/SouthBay District of the California Physical TherapyAssociation this year. It’s been a great year of professionalchallenges for me! In my spare time I enjoy triathlons,competitive sailing, hiking, backpacking and flying.

Julie Torregrosa – I have been living in a suburb of NewYork with Arthur Torregrosa, my husband of 14 years;my 4 children: Tess (11), Ty (9), Robyn (7), and Ella (5);and my niece Sheree (16), and nephew Sean (17). I havebeen working as a full time mother, soon to start thejob search again when my youngest enters full timeschool. I just had a mini reunion with Carol (Tomasu)Kikuchi. I would love to hear from fellow classmates.

GRAD 1989Victoria A. Merrell – a physical therapist with St. Luke’s/Idaho Elks Rehabilitation Services, has been selected asthe first physical therapist to receive the Clinical MastersAward by the Association of Rheumatology Health CareProfessionals, a division of the American College ofRheumatology. The award is presented annually to anon-physician health care professional who is engagedin clinical practice and who demonstrates outstandingclinical skills in the rheumatic diseases. Merrell wasselected based on her skills, competency, ethics,commitment, experience as a clinical mentor, and

involvement in local and national arthritis- andrheumatology-related organizations and activities. Shehas specialized in rheumatic diseases the past 10 years.

ATTENTION CLASS OF 1995:‘SAVE THE DATE’

A small group has begun to plan their 10-year re-union for September 2005, but they need help track-ing down everyone! Please send Katie Hettrich anycontact information—yours and anyone else you stillstay in touch with. And plan on coming—it will be agreat time!

Contact Katie at [email protected] with yourhome address, e-mail address, phone number andif you would be willing to help.

GRAD 1998Jay Bradley Reed –Marlene and Iwelcomed Jay BradleyReed, Jr. (right) onApril 2, 2004. He isour third child. Ourdaughters Danikaand Ariel are thrilledwith their new babybrother.

GRAD 1999Jerry Baranick and Chris Dragoo got married on July31, 2004, and are living in Yorba Linda, CA. They areexpecting their first child in June 2005. Congratulations!

Georgia Norgren – I moved to Bend, Oregon in the pastyear and am currently working as a traveling physicaltherapist. I took the Folsom long-term manual therapycourse in 2001, received my Polestar Rehabilitationcertification in 2003, and am currently taking theMuscle Activation Technique (MAT) Internship inDenver, CO. I work as a ski instructor in Aspen,CO over the holidays. I continue to play with my freetime. I can be reached at [email protected]. GRAD 2000Debra Louis Blaver and Andrew Blaver are proud toannounce the birth of their daughter Emily Jane Blaver,born October 14, 2003, weighing 7 lbs., 15 oz. andmeasuring 21 inches long. Debra is working at anoutpatient orthopedic clinic in Huntington Beach.



Lt. Alexi Desatoff has beennamed “United StatesPublic Health Service’sTherapist Junior Officer ofthe Year” for 2004. He ispictured with RichardCarmona (left), the U.S.Surgeon General.

Aaron Willis and Josiah Anderson have opened theirown private practice, Playa Physical Therapy, in theMarina Del Rey area. For contact information, visit theirwebsite at PlayaPT.com. GRAD 2001Rose Hamm has been voted the 2004 PT of Year at USCUniversity Hospital (USCUH) where she has a clinicalfaculty appointment. “You truly exemplify the meaningof a professional. Your dedication to the Department,hospital and your patients is to be commended. Youare certainly a positive role model...” wrote Sharon Lee,Director of Rehabilitation Services at USCUH, on a lettercongratulating Rose for the award.

Diana Finn Sutcliff – Mark and I hada beautiful baby boy, Collin EmilioSutcliff (right), on March 27, 2004.Collin weighed 7lbs., 14 oz. andmeasured 20 ½ inches long at birth.At 3 months, he weighed 15 lbs! Weare all doing well, and are continuingto run our business, ImpactRehabilitation Center.

GRAD 2002Angela Quadra and Alex Constantino – We got marriedon October 9th, 2004 at the San Fernando MissionChurch in Mission Hills.

Jake Irwin – I accepted a position at PhysiotherapyAssociates in a sports medicine clinic in Atlanta, workingwith Bob Donatelli. I wrote a chapter in his most recentshoulder textbook, published in 2004. I have beenlecturing as an adjunct professor for North GeorgiaCollege and State University, and plan to begin lecturingin the summer of 2005 for the Dogwood Institute, onthe use of exercise as a primary form of treatment formany orthopedic pathologies. In January of 2005, I will

be taking on the role of clinic director. I am alsocurrently working toward my manual therapycertification, and plan to test in February. I am marriedand we are expecting a baby in June of 2005.

Caroline and Wayne Wilson – I would like to let myclassmates know that my husband and I have a preciousnew addition to our family, Blake Anthony Wilson, bornSeptember 16, 2004. He weighed in at 7 lbs., 8 oz. andwas 21 inches long. Mom and baby are doing well.

Deaths

GRAD 1955Katherine A. Martin passed away in Lincoln, Nebranskaon Monday Jan. 10, 2005. She was employed by AcuteHospitals in Southern California; California State Schoolfor Cerebral Palsy, five years; and California KaiserHospital in Harbor City, retiring in 1985. Condolencesor personal reflections may be left online atwww.metcalffh.com.

GRAD 1980Margret J. Hjalmarson passed away in Camp Verde onSept. 16, 2004. She participated in advanced studies atKaiser Hospital in Vallejo, Calif., and in London,England. She worked as a physical therapist for theGlendale School District and had taught in the HealthScience Department of Northern Arizona University.She loved working directly with patients and did so atSt. Joseph’s and Mayo Hospitals. She periodically taughtspecialized therapy techniques and was a visiting facultymember at USC.

Keeping in Touch

ALUMNI NEWS

USC PT students,faculty, and their

family and friends whoparticipated in Shane’sInspiration 7th Annual5k/10k Walk-Fun-Rollon Sunday, October10th raised over $350. Shane’s Inspiration creates UniversallyAccessible Play Environments and provide community outreach,education, and transportation programs. Universally AccessiblePlaygrounds allow children with disabilities to play independentlywith their peers. [Back row: Jerry O’Connell of NBC’s “CrossingJordan” and Ronald McDonald.]

Shane’sInspirationWalk-Fun-Roll


HONOR ROLL OF DONORS

We gratefully acknowledge the following alumni and friends for their financial contributions and theencouragement their support represents. This Honor Roll includes gifts contributed to the Department

and recorded during the time period of July 2003 to June 2004.Every effort has been made to assure accuracy of this report. Please notify our Department of any

errors or omissions, and please accept our apologies for any discrepancies. For information on how to make acontribution, please contact Sara Villagran at (323) 442-1193 or [email protected].

$20,000+Kathleen Ellen BiceFoundation for Physical TherapyKinetics FoundationSykes Family Foundation

$2,000+Kate AdamsonFlaquitz Enterprises IncHeart Rate IncMandell (Samuel P) FoundationJacquelin PerryKenneth J PriceTristar Products Inc

$1,000+Lisette and Norman AckerbergSusan Straus AdlerJoanne K GronleyStephen S HaasDonna L HruskaTracy Moritz SykesLeonard V WendlandCarolee J Winstein

$500+Adler (Susan) FoundationJosette M C AntonelliSharon Kay De MuthPatrick H GantosArnold Jay IsaacsKrpata Sports Therapy IncSusan Lee LayfieldSheldon Curtis LowMeyer Charitable TrustJorge OrozcoMarianne PalefskyJerome M SachsJanet Aurora WesselPatricia Willmarth

$100+Hazel Virginia AdkinsJeffrey Scott AllenWarren Craig AtteberyChristine Denise BakerScott R BloxhamDavid Nelson BogartLeslie Freedle BorenRochelle BruckerLily CabellonJeffrey Westcott CarrJohn Wallace CheeverJoan DavisSusan P DildayLeroy H DrusselNeil Douglas FitchDarryl Albert FongFreedle (Leslie K) Pt IncMary Limbach FriesEssie H Gee

Marc Roald GrunsethRose Little HammCaroline Cwik HancockBarbara Dee HanleyJamie Lynne HartLarry Shiu-Bong HoHo Rehab Center IncKathleen Marie HodgsonChang-Yu HsiehMary Ryan IndenbaumRichard N JohnsonMitchel Charles KayeRobert L KershnerDaniel John KiragesKathleen Hofer LarsonBryan LeeEllen M LevandNancie Marcin LofgrenHenry Nicklous LuhrsLuk (Joseph) Physical Therapy IncCayley Jane Mac DonaldAnna J MarshallWendi Wade Mc KennaRodney Alan MiyasakiKeith Susumu MoriAlex Jerome NielsenJosephine E OchoaMarisa PerdomoMargaret Vivian PetersonRobert PosenMichelle Good PrettymanMark Gerard PynesStephen F ReischlCheryl ResnikSusan SigwardChristy SkuraWilles Wolfe SonnefieldKelly Anne StevensTilt Photography & DesignMichele M TourneValda Ann VitolinsAnn Teresa VivianErik Jason VraneshWashington Mutual FoundationHugh G WattsGeorge R WhitePatricia Greaney WilliamsStacy Ann WilliamsGary Scott WilsonMary-Jane C WissmannCatherine Mary YausseyPeter R Zakhary

$50+James Alan BallBruce Edward BeekleyAda Marie BowersRandy Clair BruceTroy Allen BurletteSuzanne Lee ChaffeeJanis Sau Lun ChingKathryn Follis Crowe

Nancy DarrTodd Eldon DavenportJoseph J FeloneySusan Anne HallMahlon Paul HamannDavid HammVirginia HarwellBitte S HealyGrace & James K HshiharaDana H IttnerJohn J JankoskiKristi Anne Larsen-DwormanCynthia Mulberry LazzaraLockheed Martin FoundationKathryn M LyonsRobin Mc IntyreMoses Lake Sports Physical TherapySharon Nadin NicholasToni Ann NieldMary Ann PainterBrenda Lynn PlevneyCarol A PowellLetitia Fay RichardsonSuzanne Marie SchneiderEdmund W SchonebergerJanice Marie ShermanMarcy SteinCarole Yanover SussmanJena E Van LooTraill Alan VosbergJoyce Clayton WilsonCynthia Mary Zablotny

$25+Alamitos Physical Therapy AssociatesIngrid E AltmanGinelle Cara AmorminoHilary AndrewsLewis William BayneMary Edith BennettMichael BevilacquaElizabeth Stein BulichKristin Winn CarterJena CasciMrs. Mardi ChamberlainLa Rita May CortsenMary Rodda CurtinDana Lynn DietrichJeffrey Lee DietrichDonald D DouglasCatherine Ann GilbertKathleen GuarneriAnn Cherry HattenRenee Marie HawkinsDoris L HendricksonCarrol IrwinCynthia Lee JohnsonJudith Skrentny KennedyLisa Kathleen LighthallIlse A Mc GowanSandra Jean MouraPhibun Ny

Gordon Edward OakesH Lorraine OggDiana June OsterhuesShital Rameshbhai PatelPatricia J PechtlCarol Weikert PowellBruce Arthur PriemDennus Alfred RichardsRaymond J SetoSeto Equity CorporationHoward Winston SulzleLauren Lejune WedlowRuthanne M WiseGeorge Young

Under $25Jennifer Richelle AndersonElizabeth M BarnettMarion K BartonVerla May BatemanDorothy BerrimanJoan Hoffmann BrassfieldMarcella A CharltonPamela Menkes DornerDorner Physical TherapyFelix Gilberto DuarteEncino Home Care ServicesCaroline FulgencioBruce Chi Trung HaPatricia Johnson HarwoodShiho HommaDeborah Kreider HoppeAngela Chin HoyRobert Eugene HughesImpact Rehabilitation CenterShelley Adair JohnstonCraig KarpilowBarbara June KerriganMindie T. KhuuJohn Egbert KroghJoyce Rochelle LandesCarmen Le MastersJacqueline Anne LombardSara Hatheway MerrillCorinne Filosa NajarianLarry John NosseKelly Ann ParkCynthia Marino PoserMelina I RodriguezScott Parker RussellMaria Elena SerretJill Leslee SmithJan Carr SousaDiana Finn SutcliffLaura Marie TampanelloJanet Louise TaylorCharles Jonathan TomanMasae B ToyamaLanita Y Van AkenKatrina Zoe VogelShailander VohraJaime Yee West


Support our efforts to advancestroke rehabilitation in China

Doctors Sandra Howell, BethFisher, and Kathy Sullivan

have made three trips to China inthe last two years. They have madegreat progress in starting aneducational and research exchangeto improve stroke rehabilitation inChina. Through their work, theyhave observed that lack ofrehabilitation equipment andassistive devices is one of thegreatest needs.

WE NEED YOUR HELP! AnAmerican company has donated acontainer and shipping costs inorder to send used rehabilitationequipment back to Wuhan, China.Donations of any equipment suchas crutches, canes, wheelchairs, andbraces would be appreciated.Perhaps your clinic or formerpatients have discarded equipmentthat could be put to a very good use.

Equipment donations will beaccepted until March 31, 2005.Contact the Biokinesiology andPhysical Therapy Department at323-442-2900 if you would like tocontribute.

Rehab EquipmentDonations Needed!

Dr. Beth Fisher in China helping a womanafter a stroke walk for the first time.

USC PT Community Clinic to Open,Volunteers and Donations Needed!

Last November, Operation Walk,a team of 39 volunteers traveled

to Antigua, Guatemala to delivermuch needed medical services inthe developing country. Among thevolunteers were Departmentproject specialist, Matt Sandusky,and alumni Kyle Baldwin (DPT ’98)and Sam Ward (PhD ’03).

Operation Walk is a private, not-for-profit, volunteer medicalservices organization whichprovides free surgical treatment forpatients, in developing countriesand in the US, who have no accessto life-improving care for arthritisor other debilitating bone and joint conditions.

The organization also educates in-country orthopedic surgeons, physicaltherapists and other healthcare professionals on the most advancedtreatments and surgical techniques for diseases of the hip and knee joints.This is done in conjunction with surgeries to help create a lastingcontribution to patient care in developing countries.

Operation Walk was founded by Dr. Lawrence Dorr, orthopedic surgeonat Centinela Hospital, Inglewood, CA. The organization has gone world-wide since 1994 visiting several countries, including Russia, China, Cuba,

USC is Well Represented inOperation Walk


A group of volunteers and the patiens theyhelped in Antigua, Guatemala.

It has been frequently observedthat patients with low incomes

have limited access to physicians,however, it is rarely noted that theydo not have any reasonable accessto physical therapists. Often, theworking poor and those who havelimited medical benefits are themost in need of physical therapyintervention. In April of 2004, theBoard of Councilors of theDepartment of Biokinesiology andPhysical Therapy appointed acommittee to develop a communityclinic that would provide servicesand contribute to the health of thesurrounding communities.

The USC Physical TherapyCommunity Clinic is a joint effort

and commitment of theDepartment’s faculty, staff, students,its Board of Councilors and alumni,community professionals, leadersand members of the localcommunities surrounding thecampuses of USC.

The initial clinical program,targeted to school-aged children andtheir families, is to begin in Marchof 2005. As the program develops,other populations will be targetedand services will be expanded. Toachieve this goal, the Departmentwill be requesting the assistance ofalumni to volunteer their time andfunds to this program. If you areinterested in helping, please contactSarai Villagran at 323-442-1193.


third year and implement changes as needed in the first two years.Finally, a course in differential diagnosis was added in the summerbefore the third year, replacing the statistics course.

Q. Jonathan, as a student, what do you think about the new third-yearcurriculum?A. PT 632 is a well-designed course that addresses thought processand critical reasoning skills. The concept of using patient case studiesis the ideal to utilize the knowledge learned in previous years andaffiliations in a useful manner.

Adapting to the reading load and the Readiness Assessment Testseveryday was extremely challenging. It was quite difficult to comeback from a 10-12 hour clinic day and have the energy to read 30pages every other night. Some of the class discussion times seemeda bit drawn out and redundant, but the information and discussiontimes were necessary and definitely helped to develop our minds tothink as autonomous practitioners.

I was able to use the information and apply it immediately tomake a difference in my patients’ lives. I was also able to understandwith more clarity the reason we have each specific courses over ourthree-year curriculum.

New 3rd Year Curriculum Continued from page 3

The USC Orthopedic Physical TherapyResidency Program, now in its sixth year,

has expanded to include a second clinical site.Kern and Associates Physical Therapy in SantaMonica joined USC Physical TherapyAssociates, the faculty practice on the HealthSciences Campus, as a clinical mentoring sitefor the residency program by hosting its firstresident, Jennifer Nunnery, DPT. Jenniferjoins Class of 2004-2005 USC PT Associatesresidents Mildred Limcay, DPT and BernardLi, DPT. Dr. Liz Poppert is the programcoordinator at Kern and Associates, and as agraduate of the USC residency program in2003, she brings a unique perspective tomentorship.

“We have been aggressively looking atways to expand the residency program,” saysRob Landel, PT, DPT, OCS, CSCS, Co-Director of the residency program. “Byexpanding to existing clinical sites, we’re ableto provide post-professional clinicalmentoring experiences to a greater numberof therapists, while at the same timemaximizing the utilization of our resources.We hope to continue expanding the clinicalmentoring aspects of our program to moreclinics in the near future, while providing thedidactic experiences at a central location atUSC.”

Orthopedic Physical Therapy Residency Program Expands

Mike Andersen,Orthopedic

PhysicalTherapy

Resident (‘04),working with apatient at USCPT Associateson the Health

SciencesCampus

Mexico, Nepal, Philippines, Peru, Nicaragua,to name a few. The “team” that travels onthese trips includes orthopedic surgeons,anesthesiologists, internal medicinedoctors, nurses, physical therapists,biomedical engineers, and operating roomtechnicians.

On this last trip to Guatemala, the teamperformed 45 total knee replacements in 4days, utilizing 3 operating rooms per day inHermano Pedro Hospital. The patients camefrom all over Guatemala, some traveling from8 hours away by bus and car. The surgeries are free for the patientsbecause all the implants, equipment, supplies,and medicines are donated by variouscompanies and are facilitated by generousfinancial support from donors. For moreinformation, visit the organization’s websiteat www.operationwalk.org.

Operation Walk Continued

Established in 1998, the Orthopedic Physical TherapyResidency Program at USC offers an intense and rigorous year ofboth clinical and classroom training in the art and science oforthopedic physical therapy practice. It is a one-year, university-based clinical residency program designed for physical therapistspursuing specialized post-professional clinical education andteaching experience. This program is planned to allow physicaltherapists to advance their clinical practice skills and knowledge.By providing ongoing clinical supervision and mentoring byphysical therapists and physicians, classroom and clinicalinstruction based on the best available evidence, opportunities toteach, and a foundation to excel, this program allows physicaltherapists to take their career to the next level.

Inquiries about the residency program, including becominga clinical site, can be directed to Dr. Landel at [email protected].


FACULTY NEWS

Carolee Winstein, professor;and Nicolas Schweighofer,

a s s i s t a n t p r o f e s s o r ; b o t hfrom the Department ofBiokinesiology and PhysicalTherapy are part of a team ofnine researchers—seven fromUSC, and two from theUniversity of Texas, Austin whoare part of a new, interdis-ciplinary “Exploratory Center”for stroke rehabilitation researchfunded by a $1.8 millionNational Institutes of Health (NIH) grant.

This new initiative is part of the NIH Roadmap forMedical Research that was unveiled by NIH DirectorElias A. Zerhouni, M.D., in 2002. The new planninggrants are designed to form interdisciplinary researchteams. If successful, these grants will eventually lead tothe awarding of the more traditional and highly covetedNIH center grants.

“I am convinced that an interdisciplinary researchapproach is a more efficient means to advanceknowledge for the kinds of complex problemsconcerning rehabilitation after brain injury,” saidWinstein, who is co-PI of the USC Center. ThomasMcNeill, professor of cell and neurobiology andneurology at the USC Keck School of Medicine, is theprincipal investigator.

“Each year in the United States over 700,000 peoplesuffer a stroke, and nearly 450,000 survive with someform of neurologic impairment or disability. In addition,with the population progressively getting older, andobesity and heart disease on the rise, it is estimated thatthe number of stroke patients will more than doubleover the next 50 years, making the need to develop newand innovative rehabilitation programs to treat thegrowing number of stroke survivors a national priority,”said McNeill.

The group will begin by focusing on rehabilitationstrategies for the arm and hand as “statistics indicatethat almost 80 percent of people who suffer a first timestroke have impairment of the upper limb thatsignificantly impacts functional independence, healthand quality of life for stroke survivors,” McNeillexplains. “We know that a recovery of function canoccur, and that it requires retraining the brain to move

Biokinesiology and Physical Therapy Researchers Will Participatein $1.8 Million NIH Neurorehabilitation Center

the arm and hand in the correct fashion. Now we’relooking for better ways to enhance that recovery. Weneed to figure out how intense the training should be,what skills we need to focus on, and what the physicaltherapist’s practice strategies should be. We’recollaborating with the researchers from the Universityof Texas because they have developed animal modelsof stroke that investigate the same motor skills strategiesthat we’re using with patients and will provide newinsight into the cellular mechanisms that drive therecovery process.

“In parallel with our clinical and animal studies, wewill develop novel virtual environment tests that canassess and rehabilitate human functional performance,as well as computational models of reach and grasp.We will link our clinical and experimental studies withUSC’s bioinformatics group headed by Stan Azen,professor of preventive medicine at USC, in order todevelop new tools for sharing and analyzing databetween projects. We are also investigating whetherthere are certain molecules in the brain that help theinjured neurons grow that will enhance recovery offunction in stroke survivors.”

“It is well known that thetranslation of basic sciencediscoveries to clinical practicecan take anywhere from 7 to 11years. If the pre-clinical humanstudies can be conducted inparallel with the animal studies,we may be able to effectivelyreduce the bench to bedsidetranslation time by 50%,” saidWinstein.

But that reduction will require a significant effort,Winstein notes. “For our center to be effective, we willneed to foster the environment to encourage the cross-fertilization of ideas between the clinical and basicsciences. This is the major challenge for us, but also atremendous opportunity to reap the rewards of a trulyinterdisciplinary collaboration.”

Other participants in the center include HelenaChui, M.D., Department of Neurology, Keck School ofMedicine of USC; Theresa Jones, Ph.D., Departmentof Psychology, University of Texas, Austin; Tim Schallert,Ph.D., Department of Psychology, University of Texas,

Dr. Nicolas Schweighofer

Dr. Carolee Winstein



New Faculty Appointments

FACULTY NEWS

The Department is pleased to announce theappointment of two new full-time faculty members.

Jesus Dominguez, PT, PhD – Assistant Professorof Clinical Physical Therapy

Dr. Dominguez is coordinatorof the cardiopulmonary andgeneral medicine curriculum forthe entry-level Doctor of PhysicalTherapy program. He instructsthe second-year students in thearea of cardiovascular andpulmonary patient management.Dr. Dominguez’s research interestsinclude cellular and molecular mechanisms involved indiaphragm myopathy associated with congestive heartfailure and cardiopulmonary responses during bodyweight-supported treadmill training in individuals withspinal cord injury.

Dr. Dominguez graduated from USC in 2002 with aDoctor of Philosophy degree in Biokinesiology. Hecompleted a residency in Cardiopulmonary PhysicalTherapy in 1989 at Blessey Physical Therapy, Inc; hisMaster of Physical Therapy from USC in 1988; and hisBachelor of Arts in Biological Sciences from OccidentalCollege in 1984.

Jeanine O. Yip, DPT – Assistant Professor ofResearch

Dr. Yip is the researchcoordinator and treatingclinician for the Parkinson’sExercise and Recovery KineticStudy at USC. She treatsparticipating subjects at USCPhysical Therapy Associates, theDepartment’s faculty practice.Dr. Yip specializes in working onclinical trials that studyneuroplasticity of the brain and spinal cord in responseto exercise. She has experience and interests inneurologic and orthopaedic physical therapy and is amember of both the neurologic and orthopaedic sectionsof the American Physical Therapy Association.

Dr. Yip graduated from USC’s first Doctor of PhysicalTherapy class in 1998 and completed her Bachelor ofArts degree from the University of California, San Diego,in 1993.

Winstein Promoted to Professor

The Department is pleased to announce thepromotion of Dr. Carolee Winstein to the rank of

Professor of Biokinesiology and Physical Therapy. Dr.Winstein had been previously tenured as AssociateProfessor. “Carolee is a wonderful teacher, a productiveand innovative researcher, and a gifted physicaltherapist,” said Department Chair, James Gordon. Weare very proud and congratulate her!

Participants Needed forParkinson’s Study

The Department seeks persons with early onsetParkinson’s disease (PD) to participate in

Parkinson’s Exercise and Recovery Kinetics Study(PERKS). Basic criteria for the eligible participant are…

• PD diagnosis within 3 years• not taking Sinemet• can commit to complimentary physical therapy

3x/week for 8 weeks at USC.

PERKS focuses on the effects of exercise onfunctional improvement and brain changes inindividuals with PD. Traditionally, treatment of PD hasconsisted of primarily medication to alleviatesymptoms. However, we know that exercise canimprove motor behavior and may reduce progressionof PD.

PERKS will determineif functional performanceand brain processes areimproved with bodyweight supported treadmilltraining compared withgeneral strength andmobility training. PERKSwill determine whetherimprovement in brain andbehavior measures isobtained with a challengingexercise program.

For more informationor to sign up, contact BethFisher at (323) 442-2796.


ACL STUDY Continued from page 1

volves no direct contact with another player or object, andoften takes place during a dynamic task such as a landingor cutting as the athlete is decelerating and/or changingdirection. Female soccer athletes may face an exception-ally high risk. An analysis of collegiate soccer players dur-ing the early 1990s found that 31 percent of females hadan ACL injury, compared to only 13 percent of males. Ac-cording to Powers, “to prevent these injuries, we need tobetter understand how they occur and potential risk fac-tors. Surprisingly, little is known about women’s sport-spe-cific movement patterns and how they may contribute toknee injury.”

The purpose of this study is to identify gender specificmovement patterns that may predispose females to non-contact ACL injuries during sport activities, and to quan-tify the effects of a training program in altering potentiallyinjurious lower extremity mechanics. In addition, an evalu-ation of the mechanical and neuromuscular demands ofspecific exercises included in a training program will beconducted. Three projects have been proposed to addressthese goals.

The objective of Project1 is to quantify gender dif-ferences in biomechanicaland neuromuscular as-pects of sport specificmovements, and to deter-mine how gender specificmovement patterns varyacross different stages ofmaturation. Eighty femaleand 80 male athletes be-tween the ages of 9-24 willundergo biomechanicaltesting while performingcutting and landing activities. This biomechanical testingwill be conducted in the Musculoskeletal BiomechanicsResearch Laboratory in the Department of Biokinesiology& Physical Therapy at USC. An eight-camera motion analy-sis system, three force plates, and surface electromyogra-phy will be used to measure lower extremity kinematics(joint angles), kinetics (joint torques) and muscle activa-tion patterns while athletes perform these tasks. It is hy-pothesized that after the onset of puberty, significant gen-der differences will be found at the hip and knee and thatthese differences will be suggestive of “at risk behavior”with respect to ACL injury.

The objective of Project 2 is to assess the influence of atraining program in altering biomechanical and neuromus-cular aspects of movement in female athletes, and deter-mine whether a given response to a training program var-ies across different stages of maturation. One-hundred andeighty female athletes, 90 intervention and 90 controls, be-

tween the ages of 12-24 will participate in the Pre-vent Injury and Enhance Performance (PEP) pro-gram developed by the Santa Monica Orthopaedicand Sport Medicine Research Foundation. Previouswork has demonstrated a 74% reduction in ACL in-juries among female high school soccer players whoparticipated in the PEP program. While these find-ings support the use of a training program to re-duce ACL injuries, the underlying mechanism be-hind the success of such a training program remainsunclear. For example, it is not known if trainingalters lower extremity mechanics in a way thatwould be suggestive of decreased risk for ACL in-jury. Therefore, subjects for Project 2 will undergobiomechanical testing before and after participationin the PEP program. It is hypothesized that follow-ing the training program, females will demonstratemovement patterns that are less suggestive of “atrisk behavior.”

The objective of Project 3 is to assess the me-chanical and neuromuscular demands of specific ex-ercises that are included in an injury prevention pro-gram that has been shown to reduce the incidenceof ACL injuries. Biomechanical assessment of fifteenfemale athletes performing eight specific exerciseswill be carried out. It is hypothesized that the spe-cific demands imposed by certain exercises withinthe intervention program will correspond to changesin hip and knee mechanics following participationin the program.

“Taken together, the data from this study willaddress important questions related to the influenceof gender, age and training on ACL injury potential,and will provide a foundation on which further in-vestigation of injury prevention and rehabilitationcan be based,” said Powers.

If you are interested in learning more about theseprojects, contact Dr. Powers at [email protected] orgo to www.usc.edu/ACLprojectprevent.

Austin; Michael Arbib, Ph.D., Department ofComputer Science, Viterbi School of Engineering,USC; Albert Rizzo, Ph.D., Integrated Media SystemsCenter, Viterbi School of Engineering, USC;Margaret McLaughlin, Ph.D., Integrated MediaSystems Center, Annenberg School ofCommunication, USC.

For more information about the NIH Roadmap,please visit www.nihroadmap.nih.gov.

Neurorehab Center Continued from page 16


Homecoming 2004 a Great Success

based care to the surrounding community usinginnovative models of practice and delivery that will beemulated by our students and will serve as the standardsfor the profession.

On August 23, 2004 the USC PT Associates at UPCmoved from 300 square feet in the USC University ParkHealth Center to 2300 square feet in the University ParkVillage. This clinic, originally known as p.m.P.T., wasstarted by Dr. Jacquelyn Dylla in 1998 as an eveningclinic one to two nights per week. The clinic quicklygrew and in 1999, a full time physical therapist washired. For eight years, faculty, staff, and students weretreated in the University Park Health Center.

The clinic is still run by Dr. Dylla and since the moveto the “Village”, the volume has increased by 41 percent.The recent patient satisfaction survey completed inNovember 2004 established that 98 percent of thosesurveyed rated the care they received as very good orexcellent. The services offered on the UPC practiceinclude treatment for orthopedic conditions,musculoskeletal disorders, neurologic impairments,sports injuries, TMJ disorders, as well as orthosisfabrication.

USC PT Associates at HSC has also recently added2800 square feet in the HRA building where it is housed.This clinic, run by Dr. Yogi Matharu, offers an evenlarger array of services including orthopedic conditions,musculoskeletal disorders, neurologic impairments,vestibular/balance disorders, pain management,incontinence management, women’s health,cardiopulmonary dysfunction, sports injuries, orthosis

fabrication, body weight supported treadmill training,and constraint induced functional training.

Both clinics groom undergraduates preparing forphysical therapy school and provide clinical instructionto graduate students in the Department’s entry-leveldoctoral program. The practice was recently awardedthe contract for providing the worker’s compensationcare for the University.

Lastly, the Department provides physical therapyservices, through contractual agreement, at USCUniversity Hospital, USC Norris Cancer Center, andOrthopaedic Hospital. Many of the physical therapyfaculty who practice at these hospitals also participatein teaching in the entry-level DPT curriculum, thusbringing a wealth of clinical knowledge and experienceabout specialty areas into the classroom. DPT studentsalso have the opportunity to participate in clinicalinternships at the Hospitals to gain experience inspecialty areas.

To learn more about the Department’s clinicalservices, visit our website at www.usc.edu/pt.

On November 13, 2004, the Department heldits most successful homecoming celebration to

date. Approximately 260 students, faculty, staff,alumni, and friends of the Department gathered fora fun-filled and eventful day. Guests enjoyed abarbeque, a Department raffle, which raised moneyfor the student scholarship fund, and the performanceby the Trojan Marching Band. The day culminatedin another Trojan victory, over the University of Arizona, that helped pave their way to theOrange Bowl where USC won the national championship title in January.

“Homecoming is a tradition that we hope more alumni begin to embrace. It offers a great opportunity toreconnect with past classmates, visit with Department faculty, and meet current students. We hope alumni, theirfamily members and friends will join us in years to come,” said Sara Villagran, Director of Alumni relations forthe Department.

Faculty Practice Continued from page 1

The new USC PTAssociates clinicat UPC has four

private treatmentrooms, a gym,

staff and patientbathrooms, staff

offices, receptionarea, and a lunch

room.

SAVE THE DATE: Homecoming 2005 will be held on Saturday, November 5 vs. Stanford.


LET’S KEEP IN TOUCH

We’d like to hear from you and share your news with other alumni in an upcoming issue of USC PT In Motion. Pleasemail this completed form to: USC Department of Biokinesiology and Physical Therapy, Attn: Sara Villagran, 1540

Alcazar St., CHP 155, Los Angeles, CA 90089-9006 or fax to (323) 442-1515. You may also e-mail your news [email protected]. Photos are welcome.

FULL NAME: ________________________________________________________________________________first middle last maiden

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USC Department of Biokinesiologyand Physical Therapy1540 Alcazar St., CHP 155Los Angeles, CA 90089-9006

NON-PROFITORGANIZATION

U.S. POSTAGE PAIDUNIVERSITY OF

SOUTHERNCALIFORNIAJames Gordon, EdD, PT

Associate Professor and Department Chair

Board of Councilors

Kathleen Bice, MS, PTChair

Kate Adamson-Day

Blaine Behringer, DPT

Jack Close, MA, PT, FAPTA

Irene Martinez, MSW

Jorge Orozco, PT, NCS

Jacquelin Perry, MD

Willes Sonnefield, MA, PT

Tracy Sykes, DPT

John Wallace, Jr., PT, MS, OCS

Documents

In Motion Volume 1 2005