Orthotic Prosthetic Physical Therapy Expert Witness

Education

PhD University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California
2012 Biokinesiology
MS University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida
2005 Human Performance/ Biomechanics

BS National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan
2001 Physical Therapy

Employment

Jul 2018 – Present Associate Professor – Department of Physical Therapy, University of Nevada, Las Vegas, Nevada. Director of Clinical Locomotor Neuromechanics Laboratory. Currently teaching the following courses:
Physical Agents & Clinical Electrophysiology Lecture and Laboratory (DPT)
Prosthetics & Orthotics Lecture and Laboratory (DPT)
Pathobiomechanics (PhD)
Physiological Bases of Rehabilitation (PhD)
Interdisciplinary Health Science seminar (PhD)

Jan 2013 – Jun 2018 Assistant Professor – Department of Physical Therapy, University of Nevada, Las Vegas, Nevada. Taught the following courses:
Evidence-based Physical Therapy Practice I & II (DPT)
Exercise Physiology Lecture and Laboratory (DPT)
Clinical Research (DPT)
Physical Agents & Clinical Electrophysiology Lecture and Laboratory (DPT)
Applied Research Statistics (DPT)
Prosthetics & Orthotics Lecture and Laboratory (DPT)
Pathobiomechanics (PhD)
Physiological Bases of Rehabilitation (PhD)
Interdisciplinary Health Science seminar (PhD)

Aug 2012 – Dec 2012 Post-Doctoral Fellow – Department of Physical Therapy, University of Nevada, Las Vegas, Nevada. Responsibilities: instruction and research in the Doctor of Physical Therapy program.

2008 – 2012 Graduate Assistant – Division of Biokinesiology and Physical Therapy, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California.
Responsibilities: assist in instruction of the following courses in a Doctor of Physical Therapy program
Analytical Anatomy
Clinical Management of Cardiopulmonary Dysfunction
Clinical Electrophysiology
Physical Agents in Physical Therapy

2005 – 2007 Graduate Assistant – Department of Applied Physiology and Kinesiology, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida.
Responsibilities: assist in instruction of the following courses:
Applied Anatomy lecture and laboratory

2002 – 2004 Physical Therapist – Department of Rehabilitation, Taiwan Adventist Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
Responsibilities: orthopedic and neurological physical therapy

2002 – 2004 Clinical Educational Instructor –Taiwan Adventist Hospital, Taipei City, Taiwan
Responsibilities: lecture –Postpartum Back-Pain Prevention Exercise Program

Honors, Awards, and Fellowships

2020 UNLV Community-Based Research Award, University of Nevada, Las Vegas
2019 Distinguished Scholar Award, School of Allied Health Sciences, University of Nevada, Las Vegas
2018-2023 Research Scientist Development Award (K01), Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institute of Health
2018 Faculty Fellow, Institute for Creative Research Assignments: Looking Beyond the Research Paper. UNLV Libraries Faculty Institute
2015 Reviewer of the Year Award, Journal of Orthopaedic and Sports Physical Therapy (JOSPT)
2015 Distinguished Teaching Award, School of Allied Health Sciences, University of Nevada, Las Vegas
2015 Fellowship, Training in Grantsmanship for Rehabilitation Research (TIGRR), sponsored by National Center for Medical Rehabilitation Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development.
2014 3rd place in Donald W. Reynolds Governor’s Cup Business Plan Competition “Dynamend Corporation”, faculty advisor.
2013 Faculty Opportunity Research Award, University of Nevada, Las Vegas
2011 International Society of Biomechanics (ISB) Dissertation Award
2010 Most Innovative Award finalist, presented by the USC Stevens Institute for Innovation, Herman-Ostrow School of Dentistry, University of Southern California.
2009 Musculoskeletal Biomechanics Biokinesiology and Physical Therapy Research Award 2nd place, University of Southern California
2007 Young Investigator Award 3rd place, 21st Congress of the International Society of Biomechanics
2005 Norma Leavitt Fellowship, University of Florida, College of Health and Human Performance
2004-2007 Taiwan Ministry of Education Advanced Study Scholarship, Ministry of Education, Taiwan

Current Research Themes

Outcomes in Individuals with Lower Limb Loss.
Lower Back Pain in Individuals with Lower Limb Loss
Learning of Locomotor Skills and Rehabilitation in Individuals with Lower Limb Loss

Membership in Scientific/Professional Organizations

American Physical Therapy Association (2008-present)
American Society of Biomechanics (2006-present)
International Society of Biomechanics (2007-present)

Consultative and Advisory Positions

Chair, Research Committee, Academy of Amputation and Limb Difference Physical Therapy, American Physical Therapy Association (2021-present)
Reviewer, Journal of Orthopedic and Sports Physical Therapy (2013-present)
Reviewer, Journal of Applied Physiology (2014-present)
Reviewer, Foot & Ankle Research (2014-present)
Reviewer, Physical Therapy in Sport (2014-present)
Reviewer, Clinical Biomechanics (2015-present)
Reviewer, Prosthetics & Orthotics International (2015-present)
Senior reviewer, Physical Therapy (2015-present)
Reviewer, Sports Biomechanics (2016-present)
Reviewer, Journal of Applied Biomechanics (2016-present)
Reviewer, Physiotherapy Theory and Practice (2016-present)
Reviewer, Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (2017-present)
Reviewer, Gait & Posture (2018-present)
Reviewer, Plos One (2018-present)
Scientific Reviewer, US Army Medical Research & Development Commend, Medical Research on the Military Operational Medicine (MOM) review panel; Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs – Medical Research and Development Commend CDMRP-MRDC (2021)
Scientific Reviewer, Restoring Warfighters with Neuromusculoskeletal Injuries Research Award (RESTORE) review panel; Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs – Defense Medical Research and Development Program CDMRP-DMRDP (2020)

Services to the University/School/Department on Committees/Councils/Commissions

Department of Physical Therapy
Chair, Bylaws Committee (01/01/2018- 08/31/2019)
Member, Faculty Search Committee (02/01/2017- current)
Member, Academic Review Committee (08/01/2013- 12/31/2017)
Member, Bylaws Committee (08/01/2013- 2016)
Member, PhD program Committee (08/01/2013- current)
Chair, Research Committee (01/01/2013- current)
Member, Admissions Committee (01/01/2013- 05/31/2013)
Member, Website Committee (01/01/2013- 05/31/2013)
Member, Faculty Search Committee (01/01/2013- 07/31/2013)
School of Integrated Health Sciences
Chair, Faculty Review Committee (05/01/2020-current)
Representative for UNLV Graduate College Progression, Retention, Completion Graduate Council Committee (02/09/2021-current)
Member, IHS PhD program Executive Committee (05/01/2020-current)
Member, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee (09/14/2020-current)
Member, Faculty Review Committee (09/01/2019-05/01/2020)
Member, Undergraduate/Graduate Curriculum Committee (09/01/2015-8/31/2019)
Member, Academic Standards Committee (09/01/2013-09/01/2015)
Member, Research Boot Camp organizing committee (03/01/2013)
School of Nursing
Member, Search Committee (06/01/2019-08/31/2019)
Grant Reviewer (01/01/2019-04/30/2019)
University of Nevada, Las Vegas
Strategic diversity point of contact (School of Integrated Health Sciences), President’s Diversity Initiative (03/06/2015-current)
Faculty senator (08/31/2017-09/01/2019)
Senior faculty senator (09/01/2019-current)
Member, 2021 Community Engagement Award Application Review Committee, UNLV Office of Community Engagement (02/12/2021-03/15/2021)

Continuing Education Attended
Conferences

American Physical Therapy Association Combined Sections Meeting
Chicago, Illinois, 2012
San Diego, California, 2013
Las Vegas, Nevada, 2014
Indianapolis, Indiana, 2015
Anaheim, California, 2016
San Antonio, Texas, 2017
New Orleans, Louisiana, 2018
Washington DC, 2019
Denver, Colorado, 2020
Online conference, 2021
American Society of Biomechanics Annual Meeting
Gainesville (University of Florida), Florida, 2012
Omaha (University of Nebraska), Nebraska, 2013
Boston, Massachusetts, 2014 (World Congress of Biomechanics)
Boulder (University of Colorado), Colorado, 2017
Rochester (Mayo Clinic), Minnesota, 2018
Calgary, Alberta, Canada, 2019 (Combined ISB/ASB meeting)
Gerontological Society of America Annual Scientific Meeting
New Orleans, Louisiana, 2013
International Society of Prosthetics and Orthotics World Congress
Lyon, France, 2015
Kobe, Japan, 2019
American Orthotic Prosthetic Association’s National Assembly
Las Vegas, Nevada, 2014
Workshop
Webinar: “Latest News in Limb Loss Medical Research” Joe Bonner, NICHD, NIH (hosted by Amputee Coalition). June 29, 2020.
Training in Grantsmanship for Rehabilitation Research (TIGRR)
Charleston, South Carolina, January 13-17, 2015
UNLV Faculty Institute – Creative Research Assignments: Looking Beyond the Research Paper
UNLV Lied Library, January 8-9, 2018
International Society of Prosthetics and Orthotics World Congress
Kobe, Japan, Oct 5-8, 2019
Advanced Instructional Courses attended
The collaboration of Prosthetic Design, Fitting, and Training to Maximize Athletic Performance (Robert Gailey)
Promoting Life-like Movement Strategies (Robert Gailey)
Mobile Technologies, Evidence-based Healthcare and Your Clinical Practice: Demonstrating the Value of Prosthetic Care (Robert Gailey)
Structured Training for Adult Users of Hand Prosthesis – Introduction to SIRS-Adult for Patients with any Type of Prosthetic Hand (Liselotte Hermansson)
Symposiums attended
Stepping Forward: Focusing on Research with the Older Prosthesis User (Matthew Major)
Enhancing Patient Specific Outcomes by Improving Amputation Level Decision Making in Patients with Peripheral Artery Disease and/or Diabetes (Joseph Czerniecki)
Workshop
Gain Mobility after Amputation: New Approaches in Prosthetic Lower Limb Rehabilitation (Ottobock)

Current Teaching Responsibilities in the UNLV Doctor of Physical Therapy program
Fall:

Spring:
DPT 750 (2 credits) Prosthetics and Orthotics
DPT 750L (1 credit) Prosthetics and Orthotics Laboratory
Summer:
DPT 752 (2 credits) Physical Agents and Electrophysiology
DPT 752L (1 credit) Physical Agents and Electrophysiology Laboratory

Current Teaching Responsibilities in the UNLV Interdisciplinary Health Science PhD program
PTS 712 (3 credits) Physiological Bases of Rehabilitation
HSC 710 (1 credit) Interdisciplinary Health Science Seminar

Graduate & Undergraduate Students Supervised
Post-doctoral Scholars

Yo Shih (current)
PhD Students, Committee Chair
Jay Ciccotelli (current) Interdisciplinary Health Science – Rehabilitation Science
Hui-Ting Shih (current) Interdisciplinary Health Science – Rehabilitation Science
Lauren Dickey (current) Interdisciplinary Health Science – Rehabilitation Science
PhD Students, Committee Member
Lucas Gallup (current) Engineering – Mechanical Engineering (co-chairs: O’Toole and Trabia)
Justin Brink (current; part-time) Engineering – Mechanical Engineering (Chair: Trabia)
Jeff Montes Kinesiology – Exercise Physiology, 2019 (Chair: Navalta)
Lee-Kuan Chua Kinesiology – Motor Control and Learning, 2019 (Chair: Wulf)
Mathew Sunil Varre (current) Interdisciplinary Health Science (co-Chairs: Dufek and Trabia)
Michelle Samuel (current) Interdisciplinary Health Science (Chair: Young)
Harjiv Singh (current) Interdisciplinary Health Science (Chair: Wulf)

Master’s Degree Student, Committee Member

Erik Hanson (2013) Kinesiology – Athletic Training
Josh Bailey (2014) Kinesiology – Biomechanics
Erik Oskarson (2014) Kinesiology – Exercise Physiology
Chase Lacomb (2015) Kinesiology – Exercise Physiology
Jeff Montes (2015) Kinesiology – Exercise Physiology
Austin Coupe (2015) Kinesiology – Biomechanics
Kyle Meffered (2015) Kinesiology – Biomechanics
Song Vo (2016) Kinesiology – Biomechanics
Andrea Woita (2017) Kinesiology – Nutrition Science
Grace MacDonald (2018) Kinesiology – Exercise Physiology
Kyle Larimer (2018) Kinesiology – Athletic Training (professional paper)
Enea Rrokja (2018) Health Physics
Mahmoud Yaqoub (2018) Health Physics
Ryan Sharp (2018) Health Physics
Jon-Paolo D’Este (2018) Kinesiology – Athletic Training (professional paper)
Cierra Ugale (2019) Kinesiology – Exercise Physiology
Arthur Hockwald (2019) Kinesiology – Motor Control/Learning
Collin Guillotte (2020) Kinesiology (professional paper “Far Forward Blood and Donor Performance”)
Jacquelyn Sertic (2020) Kinesiology – Motor Control/Learning
Ethan Snyder (current) Mechanical Engineering
Hailey Pabst (current) Kinesiology – Motor Control/Learning
Maijah Williams (current) Kinesiology – Athletic Training (professional paper)
Gabriela Guzman Ramirez (current) Kinesiology
Christopher Zatezalo (current) Kinesiology
Sara Bowker (current) Kinesiology

Undergraduate and Exchange Student Advisor

2013 Diana Contreras and Delani Denton; Examination of Test Condition Variables on the Test-Retest Reliability of the Timed Up-and -Go Test in Geriatric Population.
2014 Gregory Wingert, Daniel Dinev, and Vladislav Zhitny; Business plan: Dynamend Corporation; 3rd place in the undergraduate level of the 2014 Donald W. Reynolds Governor’s Cup Business Plan Competition.
2015 Kyle Kastrup; Academic Exchange Program, College of Engineering, University of Cincinnati
2015 Leonardo Coneglian; Brazil Scientific Mobility Program
2016 Hikari Nagata; International Exchange Program, Department of Rehabilitation, Hiroshima International University
2017 Akino Aoki; International Exchange Program, Department of Rehabilitation, Hiroshima International University
2020 Taylor Harris (UNLV Kinesiology); Patient Experience and Perception of Peer-Support After Limb Loss: Implications for Post-Amputation Rehabilitation