Dallas PhD Candidates

Alcon, Cory

Chair: Sharon Wang-Price, PhD
Collaborator: Hui-Ting Goh, PhD

Study: Does Pain Catastrophizing Mediate the Effects of Priming Pain Neuroscience Education with Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation in Adults with Chronic Low Back Pain?
Education: Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology, University of North Carolina at Greensboro; Doctor of Physical Therapy, Winston-Salem State University
Residence: Lexington, North Carolina

Azpeitia, Elizabeth

Chair: Martin Rosario, PT, PhD
Collaborators: Mark Weber, PhD and Elaine Jackson, PhD

Education: DPT from Texas Woman's University Dallas; Bachelors of Science in Kinesiology from the University of North Texas
Residence: Dallas, Texas

Bertram, Jessica

Chair: Hui-Ting Goh, PhD
Collaborator: TBD

Study: Physical Activity during the Breast Cancer Continuum of Care: Validation of a Measurement Tool and Identifying Barriers to Participation

Education: Doctor of Physical Therapy, Marymount University, Arlington, VA; Masters of Physical Therapy, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO; Bachelor of Health Sciences, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO.

Residence: Grapevine, Texas

Brown, Heather

Chair: Jodi Thomas, PhD
Collaborators: Ann Medley, PhD; Alyssa Fiss, PhD

Study: Utility of the Head Control Scale in Children with Torticollis
Education: Doctor of Physical Therapy, Texas Woman's University; Bachelors of Journalism, University of Texas at Austin
Residence: Fort Worth, Texas

Brown, Jace

Chair: Sharon Wang-Price, PhD

Study: The Effects of Dry Needling on Muscle Blood Flow of the Infraspinatus in Individuals with Shoulder Pain – A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial
Grant Funding: Texas Physical Therapy Foundation
Education: Doctor of Physical Therapy, Texas Woman’s University, Dallas, TX;
Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology-Motor Behavior, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX
Residence: Dallas, Texas

Frank, Amanda

Chair: Mark Weber, PhD
Collaborators: Alyssa Fiss, Ann Medley, LTC Carrie Hoppes

Education: Doctorate in Physical Therapy, Army-Baylor University; Bachelors of Science in Athletic Training, Eastern Washington University (2014)
Residence: San Antonio, Texas

Hyatt, Ashley Watamura

Chair: Hui-Ting Goh, PhD
Collaborators: Ann Medley, PhD; Jodi Thomas, PhD

Study: The Effect of Focus of Attention on Motor Performance and Retention on Sit to Stand Symmetry in Individuals Post Stroke
Education: Lafayette College B.S. Neuroscience; Medical University of South Carolina DPT
Residence: Waynesville, North Carolina

Lunasin, Ray

Chair: Dr. Sharon Wang-Price, PhD

Study: The Effect of Dry Needling on Sleep Disturbance in Individuals with Musculoskeletal Pain and Sleep Dysfunction.
Education: Bachelor of Science in Exercise Science, Rutgers University; Doctor of Physical Therapy, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science
Residence: Rochester, Minnesota

Miller, Kenneth

Chair: Mark Thompson, PhD

Study: Exploring internal and external factors that may influence moral injury and burnout in physical therapists
Education: Doctor of Physical Therapy, Bay Shore, NY; Masters of Art in Physical Therapy, Touro College, Dix Hills, NY Bachelor of Science in Health Sciences, Touro College, Dix Hills, NY
Residence: Summerville, South Carolina

Pierce, Teresa

Advisor: Alyssa LaForme Fiss, PT, PhD
Collaborators outside TWU: Mark Geil, PhD, Professor and Chair, Department of Exercise Science and Sport Management at Kennesaw State University, Kennesaw, GA

Study: Comparing Accommodative Ankle Foot Orthotics to Plantigrade Orthotics in Children with Cerebral Palsy
Education: B.S. in Physical Therapy, Georgia State University; Doctor of Physical Therapy, Rocky Mountain University of Health Professions; PhD student at Texas Woman’s University, Dallas, TX
Residence: Gainesville, Georgia

Rachal Sant, Lauren

Chair: Mark Weber
Collaborators: Alyssa Fiss, PhD; Ann Medley, PhD

Study: Effect of Mobility-Related Exertional Fatigue on Cognitive-Motor Interference in Individuals with Stroke
Education: Doctor of Physical Therapy, Washington University in St. Louis; Bachelor of Science, Louisiana State University
Residence: Shreveport, Louisiana

Turner, Matthew

Chair: Sharon Wang-Price, PhD

Study: The Reliability and Validity of an Objective Assessment for Plank Performance in Active Individuals With and Without Low Back Pain
Education: Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology, Kansas State University; Doctor of Physical Therapy, Creighton University
Residence: Dallas, Texas

Ward, Rick

Chair: Dr. Mary Thompson, PhD
Collaborators: Elaine Jackson, PhD, Kelli Brizzolara, PhD

Study: Functional Predictors of Frailty and Kidney Disease Burden in Patients with End-stage Renal Disease Receiving Dialysis
Education: M.S. (Physical Therapy), Texas Woman's University, Dallas, TX; B.S. (Physics), University of the South, Sewanee, TN
Residence: Roanoke, Texas 

Wise, Elisabeth

Chair: Elaine Trudelle-Jackson, PhD

Title of dissertation: TBD
Education: Bachelors of Science in Engineering (Bioengineering), Rice University; Doctor of Physical Therapy, Texas Woman’s University
Residence: Santa Fe, New Mexico