Award for Excellence in Neurologic Education: Sara Kraft, PT, DPT, NCS, ATP

The purpose of the Award for Excellence in Neurologic Education is to acknowledge and honor a member of the Neurology Section whose clinical or academic neurologic educational contributions have been of exceptional value. Dr Sara Kraft, Assistant Professor at the Department of Rehabilitation Sciences at the Medical University of South Carolina, is this year's award winner. Dr Kraft had letters of recommendations not only from colleagues across disciplines and her director but also from students themselves who note the influence Dr Kraft has had on their education. One student stated: "If I was granted one wish for my future, I would ask to be like Dr. Sara Kraft."

Through her teaching and her practice, she is a role model to students in providing excellence not only in evidence-based practice in neurological physical therapy but also in the manner in which to put the patient first and allow patients accomplish much more than the health care system is designed to allow them to accomplish. She teaches not only in the classroom and the laboratory but through her involvement in a probono interprofessional clinic at the Medical University of South Carolina, and when consulting to an adaptive waterski clinic and a wheelchair basketball team. Dr Kraft epitomizes what it means to provide unconditional, compassionate care and the example she sets for students is one of devotion, respect, and integrity that culminates in the understanding that physical therapy is not a job, but a higher calling to serve humanity.

Award for Clinical Excellence in Neurology: Dana McPhee, PT, MS, NCS

The Award for Clinical Excellence in Neurology recognizes an individual who has demonstrated clinical expertise in neurologic physical therapy, contributed to the overall development of physical therapy as a caring and scientific profession, and shared their clinical expertise by mentoring others. Dana Mcphee is an outstanding clinician who has met these criteria and has done exemplary work in her pursuit of excellence and is the recipient of this year's award for Neurologic Clinical Excellence.

Dana McPhee is an expert neurologic clinician; she is a board-certified specialist in neurologic physical therapy since 2004 and works in the physical therapy department and program development staff training at North Idaho Advance Care Hospital. Her expertise is working in acute care with neurologic intensive care unit patients and traumatic brain injuries. She has been working with neurological patients in the span of 2 decades. She is an adjunct faculty for Eastern Washington University Doctor of Physical Therapy program and Spokane Falls Community College Physical Therapy Assistant Program, where she enjoys teaching physical therapy management of neurological disorders. She has volunteered her services, time, and own money for medical care in Haiti with Healing Hands Organization, showing the world why physical therapy is not just a profession but also "calling" to help others in need.

Excellence in Neurological Research: Judith Deustch, PT, PhD

The Neurology Section Research Award is intended to honor an individual whose research has advanced the science and clinical practice of neurologic physical therapy. The contributions of this year's award recipient, Dr Judy Deustch, go far beyond these criteria. In fact, it could be said that Judy's vision and research agenda have helped shaped the direction of the profession. Recently, the APTA recommended that the profession needed to "Promote the translation and integration of technology and science and foster collaborations with engineering, industry and others." Judy had the vision and focus to start this research 2 decades ago before it was appreciated or fashionable. Dr Deutsch's body of work explores the interface of neurological physical therapy practice with advances in technology presently appearing within clinics and gradually gaining entrance into home environments.

Dr Deutsch conducts her research interprofessionally and globally. She has been remarkably successful working with bioengineers to apply their knowledge and skills to enhance physical therapist interventions. Her international collaborations with other physiotherapists have been successful in "spreading the word" about the value of virtual reality as a modality to enhance recovery in persons with neuromuscular diagnoses. While Dr Deutsch has demonstrated vision and foresight in her individual research agenda, her impact extends far beyond. Dr Deutsch has recognized the importance of helping others translate neurologic physical therapy research evidence into practice.

Service to the Section Award: Karen "KMac" McCullough, PT, PhD, NCS

The choice for the Service to the Section Award, whose purpose is to acknowledge and honor a member of the Neurology Section whose contributions to the Section have been of exceptional value, was easy this year. This year's honoree, Dr Karen "KMac" McCullough, has logged over 22 years of service to the Neurology Section. On her curriculum vita, there is a long list of Neurology Section activities, including service and leadership on various committees, Special Interest Groups, and the Board of Directors as well as editorial and advisory positions. This recipient is responsible for large-scale initiatives like formulation of the Neurology Section Home Study Course and was a member of the Consensus Conference on Entry-level Education, the III STEP planning committee, and she cofounded the Brain Injury Special Interest Group. Not to be forgotten are the other service endeavors she has done with smiles, laughter, and enthusiasm, like serving on the 20th and 30th anniversary events.

On the Neurology Section Board of Directors, Dr McCullough has served as secretary from 1994 to 1998 and again from 2005 to 2008. She became the first Director of Education for the Neurology Section, and she served in this position from 2008 until 2011. Finally, she is not a Neurology Section Board Member, so she is eligible for this award. She is still serving, however, APTA Neurology Section-TBI Edge Task Force-Outcome Measure Recommendations Committee Chair, Journal of Head Trauma Task Force, Editorial Board Member of Physiotherapy in Theory and Practice. She continues on the review panel for many journals, including Journal of Neurologic Physical Therapy, Physical Therapy, and the Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation.

Student Research Awards

Each year the Research Committee selects the highest-ranked studies, submitted for presentation at CSM, that were completed by a postprofessional and a professional student. The following presentations were selected for this year's award.

Post-professional student research award: "Debunking the notion of so-called foot-drop post-stroke"

Student: Virginia L Little, MS PT, NCS

Advisor: Carolynn Patton, PT, PhD

Institution: University of Florida, Gainesville, FL

Professional student research award: "Spatiotemporal gait asymmetry, walking efficiency and speed after stroke"

Student: Jacqueline A. Palmer, SPT

Advisor: Darcy Reisman, PT, PhD

Institution: University of Delaware