Service to the Section Award: Susan Balko Perry, PT, DPT, NCS
This year's recipient of the Service Award goes to a special individual who has tirelessly served the section in different and multiple capacities, Dr Susan Perry. The list of her service contributions is astounding. To name a few, Sue has served for 17 years, as a member of the Board of Directors, Neurologic Specialty Council, Neurology Section Task Force and Neurology Section Committee. She has served as Vice President in the Board of Directors for 6 years, from 2006 to 2012. She served as a member of the Nominating Committee from 1996 to 1999 and chaired the same committee from 1998 to 1999. She is a reviewer for the Journal of Neurologic Physical Therapy and a contributor to the Compendium of Neurologic Physical Therapist Education.
One colleague and nominator stated that in 2013 alone, "she is serving in 4 positions that all pertain to neurologic physical therapy: as an Associate Editor of PT Now, as a task force member to develop a Neurologic Residency Curriculum for the APTA Neurology Section, as a member of the ABPTS Neurologic Specialty Council Revalidation Task Force, and as a member of the IV Step Conference Planning Committee." Another colleague and nominator stated, "Sue's service to the section has provided tremendous support and direction to advance neurologic specialty practice at post-professional level. She is the embodiment of a servant-leader who has served the section in a humble manner, putting the needs of this organization above her own personal gain and accolades." It is with great pride and honor that we acknowledge Dr Perry with the Service to the Section Award.
Clinical Excellence Award: Janene Holmberg, PT, DPT, NCS
It is with great pride and honor that we acknowledge this year's recipient of the Clinical Excellence, Dr Janene Holmberg. Upon graduating from the University of Utah PT program in 1987, Dr Holmberg very quickly gravitated to treatment of persons with balance disorders and in particular vestibular disorders. Within 2 years of graduation, she had earned a certificate in Vestibular Rehabilitation and went on to earn her NCS in 1996 followed by a post-professional DPT degree in 2009. Dr Holmberg is truly a clinical pioneer. In the early 1990s, she possessed a clear vision of physical therapy's role in treating vestibular disorders. Janene introduced vestibular rehabilitation to her PT colleagues in the intermountain west and has been a driving force in clinical care and PT education on this topic for the past 20 years.
Dr. Holmberg is intensely engaged in improving the care of persons with vestibular, balance, and facial nerve disorders. In addition to pouring her heart into patient care, Janene works just as hard mentoring future and practicing PTs regarding vestibular rehabilitation. Her co-presenters and students describe her as humble, articulate, engaging, and kind-stating that she is an excellent speaker, has the gift of making difficult material understandable, and has instructed hundreds of physical therapists in vestibular rehabilitation.
Clinical Excellence in Education Award: Martha Freeman Somers, PT, MSPT, DPT
Dr Martha Somers, who is an Assistant Professor in Duquesne University's Department of Physical Therapy, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, is this year's award winner. The impact and value of Dr Somers' contributions was clearly evident from the spectrum of recommendations for her from academic colleagues, clinical colleagues, and her department chair, as well as both past and present students and mentees. In addition to teaching students in the classroom, Dr Somers is a primary mentor in the APTA-accredited Neurologic PT Residency Program at UPMC Mercy Rehabilitation Institute. However, at UPMC, her teaching and leadership goes beyond mentoring just the neuroresidents, as she also provides weekly guidance to staff through lectures and co-treating of patients. Her mentees describe how Dr Somers' lessons continue to guide them throughout their careers, stating "although I do not talk to Martha as often anymore, I feel as though I continue to interact with her on a daily basis. Martha's teachings strongly influence me... [during] every session."
One of her colleagues explains that Dr Somers "has devoted her career to educating physical therapy students, practicing physical therapists, and other health care professionals to improve functional outcomes and the quality of life of persons with spinal cord injury." This is evident through her teaching at a multitude of national and international conferences, including the Academy of Spinal Cord Injury Professionals, the International Conference on Spinal Cord Medicine and Rehabilitation, and the APTA's Combined Sections Meeting. However, her devotion to education focused on improving functional outcomes for individuals with spinal cord injury is probably best exemplified by a textbook that most of us probably have on our bookshelves. The third edition of her textbook Spinal Cord Injury: Functional Rehabilitation was published in 2010, and is now one of the most widely used textbooks on spinal cord injury, both nationally and internationally.
Excellence in Research Award: John P. Scholz, PT, PhD, FAPTA (posthumous)
This year's recipient of the Excellence in Research Award is Dr John Scholz. In October 2013, the Neurologic Physical Therapy Community lost one of its most intelligent and thoughtful contributors. Dr Scholz passed away after a 10-year battle with cancer, but not before he exerted tremendous influence on the science and practice of neurologic physical therapy. Dr Scholz's contributions are of significant foundational importance for how we think about and treat clinical disorders affecting functional movement performance.
Dr. Scholz focused on the major issues and questions in human motor control and worked constantly to apply his knowledge to rehabilitation. Dr Scholz recognized the challenge and the importance of applying theory to practical ideas in physical therapy and rehabilitation. He translated his early research in dynamic systems theory into one of the best examples of theoretical support for rehabilitation that is in the literature (1990, Scholz and Kelso "Dynamic Pattern Theory-Some Implications for Therapeutics" PTJ). Dr Scholz's work brought together various disciplines including engineering, mathematics, and physical therapy. Such projects demonstrated his understanding that the major questions in motor control and in rehabilitation require contributions from people of various backgrounds working on the same questions over a sustained period.
Dr. Scholz committed his entire career to bridging complex ideas and theories underlying the physics, biology, and neuropsychology of dynamical movement systems to physical therapy. As a result, Dr Scholz was at the top of our academic discipline. Dr. Scholz's work involved tackling highly complex scientific concepts, but his goal was always simple--to better understand human movement control and to use that understanding to advance neurologic rehabilitation. The impact of his work will continue to endure by helping to shape the future of examination and intervention for people with not only neurologic deficits but for any problem that results in movement dysfunction. Dr. Scholz's memory will be forever strong in all whose lives he has touched-as a gentleman, scholar, friend, colleague, parent, and husband, and as a timeless teacher and scientist for the profession of neurologic physical therapy.
Student Research Awards
Each year the Research Committee selects the highest ranked studies, submitted for presentation at the Combined Sections Meeting, that were completed by a post-professional and a professional student. The following presentations were selected for this year's award.
Post-professional Student Research Award:
Jason Rucker, MSPT
Abstract title: "Is Multi-tasking Impaired in Older Adults With Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus?"
Advisor: Patricia Kluding, PT, PhD
Institution: University of Kansas, Kansas City, KS
Profession Student Research Award:
Amandeep Gill, SPT
Abstract title: "Clinical Versus Accelerometer-Based Tests of Fall Risk in Older Community Dwelling Adults"
Advisors: Peggy Trueblood, PT, PhD, and Marcia Thompson, PT, DPT, DSc
Institution: California State University, Fresno, Fresno, CA