Doctoral Students: John Willson, Becky Zifchock, Philip Crowell, Joaquin Barrios & Brian Noehren
Research Assistants: Memy Hwang, & Kevin McCoy
Doctoral Students
email: willson@udel.edu
"I'm gonna help this lab do a complete 360." ~PTG original~
John is a 3nd year doctoral student under the mentorship of Dr. Davis. John began the doctoral program in 2003 after five years of experience as a physical therapist at Upland Hills Health in Wisconsin and Joyner Sportsmedicine in Kentucky. John’s recent work and dissertation includes analysis of the relationship between core stability and lower extremity injury in athletes, hip strength in females with and without patellofemoral pain, and comparison of outcomes between males and females following ACL reconstruction.
Education
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MSPT 1998 Physical Therapy University of Wisconsin La Crosse (La Crosse, WI)
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BS 1996 Biology University of Minnesota (Minneapolis, MN) |
Interests
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Factors that contribute to the gender bias for orthopedic injuries in athletes. |
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Running mechanics. |
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The role of core stability on lower extremity function. |
Future Plans
Attain a position in a University setting where I would be able to conduct biomechanical research, teach aspiring therapy students, and continue some degree of clinical practice.
Download John's VITAE
email: beckyaz@udel.edu
"I find that the harder I work, the more luck I seem to have." ~Thomas Jefferson~
Becky is a 3rd year doctoral student under the mentorship of Dr. Davis. She is currently starting work on her dissertation, which will focus on the relationship between lower extremity asymmetry and running injury. Specifically, she will examine the effects of anthropometric, strength, kinetic, and kinematic asymmetry on injury patterns. Outside of her dissertation, Becky is also involved in a project that is examining the difference in rearfoot motion of runners when they wear custom orthotics, semi-custom orthotics, and no orthotics.
Education
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MS 2002 Biomechanics The Pennsylvania State University (State College, PA) |
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BS 2000 Engineering Cornell University (Ithaca, NY) |
Interests
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Structural differences between genders.
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The effect of asymmetry on injury mechanisms
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Future Plans
To attain a position in a university setting where I can conduct biomechanics research and teach graduate and undergraduate classes.
Download Becky's VITAE
email: pcrowell@udel.edu
"Keep an open mind, but not so open that your brain falls out." ~Unknown~
Philip is a 2nd year doctoral student under the mentorship of Dr. Davis. He is currently conducting a screening study to find runners who may be at risk for stress fractures as a result of high tibial shock when they run. Philip's training is supported by the U.S. Army Research Laboratory.
Education
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MS 1990 Biomedical Engineering New Jersey Institute of Technology (Newark, NJ)
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BS 1983 Mechanical Engineering University of Pittsburgh (Pittsburgh, PA) |
Interests
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Prevention of running injuries. |
Future Plans
Conduct and direct research on biomechanical issues relevant to soldiers.
Download Philip's VITAE
email: joaquin@udel.edu
"Life is like riding a bicycle. To keep your balance you must keep moving." ~Albert Einstein~
Joaquin is a 2nd year doctoral student under the guidance of Dr. Davis. He began the doctoral program in 2005 after 1.5 years of experience as an outpatient orthopedic physical therapist. Joaquin is primarily responsible for an ongoing randomized controlled study assessing the efficacy of in-shoe wedged orthoses in patients with knee osteoarthritis.
Education
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DPT 2003 Physical Therapy Duke University (Durham, NC)
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BS 2000 Exercise Science Creighton University (Omaha, NE)
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Interests
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Modifiable factors that may slow the progression of lower extremity osteoarthritis. |
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Lower extremity structure and injury patterns. |
Future Plans
Attain a position as an assistant professor where I would be able to conduct clinically relevant biomechanical research, teach in a physical therapy program, and continue to treat patients.
Download Joaquin's VITAE
email: bnoehren@udel.edu
"You may be whatever you resolve to be" ~Stone Wall Jackson~
Brian is a 1st year doctoral student under Dr. Davis. Brian began the doctoral program in 2005 after 4 years of clinical experience as a physical therapist. Brian is primarily responsible for coordination of a dual-site prospective research project examining the etiology and identification of biomechanical factors associated with the development of tibial stress fractures in female runners.
Education
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MSPT 2001 Physical Therapy University of Connecticut (Storrs, CT)
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BS 1999 Pre-Physical Therapy University of Connecticut (Storrs, CT) |
Interests
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Mechanisms contributing to lower extremity running injuries |
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Lower extremity rehabilitation |
Future Plans
Attain a position as an Assistant Professor (tenure-track) where I can conduct biomechanical research and teach physical therapy students.
Download Brian's VITAE
Research Assistants
email: memy@udel.edu
"Those who dream by day are cognizant of many things which escape those who dream only by night." ~Edgar Alan Poe~
Memy is a second year Physical Therapy student in the DPT program. She currently works in the lab as a research assistant while completing her Physical Therapy degree. She hopes to work in a teaching hospital as a physical therapist.
Education
| BS 1998 Accounting Georgetown University (Washington, DC) |
Interests
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Hand Therapy |
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Outpatient Orthopedics |
Future Plans
After finishing Physical Therapy school I would like to return to New York and work at a teaching hospital to gain experience in various areas of Physical Therapy. I would eventually like to concentrate in Hand therapy or Cardiopulmonary therapy.
email: kevmccoy@udel.edu
Kevin is a junior at the University of Delaware. He currently works in the lab as a research assistant while working towards his Bachelor's degree in Biology. Kevin hopes to attend medical school and become an orthopedic surgeon.
Education
| BS anticipated 2007 Biology University of Delaware (Newark, DE) |
Interests
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Orthopaedics | ||||
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Sports Medicine
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Future Plans
I hope to eventually get into medical school in the Philadelphia area and become a surgeon.