Inside2015–2016 Boston University College of Health & RehabilitationSARGENT Sciences: Sargent College THE BIOMECHANICS OF MOTION HOW A SIMPLE EXERCISE COULD KEEP YOUR BODY MOVING IN HARMONY + Triumph Over Traumatic Brain Injury, P 6 An Auditory Illusion, P 9 Understanding a Rare Disorder, P 10 Contents 2015–2016 DISCOVERY IN THE WORLD + STUDENT EXPERIENCE 9 13 20 THE BIOMECHANICS OF MOTION 14 An Auditory Illusion Kids in Context On Their BEST Behavior How the language we A tool that helps A Sargent partnership speak determines youth with intellectual with the Museum of the way we hear disabilities record Science, Boston, flips the How a simple their impressions conversation about autism exercise could keep your body moving ONLINE EXTRAS in harmony ALSO IN THIS ISSUE 2 Dean’s Message From Classroom to Community 3 Snapshots Watch a video of Sargent students on the service learning trip to Peru at go.bu.edu/sargent/inside-sargent. 26 Grant Awards Faculty Honors 30 Faculty in Print Keep track of Sargent faculty achievements at 33 Sargent at a Glance bu.edu/sargent/news-releases. A Source for Research News Bookmark bu.edu/sargent for regular research updates. Current work includes a study on how racial disparity is narrowing in cancer mortality. Take a Quiz Why would two people hear the same notes differently? Find out, and compare your auditory acumen, at go.bu.edu/sargent/inside-sargent. Dean Produced by Boston University Christopher A. Moore, PhD Marketing & Communications InsideSARGENT Communications Manager About 2015–2016 Stephanie Rotondo InsideSARGENT is a publication of Boston University College of Health & Editor Rehabilitation Sciences: Sargent College. Lara Ehrlich (UNI’03) For additional copies or more information 6 10 18 22 Contributors about BU Sargent College, contact Joel Brown, Julie Butters, Leslie Friday Stephanie Rotondo at [email protected] (COM’07), Mara Sassoon, Susan Seligson, or 617-353-7476. Visit us at Triumph Over Trauma Understanding SMS Change of Plans Fighting for a Future and Andrew Thurston bu.edu/sargent. Project CAREER helps A language researcher Students with serious psy- This tool could encourage Follow BU Sargent College on: students with traumatic brain aims to improve diagnosis chiatric challenges return to Designer women of low socioeconomic Hy Zhitnik Boston University is an equal opportunity, injuries succeed in college and treatment of a rare status–and all of us–to eat school with support from the facebook.com/busargent affirmative action institution. disorder healthier Niteo program instagram.com/busargent Cover photograph twitter.com/busargent Tara Moore/Stone/Getty Images Printed on FSC-certified paper. Please recycle this publication. bu.edu/sargent | 2015–2016 | InsideSARGENT 1 Snapshots Dean’s Message “This issue of Inside SARGENT’S Sargent highlights “ THE UNIQUE many of the current COMPETITIVE THING IS, WE and future leaders of NEURORESIDENCY DO RESEARCH, our profession—right PROGRAM GETS CLINICAL CARE, here at Sargent—whose AN IMPRESSIVE AND EDUCATION research and clinical ALL IN THE SAME SPACE.” efforts have enhanced NEW PARTNER —TERRY ELLIS the lives of others.” WHEN IT CAME TIME to select the resi- dents for this year’s Neurological Physi- cal Therapy Residency Program, Terry Ellis found herself in a difficult, albeit Dear Friends, desirable, situation: she had received 33 It’s a pleasure to introduce another issue of Inside lives of others. These programs have improved access to muse- applications for just 2 spots. Sargent. The new academic year has gotten off to a ums for children with autism and have helped women living Physical therapy residency pro- great start with our first Sargent College virtual con- in public housing achieve their nutrition goals. The Center for grams, which offer specialized training to ference, Health Matters, in September. This event Psychiatric Rehabilitation’s Niteo program assists college stu- develop expert clinicians, have become increasingly popular. When Sargent’s was an opportunity to share our unique expertise dents with mental illness—whose needs might otherwise be Center for Neurorehabilitation (CNR)— and engage in thoughtful discussions with our peers unaddressed—to remain in, or return to, university. You’ll also read in our cover story about the role of physi- the first in New England—enrolled its and experts around the world. In addition, our fac- initial group of students in 2011, there cal therapy in preventing disabling hip injury, using research ulty continue to be honored with the support of were just a few other neuroresidency findings to change our habits when we’re young. And our stu- programs in the United States. Now some of the world’s most prestigious organizations: dents are developing innovative new research of their own: Jennifer Gottlieb received a Fulbright Award and there are more than 25. one of our new PhD graduates has created an assessment tool “In the fast pace of health care, it’s Cara Stepp has become the first Sargent College for use with youth with disabilities, while another is untan- difficult to get mentoring and training in professor to receive the National Science Founda- gling the mysteries of language development in children with an everyday job,” says Ellis (MED’05), an tion’s Career Award. Smith-Magenis syndrome. assistant professor of physical therapy As always, fall is one of our most exciting times at Sargent; & athletic training and director of CNR. In keeping with the rapidly increasing expectations and the year ahead is full of promise, and the accomplishments of last “So, physical therapy is moving more responsibilities in many of the health professions, Sargent year are still fresh in our minds. It’s the perfect time for us to be in toward the medical model, where there is has introduced two new programs to stay ahead of imminent touch! Follow Sargent’s latest news and events at bu.edu/sargent, specialized residency training.” The excitement is mutual. Lisa nership with California’s Neurologic professional requirements: the Master of Science in Athletic Residents in Sargent’s neuroresi- and if you missed our Health Matters conference, you can watch Pezzini, the neurology program clinical Physical Therapy Professional Education Training (MSAT) and the Doctor of Occupational Therapy dency program perform approximately the presentations at bu.edu/healthmatters. supervisor and a director in Spaulding’s Consortium, which brings together neu- (OTD). Similarly, our new Fellowship in Orthopaedic Man- 30 hours of clinical training per week, so it’s critical to have top-notch clinical part- Brace and Prosthetics Clinics, worked roresidency programs from across the ual Physical Therapy offers licensed physical therapists the Best wishes, ners, Ellis says. The program’s collabora- closely with Ellis to make the collabora- country, allows the residents to partici- opportunity to elevate their level of clinical practice, advance tion with Beth Israel Deaconess Medical tion a reality. “Terry is amazing,” she says, pate in didactic training and build their their careers, and become leaders in their profession. Center (BIDMC) provides residents with “and we’re delighted to collaborate with professional network. Residents also This issue of Inside Sargent highlights many of the cur- experience in an acute neurology rota- an academic institution as wonderful as gain teaching experience by instructing rent and future leaders of our profession—right here at Sar- Christopher A. Moore tion and in intensive care. And in 2015, BU.” In what Ellis calls a “full-circle” sce- in the lab component of a neurological gent—whose research and clinical efforts have enhanced the Dean and Professor CNR is joining with a second prestigious nario, a graduate of Sargent’s neuroresi- clinical course in Sargent’s Doctor of institution—Spaulding Rehabilitation dency program, Sara Crandall (’10,’12), Physical Therapy program. Network’s Medford Outpatient Center— now works at Spaulding Medford and is a The residents assist Ellis in her “in order to add a broader, extremely mentor to the 2015 residents. research at CNR, which focuses on using high-caliber, rigorous outpatient training During the yearlong program, the early exercise intervention to reduce across numerous neurological condi- residents divide their time between disability and improve physical function tions,” says Ellis. “We’re very excited BIDMC and Spaulding, spending six in individuals with Parkinson’s. “The about the partnership.” months at each institution. A part- unique thing is, we do research, clinical STEVE PRUE STEVE DAN AGUIRRE DAN 2 InsideSARGENT | 2015–2016 | bu.edu/sargent bu.edu/sargent | 2015–2016 | InsideSARGENT 3 Snapshots Snapshots continued from previous page TO PERU, FOR A CAUSE care, and education all in the same space. people with Parkinson’s. With the app, and allows us to optimize the benefit In summer 2015, Sargent undergraduate and graduate students So there’s never a gap between findings patients watch videos of their CNR ses- of exercise by increasing the challenge embarked on a service learning trip to Peru. At an altitude of 11,000 feet, and translation to clinical practice,” she sions on a mobile device, which allows level over time.” they experienced firsthand the traditional Andean way of life, from a says. “Then we do outreach programs to them to continue their exercises at Ellis is confident that the neuroresi- remote farming village to the Inca capital of Cusco. disseminate our research findings to the home. They rate the difficulty and pain- dency program’s combination of research Supervised by Sargent faculty, students had the opportunity to see broader scientific community.” fulness of each exercise using a sliding experience at CNR, diverse clinical health care at work in a developing country; they learned about tradi- This year, the residents are help- scale on the app. “We can now remotely exposure at BIDMC, and the new partner- tional medicine and visited rural community clinics, as well as public ing Ellis conduct a yearlong research change people’s exercise programs,” ship with Spaulding will make the next and privately funded hospitals.