Dallas PhD Candidates

Alcon, Cory

Chair: Dr. Sharon Wang-Price
Collaborator: Dr. Hui-Ting Goh

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

Bertran, Alison

Chair: Sharon Wang-Price, PhD
Collaborators: None

Study: Effects of Preoperative Dry Needling on Opioid Usage Following Unilateral Total Knee Arthroplasty
Education: Texas Christian University B.S.; Duke University School of Medicine DPT
Residence: Dallas, 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

Celso, Jennifer

Chair: Sharon Wang-Price, PhD
Collaborators: Kelli Brizzolara, PhD, Mark Weber, PhD

Study: A comparison of overall function between postpartum women with and without diastasis rectus abdominis
Education: Bachelor of Science in Health Service Organization and Policy and a master’s degree in physical therapy from Wichita State University; Transitional Doctor of Physical Therapy degree from Northeastern University 
Residence: Wichita, Kansas

Fournier, Stephanie

Chair: Mary Thompson
Collaborators: Anne Medley, PhD, Kelli Brizzolara, PhD, COL Deydre Teyhen

Title of dissertation: Quantifying voluntary and involuntary pelvic floor muscle function in female service members with urinary incontinence
Education: Bachelors of Science, Exercise and Sport Science, Oklahoma Baptist University (2004-2008)
DPT, Rockhurst University (2008-2011), PhD(ABD) Texas Woman’s University (2013-present)
Residence: Honolulu, Hawaii

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

Kurz, Jennifer

Chair: Kelli Brizzolara, PhD
Collaborators:  Mary Thompson, PhD; Mark Weber, PhD; Cara Lewis, Boston University, Dr. Joels Wells MD MPH, UT Southwestern Medical Center

Education: Bachelors of Science (Kinesiology-Athletic Training): University of Michigan- Ann Arbor; Doctorate of Physical Therapy: Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis
Residence: Stillwater, Oklahoma

Parikh, Vyoma

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

Study: Neural correlates of balance performance in chronic stroke: A repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation study
Education: Bachelors in Physiotherapy from Maharashtra University of Health Sciences, Mumbai, India; Advanced Master’s in Physical Therapy (Neurology) and Transitional Doctor of Physical Therapy from MGH Institute of Health Professions, Boston, MA
Residence: Allen, Texas

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

Proulx, Laurel

Chair: Kelli Brizzolara, PhD
Collaborators: Shane Koppenhaver, PhD; Mary Thompson, PhD; Sharon Wang-Price, PhD

Study: The Quantification and Impact of Peripheral Muscle Stiffness in Females with Chronic Pelvic Pain.
Education: Bachelors of Science: University of Kansas; Doctor of Physical Therapy: Regis University Denver, CO.
Residence: Kansas City, Missouri

Stoddard, Carissa

Chair: Sharon Wang-Price, PhD
Collaborators: Alyssa Fiss, PhD; Ann Medley, PhD

Study: Investigating Performance of the Y-Balance Test in Adolescent Performing Artists
Education: Bachelor of Arts in American Studies, University of Texas at Austin; Doctor of Physical Therapy, Texas Woman’s University
Residence: Dallas, Texas

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

Wagner, Amy

Chair: Mary Thompson, PhD

Study: The Contributing Factors and Effects of Breastfeeding Position-Related Pain: A Mixed Methods Study
Education: MPT, DPT Physical Therapy from Azusa Pacific University; BS Mathematical Sciences, University of California, Santa Barbara
Residence: San Antonio, 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 

Watson, Seth

Chair: Mark Webster, PhD
Collaborators: Elaine Jackson, PhD; Kelli Brizzolara, PhD

Study: Treatment adherence: Predictive factors and the relationship with treatment outcomes in patients with low back pain
Education: Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology-Motor Behavior, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX; Doctor of Physical Therapy, University of Texas Southwestern, Dallas, TX.
Residence: Corsicana, 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