Houston PhD Candidates

Barbuto, Amy

Chair: Katy Mitchell, PhD
Collaborators: Christina Bickley, PhD; Alyssa Fiss, PhD; Eric Dugan, PhD

Study: TBD
Education: Bachelor of Science, Texas A&M University; Doctor of Physical Therapy, Texas Woman’s University, Houston, TX
Residence: The Woodlands, Texas

Butcher, Allison

Chair: Wayne Brewer, PhD
Collaborators: Rupal Patel, PhD; Kelli Brizzolara, PhD
External Collaborator: Gregory Marchetti, PhD

Study: Social Determinants of Health and Social Vulnerability: How Individual and Community Factors Influence Physical Therapy Outcomes in a Public Hospital System
Education: Bachelors of Science in Biology and Kinesiology, University of Texas at Austin; Doctor of Physical Therapy, Texas Woman’s University
Residence: Houston, Texas

Gomez, Christina

Chair: Wayne Brewer, PhD
Collaborators: Christina Bickley, PhD; Kevin Chui, PhD; Sharon Wang, PhD

Study:  Is the upper quarter y-balance test a useful measure to determine upper limb loading response in female competitive gymnasts after upper extremity injury
Education: Bachelors of Science, University of New Mexico; Doctor of Physical Therapy, University of New Mexico
Residence: Corvallis, Oregon

Migliano, Pedro

Chair: Wayne Brewer, PhD
Collaborators: Mark Weber, PhD; Kelli Brizzolara, PhD

Study: TBD
Education: Bachelors of Science in Exercise Science, University of Houston; Doctor of Physical Therapy, Texas Woman’s University
Residence: Austin, Texas

Perry, Lindsay

Chair: Katy Mitchell, PhD
Collaborators: Christina Bickley, PhD

Study: Assessment of mobility using the Revised High-Level Mobility Assessment Tool (HiMAT-r) in Individuals with Parkinson’s disease.
Education: Bachelor of Health Science, University of Florida; Doctor of Physical Therapy, University of Florida
Residence: St. Augustine, Florida

Pontiff, Ryan

Chair: Katy Mitchell, PhD
Collaborators: Rupal Patel, PhD; Peggy Gleeson, PhD

Study: Burnout rates among physical therapists and its effects on the quality of a clinical education experience from the student and clinical educator perspectives
Education: Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology-Human Movement, Louisiana State University; Doctor of Physical Therapy, Texas Woman's University
Residence: Houston, Texas

Ratoza, Madeline

Chair: Rupal Patel, PhD
Collaborators: Katy Mitchell, PhD and Wayne Brewer, PhD
External Collaborator: Dr. Julia Chevan

Study: Healthcare Provider Shortage Areas in Rehabilitation for Texas Using Population Health Data
Education: Bachelor of Arts, Colby College; Doctor of Physical Therapy, University of California, San Francisco and San Francisco State University 
Residence: Austin, Texas 

Spigarelli, Rudie

Chair: Rupal Patel, PhD
Collaborators: Katy Mitchell, PhD; Carolyn DaSilva, PhD
External Collaborator: Dr. Katie Siengsukon

Study: What Affects DPT Students' Sleep? A Mixed Methods Study of the status and factors that impact sleep quality of DPT students in the US
Study: Examination of vestibular rehabilitation education and practice patterns.
Education: B.S., Texas State University; Exercise and Sports Science; Doctor of Physical Therapy, Texas Woman's University
Residence: Austin, Texas

Ziegler, Kelsey

Chair: Dr. Carolyn DaSilva

Study: TBD
Education: Bachelor of Science in Movement Science, Texas Christian University, Fort Worth, TX; Doctor of Physical Therapy, Texas Woman's University, Houston, TX
Residence: Houston, TX