Faculty Disclosure:
In accordance with Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education requirements on disclosure, information about relationships of presenters with commercial interests (if any) will be included in materials distributed at the time of the conference.
Speaker Biosketches:
Carey D. Balaban, PhD
Dr. Balaban is a Professor in the Departments of Otolaryngology, Neurobiology, & Communication Sciences and Disorders. Dr. Balaban completed his undergraduate training at Michigan State University in 1975 and received his Ph.D. degree from the University of Chicago in 1979. He completed his post-graduate work in physiology with Masao Ito, Ph.D., at the University of Tokyo from 1979-1982. Dr. Balaban came to the University of Pittsburgh in 1988. His specific fields of interest are vestibular pathology in the brain, the link between balance anxiety and migraine (including anatomical tracing and cellular/molecular mechanisms), biology of inner ear ganglion cells, human pain psychophysics and postural correlates of human cognitive engagement and situation awareness. Dr. Balaban has received several NIH grants in these research areas and has published over 100 refereed articles. (Professor in the Departments of Otolaryngology, Neurobiology, & Communication Sciences and Disorders, Pittsburgh, PA)
Rakié Cham, PhD
Rakié Cham, Ph.D. is an assistant professor in the Department of Bioengineering at the University of Pittsburgh. Rakié earned her B.Sc. (1993) and M.Sc. (1995) degrees in physics from McGill University in Montréal, Canada. She pursued her doctoral studies in bioengineering and graduated in 2000 from the University of Pittsburgh. Professor Cham's research interests include gait biomechanics, postural control and falls prevention in older adults. She is particularly interested in understanding the biomechanical factors that precipitate falls during gait following triggering events such as slips or trips. Populations of interest include healthy/young and older adults, but also patient populations, thus providing insights on the multidimensional sensory, motor and biomechanical requirements needed to successfully recover balance following a perturbation in a given environment. Dr. Cham also collaborates with clinicians including neurologists, geriatricians and physical therapists to understand potential biomechanical pathways explaining mobility and balance disability in older adults and to design effective impairment-targeted interventions. Finally, Professor Cham has also been involved in ergonomic projects to minimize falls-related and other musculoskeletal injuries in the workplace.
Michael Collins, PhD
Michael (Micky) Collins, Ph.D., a nationally renowned sports concussion clinician and researcher, joined the UPMC Sports Medicine Concussion Program as assistant director when the program was established in September, 2000. Dr. Collins received his bachelor’s degree in psychology and biology at the University of Southern Maine in 1991, his master’s degree in psychology at Michigan State University in 1995, and his doctorate degree in clinical psychology at Michigan State in 1998. He subsequently completed a clinical neuropsychology internship at the University of Florida and a neuropsychology fellowshihp at the Henry Ford Health System in Detroit. Dr. Collins has published over 60 peer-reviewed articles in sports medicine and other medical journals and is a frequently invited presenter on the topic of sports concussions at national and international meetings. Dr. Collins is a clinical consultant to the Pittsburgh Steelers, NFL Europa, Major League Baseball, USA Lacrosse, USA Rugby, and to several high school, collegiate, and professional sports organizations both nationally and internationally. Dr. Collins is a co-founder of ImPACT, a computerized neurocognitive testing system that evaluates the severity of concussion in athletes and provides a more accurate determination of when an athlete can safely return to sports following a concussion.
Joseph M. Furman, MD, PhD, FAAN
Dr. Joseph Furman is a professor in the Departments of Otolaryngology, Neurology, Bioengineering, and Physical Therapy at the University of Pittsburgh and director of the division of balance disorders at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. His education includes an M.D. and a Ph.D. in Bioengineering from the University of Pennsylvania, a residency in neurology at UCLA, and a fellowship in non-surgical otology at the University of Toronto. Dr. Furman's area of expertise is vestibular function and balance disorders. Dr. Furman is a board certified neurologist, a fellow of the American Academy of Neurology and a member of the American Neurological Association. Dr. Furman's clinical activities include the evaluation of patients with dizziness and disequilibrium and consultation neurology. Dr. Furman's research interests include vestibulo-ocular function in older persons, otolith-ocular reflexes, and migraine-related dizziness. (Professor, Departments of Otolaryngology, Neurology, Bioengineering, and Physical Therapy at the University of Pittsburgh and Director of the Division of Balance Disorders at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, PA)
Raj J. Gandhi, PhD
Neeraj Gandhi, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, Departments of Otolaryngology amd Bioengineering. Dr. Gandhi completed his undergraduate training at Boston University in 1992 and received his Ph.D. degree in Bioengineering from the University of California, San Francisco in 1997. He completed his post-graduate work in neuroscience at Baylor College of Medicine in 2002. Dr. Gandhi came to the University of Pittsburgh as an Assistant Professor in 2002. His specific fields of interest are to investigate the neural control of head-unrestrained gaze shifts, i.e., coordinated movements of the eyes and head that require integration of the oculomotor and vestibular systems. Dr. Gandhi currently has an NIH research grant (R01: Neural Integration of Eye and Head Movements) and has published over 22 refereed articles. (Assistant Professor, Departments of Otolaryngology and Bioengineering Pittsburgh, PA)
Barry E. Hirsch, MD
Barry E. Hirsch, MD, Professor, Department of Otolaryngology and Communication Sciences and Disorders, and Neurological Surgery, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine; Director, Division of Otology. Dr. Hirsch received his MD degree at The University of Pennsylvania and completed his otolaryngology residency at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine. He completed an otology fellowship at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine in 1985 and a fellowship in Zurich, Switzerland with Professor Hugo Fisch. Dr. Hirsch became a full-time member of the department in 1985 and in 1999 was named Director of the Division of Otology. His specific fields of interest are otology, neurotology, cranial base surgery, cochlear implants, acoustic neuromas, and stereotactic radiosurgery of intracranial and skull base tumor. He is a member of the Boards at the schools for hearing impaired children, the DePaul Institute for Hearing and Speech and Western Pennsylvania School for the Deaf. Dr. Hirsch is the Chairman of both the Hearing Committee and Implantable Device Subcommittee of the American Academy of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery. Dr. Hirsch is actively involved with the otology fellowship training, resident education and the education of medical students.
Rolf G. Jacob, MD
Dr. Jacob is a Professor in the Departments of Psychiatry and Otolaryngology. Dr. Jacob began his undergraduate training at the University of Stockholm, majoring in Psychology, and pursued premedical and medical studies at the Karolinska Institute in Sweden, graduating with an MD in 1971. Following his graduation he spent a year as a research fellow at the Department of Psychology, State University of New York at Stony Brook, NY, studying behavior therapy and behavioral analysis. He then pursued psychiatric training, including an internship UCLA (Sepulveda Veterans administration Hospital, 1974-5) and psychiatric residency and research fellowship at Stanford University.
Dr. Jacob came to the University of Pittsburgh in 1979 to join the Behavioral Medicine Program at Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic. His fields of interest have been broadly focused on behavior analysis and behavior therapy within the fields of anxiety disorders and behavioral medicine. Early work included studies on the behavioral treatment of hypertension and of Raynaud's disease. His discovery of vestibular test abnormalities in panic disorder in the early 1980-ies prompted an interest in the further study of the relationship between anxiety disorders and vestibular disorders, a research focus that he has pursued ever since. He current interests include the relationship between phobias and balance function and the role that vestibular rehabilitation therapy may have in the treatment of balance-related phobic states. Dr. Jacob has received several NIMH and NIH grants and has published over 80 refereed articles. (Professor in the Departments of Psychiatry and Otolaryngology, Pittsburgh, PA)
Cynthia B. Kapelewski, RN
Cynthia Kapelewski is the clinical coordinator of the Jordon Center for Balance Disorders at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. She has worked with people with vestibular disorders for over 30 years and has presented locally and nationally on vestibular disorders plus vestibular testing. She was integral in the development of the validation of the brief nurse-administered migraine assessment tool. (Clinical Coordinator of the Jordon Center for Balance Disorders at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, PA)
Gregory F. Marchetti, PT, PhD
Greg Marchetti P.T., Ph.D. earned an entry level PT degree from the University of Maryland and a Master of Science from the School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences at the University of Pittsburgh. After 17 years of clinical practice with a focus on management of persons with neurological impairments, he obtained a PhD in epidemiology with an emphasis in chronic disease. Greg currently serves as Assistant Professor in the Department of Physical Therapy in the Rangos School of Heath Sciences at Duquesne University in Pittsburgh, PA and has appointments in the School of Medicine, Department of Otolaryngology at the University of Pittsburgh and Chatham College in Pittsburgh PA.
Greg has conducted research, published and presented nationally and internationally on the clinical measurement of gait and balance in older adults and persons with disorders of balance and vestibular impairment. Additionally he has conducted intervention trials for persons with osteoarthritis of the knee, cervical radiculopathy and vitamin D deficiency. (Assistant Professor in the Department of Physical Therapy in the Rangos School of Heath Sciences at Duquesne University in Pittsburgh, PA and has appointments in the School of Medicine, Department of Otolaryngology at the University of Pittsburgh and Chatham College, Pittsburgh, PA)
Laura O. Morris, PT, NCS
Laura O. Morris, PT, NCS is the facility director for the Centers for Rehab Services Vestibular Rehabilitation program at the Eye and Ear Institute. She is board certified as a Neurologic Clinical Specialist and primarily focuses on the clinical management of persons with balance and vestibular disorders. She received her bachelor's degree in physical therapy from the California State University, Long Beach. She participates in clinical research at the Eye and Ear Institute and assists with teaching at the University of Pittsburgh. (Director of the Vestibular Rehab Physical Therapy Program for the Centers for Rehab Services, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, PA)
Yael Raz, MD
Dr. Yael Raz is an assistant professor in the Department of Otolaryngology at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine. She is a neurotologist and associate of the University of Pittsburgh Physicians Ear Nose and Throat Specialists.
Dr. Raz, a native of Israel, grew up in Southern California. She received her undergraduate degree from Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts and her medical degree from the UCLA School of Medicine. She completed residency training in Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery as well as fellowship training in Otology, Neurotology and Skull Base Surgery at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Maryland.
Dr. Raz's clinical interests include the management of chronic ear disease, conductive and sensorineural hearing loss, skull base tumors and vestibular disorders. Dr. Raz sees patients at the Eye and Ear Institute and UPMC Shadyside. She has an active research interest in cochlear development with a focus on the molecular mechanisms that guide connections between the nervous system and the developing inner ear. (Assistant Professor in the Department of Otolaryngology at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA)
Cara Camiolo Reddy, MD
Dr. Cara Camiolo Reddy is an assistant professor in the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (PM&R) at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. She is also the medical director of the Inpatient Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) Rehabilitation Unit at the Institute for Rehabilitation and Research at South Side Hospital. She received her MD from Drexel University School of Medicine. Her residency training in PM&R and fellowship training in TBI were both completed at the University of Pittsburgh. Dr. Camiolo Reddy is board certified by the American Board of PM&R and is a member of the Association of Academic Physiatrists, American Academy of PM&R, and the International Brain Injury Association. Dr. Camiolo Reddy's clinical activities include the evaluation of patients with traumatic brain injury in both inpatient and outpatient settings. Her primary clinical and research interest is in the area of mild traumatic brain injury/concussion. Dr. Camiolo Reddy also serves as the Associate Residency Program Director, TBI Fellowship Director, and Director of Medical Student Education for the Department of PM&R.
Mark S. Redfern, PhD
Dr. Redfern is the William Kepler Whiteford Professor of Bioengineering; Professor, Departments of Otolaryngology, Physical Therapy, and Rehabilitation Science. PhD (Bioengineering), University of Michigan, 1988. Dr. Redfern's research is focused in two areas: human postural control and ergonomics. The major goal of the postural research is the prevention of falling injuries by investigating the factors that influence balance. Additional interests involve postural sway responses to physical perturbations, changing visual environments, vibration and electrical stimulation of the vestibular system. His research approach is to develop an understanding of the postural control system towards better identification of balance problems, and then to use this knowledge to design safer environments. He consults with industry on ergonomics and workplace design. Dr. Redfern has received several NIH grants in these research areas and has published over 80 refereed articles. (William Kepler Whiteford Professor of Bioengineering; Professor, Departments of Otolaryngology, Physical Therapy, and Rehabilitation Science, Pittsburgh, PA)
Patrick J. Sparto, PT, PhD
Dr Sparto is an Associate Professor in the Departments of Physical Therapy and Otolaryngology. Dr. Sparto completed his undergraduate training at Ohio State University in 1992 and received his Ph.D. degree from Ohio State University in 1998.
Dr. Sparto did his post-graduate work in the Department of Physical Therapy at the University of Pittsburgh from 1997-2000. Dr. Sparto was appointed Assistant Professor in the Departments of Physical Therapy and Otolaryngology at the University of Pittsburgh in 2000. In 2006, Dr. Sparto was promoted to Associate Professor of Physical Therapy and Otolaryngology. Dr. Sparto's specific fields of interest are the combined effects of aging and vestibular disease on postural control in an effort to reduce the risk of falling in older adults. Dr. Sparto has published over 27 refereed articles. (Associate Professor in the Departments of Physical Therapy and Otolaryngology, Pittsburgh, PA)
Stephanie Studenski, MD
Stephanie Studenski, R.N., M.D., M.P.H., is board certified in Internal Medicine, Rheumatology and Geriatrics and has a Masters degree in Public Health. Her research interests are in the causes, evaluation and treatment of mobility disability in older adults. She has had continuous funding for her work from NIH, VA, Foundations and industry for over 20 years. Dr. Studenski is PI of the Pittsburgh NIA funded Claude Pepper Center of Excellence; co-PI of the NCI/NIA funded Cancer and Aging program and several research training grants. She has chaired three standing NIH study sections and serves in leadership roles in the American Geriatrics Society and several peer review journals. She is a mom with three children.
Diane M. Wrisley, PT, PhD, NCS
Diane M. Wrisley, PT, PhD, NCS is Assistant Professor, Department of Rehabilitation Science, School of Public Health and Health Professions, State University of New York at Buffalo and is board certified in Neurologic Physical Therapy. Dr. Wrisley holds a bachelor's degree in physical therapy from the State University of New York at Buffalo, a post-professional master's degree from Old Dominion University and a PhD in Rehabilitation Science from the University of Pittsburgh.
She completed a post-doctoral fellowship in the Balance Disorders Laboratory at the Neurological Sciences Institute of Oregon Health & Sciences University under the mentorship of Dr. Fay Horak and Dr. Robert Perterka. Dr. Wrisley has received pre-doctoral and post-doctoral fellowship grants from the National Institute for Deafness and Communication. Dr. Wrisley has over 20 years of clinical experience and has extensive experience in the evaluation and treatment of patients with vestibular and balance deficits. Her research interests include sensory influences on balance, evaluation and treatment of balance disorders and physical therapy outcomes for people with vestibular and balance dysfunction. (Assistant Professor, Department of Rehabilitation Science, School of Public Health and Health Professions, State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY)
Susan L. Whitney, PT, PhD, NCS, FAPTA
Dr. Whitney received her PhD in motor development/motor learning from the University of Pittsburgh and her professional physical therapy education from Temple University in Philadelphia, PA. Currently, she is an associate professor in physical therapy in the School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences and in the department of otolaryngology in the School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh. She is the Program Director of the Centers for Rehab Services (CRS) Balance and Vestibular Rehabilitation Center at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. Dr. Whitney is supported by an NIH grant from NIDCD to study postural effects of virtual reality exposure in people with vestibular dysfunction and has published over 45 refereed papers. (Associate Professor, University of Pittsburgh Departments of Physical Therapy, Otolaryngology, and Education, Pittsburgh, PA)
Bill J. Yates, PhD
Professor, Departments of Otolaryngology and Neuroscience. Dr. Yates completed his undergraduate training at the University of Florida in 1981 and received his Ph.D. degree from the University of Florida in 1986. He completed his post-graduate work in neurophysiology at The Rockefeller University in New York from 1986-1989. Dr. Yates was an Assistant Professor at The Rockefeller University from 1990-1994. Dr. Yates came to the University of Pittsburgh in 1994. His specific fields of interest are neural control of coordinated oculomotor and skeletomotor movements. Dr. Yates has received several NIH grants in these research areas and has published over 95 refereed articles. (Professor, Departments of Otolaryngology and Neuroscience, Pittsburgh, PA)