Roles
Assistant Professor of Clinical Physical Therapy
American Physical Therapy Association – Academy of Education Membership Secretary - AESIG
DPT Advisor, Committee for Early Board Testing, PhD Committee, Promotions and Professionalism Committee
-
Biography
Over the last 18 years, I have established myself through my clinical and academic work at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, currently serving as an Assistant Professor on the Clinical Educator Track in the Department of Physical Therapy, with a secondary appointment in Medical Education. I am also a licensed Physical Therapist in Florida (License PT23516). My clinical expertise is in orthopedics. I earned both my Doctorate in Physical Therapy (DPT) (2007) and Doctor of Philosophy in Physical Therapy (PhD) (2015), specializing in Anatomical Sciences and Outcomes Measures, from the University of Miami. My extensive academic experience includes roles as an Assistant Professor (2016–present) in Physical Therapy, an Instructor (2007–2016) and as a Teaching Assistant (2007–2014). My primary teaching specializations in the DPT program include administering and leading core courses like Gross Anatomy for Physical Therapists I & II (lecture and lab with full cadaveric dissection, 2014–2025) and Neuroscience I (2016–2025). I also provide Gross Anatomy content to Phase I and Phase II medical students.
In my scholarly work, I focus on anatomy education in DPT programs, the clinical use of musculoskeletal ultrasound, and sports physical therapy, particularly related to lower extremity injury risk. I have published eight juried journal articles, including one as first or senior author, contributing to an H-index of 3 and 29 citations. Notable publications focus on the current state of anatomy education in U.S. DPT programs, and Comparing the Dominant and Non-Dominant Leg Strength of Division I Collegiate Female Cutting Athletes to Jumping Athletes. I was a Co-Investigator on a US Department of Defense-funded research project focused on objective quantification of muscle/tendon function in chronic tendinopathy (October 2016–September 2023). I am an active research mentor, chairing one PhD dissertation committee (in progress) and serving as a committee member for two completed PhD dissertations. I have also mentored numerous DPT research teams, with many projects presented at national meetings. I also act as an Ad Hoc Reviewer for several journals, including Sports Health (2019–present) and Clinical Anatomy (2025).
I also engage when possible, in professional and community service. I hold a leadership role within the American Physical Therapy Association as the Membership Secretary for the Academy of Education—Anatomy Education Special Interest Group (2023–present). My university service includes membership on the PhD Committee (2018–present) and the Promotions and Professionalism Committee (2014–present), as well as serving on the Faculty Senate Administrative Services Committee (2021–2024). In the community, she supervises DPT students providing pro-bono Physical Therapy services at the LAGO clinic (2015–2020) and participates in DOCS health fairs for the underserved population (2018–present). My professional recognitions also include an Excellence in Teaching Award (2025), Clinician of the Year (2013), the Chair’s Award( 2007), and the Steven J. Rose Student Research Award (2007). -
Education & Training
Education
-
Teaching Interests
Gross anatomy and neuroanatomy. My primary teaching appointment is in the Department of Physical Therapy, but I also assist with this instruction to the Phase I and II medical students. In the past I have also assisted in the Master's in Athletic Training program. -
Research Interests
knee osteoarthritis, POCUS, hip strength asymmetry, lower limb injuries -
Publications
Disclaimer: The information presented in this section has been consolidated using AI and machine learning technologies. While every effort has been made to ensure accuracy, errors may occur. If you identify any inaccuracies, please use this link to inform our data team. Your feedback is greatly appreciated and helps us improve the quality of our content.