USC Division of Biokinesiology and Physical Therapy

Last Chance to Register — Ask Me Anything: Creating a Vibrant Culture: DEI as a Sustainable Imperative for Today and Tomorrow -

Last Chance to Register — Ask Me Anything: Creating a Vibrant Culture: DEI as a Sustainable Imperative for Today and Tomorrow

Check out the Division’s own Malcolm Jones, who was interviewed by NBC Los Angeles for his place in history as the first Black graduate of USC’s Biokinesiology PhD program. You’re a star, Malcolm!

First Black PhD Student of Biokinesiology at USC Makes History A 22-year-old USC student will make history Friday as the first Black graduate of the school’s PhD program in biokinesiology, and the journey started with a kidney transplant in LA.

Meet the Graduates: A one-time rodeo champion, Tara Terrazas has dreamed of becoming a physical therapist for years. Motherhood delayed that dream for several years, but now, the graduate and mother of two is ready to make her entrée into the physical therapy profession and hopes to provide much-needed treatment to her rural community. Read more about her journey to doctor at https://pt.usc.edu/news/meet-the-graduatestara-terrazas-dpt-23/. Fight on, Tara!

Meet the Graduates: The daughter of Middle Eastern immigrants, Alice Zayer has always blazed her own trail, figuring out the ins and outs of the educational system. She went on to become her family’s first college graduate. This Friday, Zayer adds another academic milestone to her journey, becoming Dr. Alice Zayer. Read more about her trip to doctor below. Fight on, Alice!

Meet the Graduates:Alice Zayer DPT ’23 - USC Division of Biokinesiology and Physical Therapy The daughter of Middle Eastern immigrants, Alice Zayer has blazed her own trail as the first college graduate in her family. Now, with a doctor of physical therapy degree in hand, she plans to pursue an orthopedic physical therapy residency to be the best she can be for her patients. BY STEPHANIE CO...

Meet the Graduates: Matthew Español hopes to honor his late father’s legacy by providing pro bono and discounted services to the poor and uninsured in San Francisco. Read more about his journey to doctor at https://pt.usc.edu/news/meet-the-graduatesmatthew-espanol-dpt-23/. Fight on, Matthew!

Meet the Graduates: Malcolm Jones is kinduva big deal. Not only is he a first-generation American and a first-generation college student, this Friday he makes history as the first Black graduate of USC’s PhD program in biokinesiology! Read all about his journey to doctor at https://pt.usc.edu/news/meet-the-graduates-malcolm-jones-phd-23/. Congrats, Malcolm! Fight On!

The Division’s own Krystal Walden was recently featured in an article on the USC Leonard Davis School of Gerontology website about the physical aspects of aging. Walden is an alumna of USC Davis’ master of science program in gerontology, which she completed in 2021. Fight on, Krystal!

Former Sprinter Discovers the Physical Aspects of Aging In MSG Program Krystal Walden, former sprinter, business owner and PT practice operations specialist, just acquired a new title — Master of Science in Gerontology — and a new perspective on aging.

Neurorehabilitation: Creating a Vision for the Future
April 13, 2023 – April 15, 2023
USC Hotel/Radisson Mid-City Hotel
3540 S Figueroa St
Los Angeles, CA 90007
This conference will bring together leading researchers and clinical rehabilitation specialists to examine the current state of the art in neurorehabilitation and to determine the most promising future directions for the field.
Dr. Carolee Winstein, who is officially retiring from her full-time faculty position at USC, has devoted her long and productive professional career to studying neurological patients and to improving the interventions that clinicians use to improve their function. We can think of no better way to honor her than to continue that work by bringing together nationally and internationally recognized scientists and clinicians for a conference that will be both educational and groundbreaking.
The conference will begin with a reception and keynote address on Thursday evening, April 13th. It will continue with a full day of lectures, presentations, and discussions on Friday, April 14th and a half day on Saturday, April 15th. There will be an optional special gala dinner to honor Dr. Winstein on Saturday evening, April 15th.
Need CEUs?
11.5 CEUs will be offered to PT's upon request
Registration Fees

Bundle (includes welcome reception, conference, gala)
Regular Admission: $450
Student/Postdoc: $150
Rancho Los Amigos Staff: $150
USC Faculty: $200

Conference Only (includes welcome reception)
Regular Admission: $375
Student/Postdoc: $75
Rancho Los Amigos Staff: $75
USC Faculty: $125

Gala Only: $125 (all participants)

Register by April 7: https://web.cvent.com/event/b1880262-294f-4e37-97d6-0e162cc8c1a8/summary

Dr. Christopher Powers’ research and teaching interests relate to the biomechanical aspects of human movement. Specifically, his research focuses on how altered kinematics, kinetics and muscular actions contribute to lower-extremity injury. He is particularly interested in the pathomechanics underlying ACL injury and patellofemoral joint dysfunction.

Dr Chris Powers - Research Presentation 1/12/23 Dr. Christopher Powers’ research and teaching interests relate to the biomechanical aspects of human movement. Specifically, his research focuses on how alte...

Work in Dr. Schweighofer’s lab is at the intersection of computational motor control, neuroscience, and rehabilitation. We are particularly interested in how the nervous system recovers from stroke and what behavioral factors can enhance this recovery. Current research in the lab is focused on developing optimal schedules of motor therapy that maximizes long-term outcomes post-stroke.

Dr. Nicolas Schweighofer - Research Presentation 6/16/22 Work in Dr. Schweighofer’s lab is at the intersection of computational motor control, neuroscience, and rehabilitation. We are particularly interested in how...

DARIC is proud to have four BKN/DPT student representatives among its members! We previously introduced Shreya Jain and Malcolm Jones (please see the post from the week of August 22). Today, we are highlighting our other two student representatives – Joshua Limlingan and David Ortiz! We are presenting statements from Josh and David about why they wanted to join DARIC and why promoting diversity, anti-racism, equity, and inclusion are important to them. We are also seeking additional student reps at this time! If you are a BKN/DPT student and are interested in joining DARIC, please comment on this post or contact the DARIC Council ( [email protected] ).

Fight On, DPT ‘25 ✌️

Did you know that Therabody donated 1,000 Theraguns to the USC Division of Biokinesiology and Physical Therapy so that every DPT and BKN student can have one at their fingertips during the course of their studies? Read more at https://pt.usc.edu/news/therabody-donates-1000-theraguns-to-usc-physical-therapy-program/ (Pictured: Therabody Founder and Chief Wellness Officer Dr. Jason Wersland and the Division’s own Dr. Jonathan Sum)

Derian JM, Campbell SS, Hah RJ, Lantz JM. Identification and Triage of Emergent Spine Pathology Via Telemedicine: A Case Report. JOSPT Cases. 2022 Jun 20(0):1-5.

This evening, we welcome the DPT Class of 2025 with an Academic Convocation and White Coat Ceremony, where the class will put on their white coats for the first time and take an oath to uphold the ethics and professionalism befitting a Trojan physical therapist. Get to know a little bit more about the newest members of the USC BKNPT Community!

Congratulations to our four faculty members who received APTA Awards this past weekend at the APTA Awards Ceremony in Washington, D.C! (L-R): Carolee Winstein, Jules M. Rothstein Golden Pen Award for Scientific Writing; Stacey Dusing, John H.P. Maley Lecture Award; Beth Fisher, Helen J. Hislop Award for Outstanding Contributions to Professional Literature; and Joe Godges, Catherine Worthingham Fellow of the American Physical Therapy Association. You can watch our faculty members receive their awards at https://www.apta.org/apta-and-you/honors-awards/recipients/2022-apta-honors--awards-ceremony. (Video Prompts: Godges 5:53; Winstein 22:10; Fisher 23:30; Dusing 40:28)

DPT ‘06 classmates, Erin Hayden, Nia Toomer-Mensah, and Natalie Weeks O’Neal, together this past weekend in Washington DC at the APTA Leadership Congress. Fight On!

Fight On, DPT’24!

Congratulations to Joe Derian, USC’s first Spine Physical Therapy Fellowship graduation (pictured her with Fellowship Director Justin Lantz). There are only 4 Spine Physical Therapy Fellowships in the nation so graduates are very distinguished and represent a very small portion of physical therapists in the U.S.

Fight On, DPT ‘23 ✌️

Earlier this week, the DPT Class of 2023 were finally able to take that momentous step into their physical therapy professions by putting on their white coats for the first time. While the DPT Class of 2023 Matriculation Ceremony may have come two years late, thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic, nothing can get in the way of this class who has had to be adaptable, resilient and rock steady — characteristics that will serve them long into their careers. Fight on, DPT Class of 2023!

DPT ‘25 classmates Angel Firmalan, Miguel ituralde, and Iris Xu, exploring Los Angeles and being a part of the Jimmy Kimmel Live audience. Fight On ✌️

This summer, our Clinical Exercise Research Center held a new four-week course introducing high school students to the field of kinesiology. The course included a number of field trips, including one to a movie stunt training facility, where students learned how actors are able to perform physical sequences over and over again without injury (pictured here). Read more about the eye-opening course that showed students just how far and wide careers in kinesiology can go at pt.usc.edu/news/moving-minds-and-bodies. (Photo: Glenn Marzano)

Fight On ✌️

New research ✌️
Kretch, Kari S. PT, DPT, PhD, Willett, Sandra L. PT, PhD, Hsu, Lin-Ya PT, PhD, Sargent, Barbara A. PT, PhD, Harbourne, Regina T. PT, PhD, Dusing, Stacey C. PT, PhD. “Learn the Signs. Act Early.”: Updates and Implications for Physical Therapists. Pediatric Physical Therapy July 25, 2022, Volume Publish Ahead of Print

Sandra Boctor (DPT ‘03) finishing a 2.5 month, 56 show cross country tour with the Mixtape Tour 2022, featuring New Kids on the Block, Salt n Pepa, En Vogue, and Rick Astley. Fight On!

New research ✌️
Maenza C, Sainburg RL, Varghese R, Dexheimer B, Demers M, Bishop L, Jayasinghe SAL, Wagstaff DA, Winstein C, and For the IPSI Investigative Team (2022). Ipsilesional arm training in severe stroke to improve functional independence (IPSI): phase II protocol. BMC Neurology, https://doi.org/10.1186/s12883-022-02643-z 

New research ✌️
Hooyman A, Garbin A, Fisher BE, Kutch J., Winstein CJ. (2022) Paired associative stimulation applied to the Cortex can increase resting-state functional connectivity: A proof of principle study. Neuroscience Letters, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neulet.2022.136753 

New research ✌️
Demers M, Varghese R, Winstein C. (2022). Retrospective analysis of task-specific effects of brain activity after stroke: A pilot study. Front. Hum. Neurosci. – Motor Neurosci. Front. Hum. Neurosci. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnhum.2022.871239