On January 24-26 2019, over 16,000 physical therapists and students gathered in Washington, D.C. for the American Physical TherapyAssociation’s largest annual conference, its Combined Sections Meeting(CSM). This meeting was the second largest ever. Attendees have the opportunity to learn from educational sessions on current physical therapy practices, attend platform and poster presentations on the latest independent research, and network with other physical therapists at various professional and social events. NYIT faculty and students were able to reconnect and celebrate their achievements at their Alumni Event held on Friday night January 25^th.

NYIT Faculty and DPT alumni were invited to present their innovative research at the conference.

Professor John Handrakis, PT, DPT, EdD, NCS presented a platform on his independent research project entitled “The degree of sympathetic interruption predicts core temperature lability and cognitive performance during heat exposure in persons with higher spinal cord injuries.” Coauthors on this project included NYIT 3^rd year DPT students Marin Graham and Patricia Leung.

Professor Peter Douris, PT, DPT, EdD, OCS presented a poster on his independent research entitled “The effect of blood flow restriction training on the functional and physiological improvements in a recreationally active subject with Parkinson Disease.” Coauthors on this project included faculty members William Werner, PT, DPT, EdD and Joanne DiFrancisco-Donoghue, PhD NYIT DPT graduates John Petrizzo, Ron Augustine, Danielle Beatini, Julliana Galante, Christopher Harsh, Dominick Rosello, Alexandra Sais, Zachary Smith, Nicole Sena, and Zachary Smith and current third year DPT student Nicholas D’Agostino.

Karl Arabian, SPT presented a poster on his independent research entitled “Which domains of cognition, using the Montreal Cognitive Assessment, are related to balance in people with Parkinson’s Disease?” Coauthor on this project included his faculty mentor on this project, Associate Professor Rosemary Gallagher, PT, DPT, PhD,GCS.

Associate Professor Veronica Southard, PT, DPT, DHSc, GCS presented a poster on her independent research entitled “The effects of whole periodic acceleration on non-motor symptoms in patients with Parkinson Disease.” Coauthors on this project included faculty member Joanne DiFrancisco-Donoghue, PhD and NYIT DPT graduates Jasmine Belmonte, Mariel Liboreiro, and Megan Musa.