Two residents of the University of Central Florida and Orlando Health neurologic residency program presented their research at the 2019 Florida Physical Therapy Association Annual Conference and Assembly of Representatives held at Champions Gate Resort in Davenport, Florida.
Brittany Rohan, a graduate of the neurologic residency program, presented her residency research on September 18 during the platform presentations. Rohan’s research focused on stroke patients in inpatient rehabilitation and the impact of hemisphere localization and the frequency of physical and occupational therapy sessions on functional independence. Her co-authors include residency mentors Christine Davidson, who is a clinical faculty member in the UCF Orlando Health neurologic physical therapy program, and Rick Casano Beato, director of the UCF Orlando Health neurologic residency program and clinical assistant professor at UCF. Other co-authors include Jose Dominguez and Karen Ramsay of Orlando Health Rehabilitation Institute.
Olivia Berry, a current resident of the neurologic residency program, also presented at the conference. Her case report focused on
Casano Beato also presented the work of UCF DPT students that explored using the Wii gaming system for fall risk assessment during the poster presentations of the conference. The co-authors include residency faculty Nicole Dawson, DPT and UCF DPT alumni Erin Morton, Lisa Winterberger and Chris Iadarola.
The residents and mentors of the UCF Orlando Health neurologic residency program are committed to furthering clinical practice through the dissemination of research. The presentations at the annual conference build upon presentations done at the FPTA spring conference, which include a presentation by Rohan and Casano Beato on the differences among Parkinson-plus syndromes, secondary parkinsonism and Parkinson’s disease. Mentors from the residency program, Erin Jones, Rachel Gonzales, Shannon Schlissel and Kristen Czesat, also presented on spinal cord rehabilitation across the continuum of care at the spring conference.
