Jerome V. Danoff, PT, PhD
Dr. Danoff is Chief of Physical Therapy in the Rehabilitation Medicine Department at the NIH Clinical Center. He received a PhD in Kinesiology from the University of Maryland, a Master of Science in Aerospace Engineering from Pennsylvania State University, a Bachelor of Engineering Science from Johns Hopkins University, and a Physical Therapy degree from the University of Maryland at Baltimore. He has taught for over 25 years for the University of Maryland, Howard University, and George Washington University in the areas of Anatomy, Physiology, Kinesiology, Biomechanics, Modalities, Statistics, and Research Design. He has served as a research consultant to the Department of Rehabilitation Medicine at the NIH since 1984. His research has included analysis of abnormal movement, modalities and cancer, functional capabilities with HIV, functional assessment after stroke and cardiac problems, and acupuncture. He has authored or co-authored more than 40 peer-reviewed publications. Dr. Danoff is a member of the American College of Sports Medicine and the American Physical Therapy Association. He is a licensed Physical Therapist and is active in the Orthopedic, Clinical Electrophysiology, and Research Sections of the APTA. He also is a manuscript reviewer for several professional journals including the Physical Therapy Journal.
Michaele R. Smith, PT, MEd
CAPT Smith is Deputy Chief and a senior staff physical therapist of the Physical Therapy Section in the Rehabilitation Medicine Department at the NIH Clinical Center. She is also Education Coordinator of the Physical Therapy Section and a Captain in the U.S. Public Health Service where she is the Discipline Specific Liaison and Mentoring Chairperson of the Therapist Professional Advisory Committee (TPAC). She holds a BS degree in physical therapy from Howard University and a MEd from George Mason University. CAPT Smith is certified in Bobath neuro-developmental treatment (NDT) for children, a credentialed clinical education instructor through the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA), and the developer of a post graduate Clinical Research Training fellowship at the National Institutes of Health. Her clinical and research interests are in the areas of pediatric HIV infection, human genetics, Juvenile Dermatomyositis, and stroke rehabilitation. She has presented lectures and written articles on the topics of pediatric HIV infection, Juvenile Dermatomyositis and Smith-Magenis Syndrome at local, national and international conferences.
Sandra Adams, PT
Ms. Adams is Clinical Coordinator and a senior staff physical therapist of the Physical Therapy Section in the Rehabilitation Medicine Department at the NIH Clinical Center. She is a graduate of Howard University's physical therapy program and has been involved in numerous areas of clinical operations at the NIH for almost 30 years. While serving as Clinical Coordinator, the majority of her time and attention has been dedicated to the operational side of the clinical work and the assurance of efficient patient care. She has been involved in developing a Bone Marrow Transplant Exercise Booklet published by the Public Health Service and in developing resources and research studies for the rehabilitation of breast cancer patients. Her other areas of interest include cardiopulmonary rehabilitation and wound care.
Willie L. Ching, PT, NCS
Mr. Ching is a staff physical therapist of the Physical Therapy Section in the Rehabilitation Medicine Department at the NIH Clinical Center. Mr. Ching received his BS degree in Physical Therapy from the University of Santo Tomas, Manila, Philippines in 1993. He completed the Neurologic Physical Therapy Residency Program at Moss Rehabilitation Hospital, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 2002. He is currently certified by the American Board of Physical Therapy Specialties as a clinical specialist in Neurologic Physical Therapy, and a credentialed clinical instructor for the American Physical Therapy Association. His clinical and research interests are in the areas of neurodegenerative and neuromuscular diseases, balance disorders, and exercise in the cancer population.
Holly Lea Cintas, PT, PhD, PCS, FAPTA
Dr. Cintas is Physical Therapy Research Coordinator and a senior staff physical therapist of the Physical Therapy Section in the Rehabilitation Medicine Department at the NIH Clinical Center. She coordinates research activities of Physical Therapy within the NIH intramural program. She has a BS degree in Physical Therapy from the University of Colorado, and a PhD in Developmental Psychology from the University of Pennsylvania and is certified as a Pediatric Clinical Specialist by the ABPTS. Prior to coming to the NIH, Dr. Cintas was Associate Professor of Physical Therapy at Thomas Jefferson University, where she received the Lindback Award for Excellence in Teaching. Dr. Cintas has served as In-patient Supervisor at Children's Hospital, Boston, and Director of Physical Therapy at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. She is first author of the text Children with Osteogenesis Imperfecta: Strategies to Enhance Performance, and co-author of The Handbook of Pediatric Physical Therapy. She is a Catherine Worthingham Fellow and former President of the Section on Pediatrics of the American Physical Therapy Association. Dr. Cintas currently serves on the Medical Advisory Committee of the Osteogenesis Imperfecta Foundation. Her previous research was related to the origins of fetal movement, and cross-cultural variations in motor behavior. Her current research emphasis is the assessment of non-kinetic influences on motor development and their relationship to motor performance for children with osteogenesis imperfecta.
Bart Drinkard, MSPT, CCS
CMR Bart Drinkard is a senior staff therapist in the Physical Therapy Section in the Rehabilitation Medicine Department at the NIH Clinical Center and a commissioned officer in the US Public Health Service. He received a Bachelor’s degree in biology and two Masters degrees in Physical Therapy and Exercise Physiology from Old Dominion University in Norfolk, VA. He is an ABPTS certified Cardiopulmonary Specialist and Certified Exercise Specialist through the American College of Sports Medicine. In the Physical Therapy Section at the NIH Clinical Center he coordinates the metabolic exercise testing program. His research interests include the development of submaximal measures of cardiorespiratory fitness and physiological testing in obese children. He is currently collaborating on several NIH studies involving patients with a variety of clinical diagnoses including obesity, pulmonary hypertension, breast cancer, and endocrine disorders.
Mina Jain, PT, MS, DSc, PCS, ETT
Dr. Jain is a senior staff physical therapist of the Physical Therapy Section in the Rehabilitation Medicine Department at the NIH Clinical Center. She received her undergraduate degree from the University of Evansville, MS from the University of Indianapolis and clinical doctorate from the University of Maryland. She is an ABPTS certified Pediatric Specialist and Certified Exercise Test Technologist (ETT) through the American College of Sports Medicine. Her research interests are in the areas of pediatrics (metabolic disorders, oncology, and genetic disorders). She is the lead therapist for a study on juvenile dermatomyositis and the NOMID studies. She also works in Smith-Magenis Syndrome, childhood obesity, and the tai-chi protocols. She has presented lectures and written articles on the topics of pediatric oncology, juvenile dermatomyositis and juvenile osteoporosis at local and national conferences.
Ellen Levy, PT, OCS
Ms. Levy is senior staff physical therapist of the Physical Therapy Section in the Rehabilitation Medicine Department at the NIH Clinical Center. She obtained a post-graduate baccalaureate in physical therapy from Downstate Medical Center, NY in 1978, and is a board certified specialist in orthopedic physical therapy. She has also received certifications in adult neurodevelopmental treatment (NDT), lymphedema management with LeDuc method, and Pilates Polestar training. Her clinical interests are in the areas of orthopedic dysfunctions and breast cancer rehabilitation/lymphedema. She has presented lectures on TMJ dysfunction, myofascial pain, and lymphedema management. Currently, Ms. Levy is involved in research examining edema and upper limb impairments after breast cancer surgery in collaboration with the National Naval Medical Center.
Joseph A Shrader PT, C.Ped
Mr. Shrader is senior staff therapist in the Physical Therapy Section in the Rehabilitation Medicine Department at the NIH Clinical Center. He graduated from the University of Maryland, Eastern Shore in 1989 and became a board Certified Pedorthist in 1994. For almost 20 years he has provided care to patients with rheumatologic diseases and other lower extremity disorders at the National Institutes of Health, Rehabilitation Medicine Department where he has developed protocols on the management of foot and ankle problems. He has served as adjunct faculty for the physical therapy programs of Howard University and University of Maryland Eastern Shore and has published papers in the areas of tendinitis, treatment of the foot affected by rheumatoid arthritis, orthotic interventions, and measurement of foot biomechanics. His research interests include design and evaluation of foot orthoses for patients with rheumatoid arthritis, evaluation techniques for foot deformities, and various aspects of muscular fatigue. He is currently collaborating on several NIH studies involving patients with different forms of neuromuscular and rheumatologic diseases..
Kieu-Phuong Vu, PT
LT Vu is a senior staff physical therapist of the Physical Therapy Section in the Rehabilitation Medicine Department at the NIH Clinical Center.and a commissioned officer in the US Public Health Service. She received her undergraduate degree in Physical Therapy from Mount St. Mary's College in 1994. Her passion remains direct patient care. At the NIH she has been participating in several collaborative studies involving patients with various forms of neuromuscular and rheumatologic diseases.
Chris Gracey, MPT, C.Ped
Chris Gracey is a contract physical therapist of the Physical Therapy Section in the Rehabilitation Medicine Department at the NIH Clinical Center. He is also a certified Pedorthist. He received a Masters of Physical Therapy from Howard University in 1999. He provides physical therapy and pedorthic services to the children and adults treated in the Rehabilitation Medicine Department at the National Institutes of Health. Mr. Gracey has almost 10 year’s experience assessing lower extremity function, and fabricating foot orthoses, lower leg braces, and shoe modifications. As a result of his work, patients with lower extremity disorders obtain pain relief and improved functional performance. In addition to his clinical work at NIH, Mr. Gracey has managed a multi-disciplinary foot clinic and served as an adjunct professor for the Physical Therapy programs at Howard University and George Washington University. Mr. Gracey is a published author and collaborates on research protocols with the Physicians and Therapists at the NIH.
Michelle Kennedy, MS
Michelle Kennedy is the Protocol Manager for the Pulmonary Hypertension protocol currently being developed in the Rehabilitation Medicine Department at the NIH Clinical Center. She received her M.S. in Exercise Physiology at George Washington University in August of 2007. During her graduate program Michelle served as a research graduate assistant for the Department of Exercise Physiology specifically working on the development of an exercise regime for underprivileged senior citizens. She also conducted research on the exercise and nutrition habits as they related to adult supervision with over 100 Washington D.C. adolescents. Michelle presented her findings at the International Society of Nutrition, Behavior and Physical Activity as well as the American College of Sports Medicine. Michelle is a certified Personal Trainer with the National Strength and Conditioning Association, and has also received special certifications to design and implement exercise programs for patients recovering from surgery due to breast cancer as well as those working with the onset of Parkinson’s Disease. While personal training Michelle has worked with clients who are experiencing a wide variety of health challenges including a group of developmentally challenged adults, autistic children and currently is an exercise expert and writes for Bob Greene’s, The Best Life Diet.
Josh Woolstenhulme, DPT
Dr. Woolstenhulme is a research fellow and a part time staff physical therapist of the Physical Therapy Section in the Rehabilitation Medicine Department at the NIH Clinical Center. He received his Bachelor of Science degree in Health and Human Performance with emphasis in exercise science from the University of Montana in 2004. In 2008, he received his Doctor of Physical Therapy degree from Idaho State University. He is currently involved with research examining the effects of exercise on individuals with pulmonary hypertension.
