News and Events

Kathleen Geist, PT, DPT, COMT, FAAOMPT, exemplifies leadership, dedication and excellence in the field of physical therapy. Often described as an "excellent professor committed to student learning," she is highly regarded for her ability to foster clinical reasoning skills and her approachable nature that encourages open dialogue. Geist has made significant contributions to both academia and clinical practice, earning national and international acclaim for her dedication and leadership in the profession. As the founder and director of Emory’s Orthopedic Physical Therapy Residency Program, she has shown an unwavering commitment to advancing orthopedic physical therapy education. With over 25 years of orthopedic clinical experience, she is also a Fellow of the American Academy of Orthopedic Manual Physical Therapists. Her clinical expertise is complemented by her active academic involvement, which includes teaching, research, authoring book chapters, publishing in peer-reviewed journals and serving as a reviewer for multiple publications.

Geist’s leadership extends to her roles in professional organizations. She served as Vice President (2018–2020) and President (2021–2023) of the Georgia Chapter of the American Physical Therapy Association. Additionally, she has contributed significantly to the Academy of Orthopedic Physical Therapy through her work on the Practice Committee, Education Work Group and the Orthopedic Residency and Fellowship Special Interest Group.

Beyond her professional achievements, Geist is celebrated for her humility, kindness and compassion. Her supportive and nurturing approach creates a positive learning environment that inspires both colleagues and students alike. As the Interim Assistant Director and Associate Professor in the Division of Physical Therapy, Geist embodies empathy, care and excellence.  

This Women's History Month we celebrate Geist for her contributions to the field of physical therapy, and dedication to fostering a culture of compassion and care.

Ella Pollard is highly regarded for her exceptional dedication to serving both the internal and external communities of the Division of Physical Therapy. Through her steadfast commitment to students, faculty and stakeholders, Pollard consistently upholds the core values of Emory University’s mission. Students often describe her as “patient,” “kind” and “always willing to help.” Often referred to as the “heart and soul of the program,” Ella exudes a positive spirit and earns respect from everyone she meets. She is deeply committed to maintaining high standards of integrity and excellence in her work and within the Emory community.

As a passionate advocate for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI), Pollard has played a key role in advancing initiatives within the Division. She has spearheaded programs designed to foster inclusivity on campus, working collaboratively with colleagues and students to cultivate environments where underrepresented groups can thrive. Pollard challenges systems and practices that may unintentionally hinder inclusivity. Her efforts in organizing DEI-focused workshops, training sessions and community-building events have profoundly influenced the creation of a culture that values and supports every individual. In addition to her many administrative responsibilities, Pollard co-chairs the Division DEI Committee along with faculty since 2020.

Pollard personifies the principles of compassion, inclusion, respect and excellence Emory University holds dear. Her efforts to ensure equitable access and deliver exceptional service make her a truly outstanding representative of Emory.

This Women's History Month, we celebrate Pollard for her exceptional service to the Division and Emory.

Matia Johnson is a "beautiful friend, kind daughter, patient advocate, engaging dance teacher, creative thinker and empathetic soul.” Sharing her love for dance, advancing service learning and uplifting her peers, Johnson inspires and leaves a lasting impact on those around her.

Fellow DPT student, Paige Enfinger describes Johnson as a special human who has opened her eyes and heart to wonderful opportunities. For example, she encouraged Paige to try new dance styles at "Dancing in the Spirit" studio, step and group exercise classes at The Loft in Atlanta, sharing unique movement-based experiences. She consistently offers authenticity, faith, a listening ear, insightful thoughts and creative perspective. Additionally, she is an active supporter of exemplary Black-owned businesses.

Johnson is an inspiration to others in the way she supports her cohort-family. Enfinger is grateful to Emory DPT for introducing her to Johnson, who has had an outstanding impact on her life within the rigorous program and well beyond. 

Johanson is a DPT III student at Emory’s Division of Physical Therapy and will graduate in May 2025. She has touched many lives with her kindness, inclusivity and unwavering faith-based approach. This month (and every month) we celebrate her.

The Division of Physical Therapy congratulates Trisha Kesar, PT, PhD, Zachary Danziger, PhD and Sarah Blanton, PT, DPT, FNAP, on being top-ranked NIH research grant award recipients for the fiscal year 2024 among all Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (PM&R) programs in the country. The Division's funding increased from $1.8 million to $2.2 million in 2024. The faculty members were ranked in the top 50 out of all PM&R Principal Investigators who were awarded NIH grants. In the recently released Blue Ridge Report, Emory PM&R is ranked 11th in funding out of 34 PM&R departments nationwide. Current funded projects from these faculty are listed below. 

Trisha Kesar 

• Innovative closed-loop functional electrical stimulation control system for augmenting post-stroke gait.
• Biomechanical and neural mechanisms of post-stroke gait training. 
• Personalized Hip vs Ankle Exoskeleton Assistance with Biofeedback to Enhance Mobility Post-Stroke
• Locomotion adaptation deficits in older adults with mild cognitive impairment and Alzheimers disease

Zachary Danziger

• A new hybrid modeling framework combining biophysics and deep learning to predict and optimize peripheral neuromodulation outcomes in lower urinary tract disease.
• An Intracortical Brain-Computer Interface Model for High Efficiency Development of Closed-Loop Neural Decoding Algorithms 

Sarah Blanton 

• Efficacy and Sustainability of a CarePartner-Integrated Telerehabilitation Program for Persons with Stroke.

DPT faculty Shilpa Krishnan, DPT, PhD, was selected to review the Merit Switzer Research Fellowship Grants. Krishnan will participate to review the NIDILLR Grants for Doctoral Dissertation Research in March 2025. The purpose of the Switzer Research Fellowship Program is to build research capacity by providing support to highly qualified individuals, including those with disabilities, to perform research on rehabilitation, independent living and other experiences and outcomes of individuals with disabilities. Merit Fellowships are awarded to individuals in earlier stages of their research careers.

DPT faculty Kathy Lee Bishop, PT, DPT, FNAP, was elected Chair to serve the National Academies of Practice (NAP), Physical Therapy Academy. Bishop was nominated into the NAP as a Fellow in 2019. Since then, she has co-chaired and chaired the scholarship committee (since 2020). During her time, she has published four interprofessional papers and presented a workshop at the Annual Forum meeting each year along with her collaborators. Bishop said, "Being part of the National Academy of Practice is a humbling experience. Interprofessional collaboration, education and practice are the pillars of the organization." In March, Bishop will participate in her first "Day on the Hill" to promote advocacy for patients/clients. Bishop looks forward to learning from the previous chairs of the Physical Therapy Academy and continue to promote physical therapy’s role as part of the interprofessional care and education team to improve outcomes, patient experiences, student experiences and more. Bishop will serve a three-year term commencing March 2025. 

The National Academies of Practice is the alliance of healthcare professionals collaborating to advise government bodies on healthcare system. Founded in 1981, the organization includes practitioners and scholars from different health professions to support affordable, accessible and coordinated quality healthcare for all. 

The Emory DPT program was recently honored with a bronze star from the Emory Provost’s Office of Academic Planning for its exemplary assessment of student learning outcomes. Recipients of the Excellence in Assessment Awards have demonstrated exceptional approaches to measuring and evaluating academic achievement. Read the full announcement here.

First-year Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) student Casey Brown has written a reflective, lyrical poem, "Female CHF 89," that captures the essence of learning from a donor's body. This unique educational experience provides DPT students with an invaluable opportunity to understand human anatomy.

The cadaver lab, part of the Human Anatomy course, offers students a rare chance to explore the profound beauty of human anatomy. Casey’s poem goes beyond clinical observations, providing insight into how students process their vivid experiences in the cadaver lab. It emphasizes recognizing the person behind the diagnosis and the profound sense of gratitude towards the donor.

Casey's poem, "Female CHF 89," is featured in the current issue of the Journal of Humanities in Rehabilitation.