RSD students receive PODS I and II awards

At the beginning of June, Abby Wilson and Katie Butera, both Rehabilitation Science Ph.D. program students, received PODS I and II awards.

Katie Buter and Abby Wilson at the 2018 Neuromuscular Plasticity Symposium poster session.

The Promotion of Doctoral Studies (PODS) Scholarships are competitive awards intended to support physical therapists during their development of research careers pursuing scientifically based and clinically relevant research that demonstrates the clinical effectiveness and functional outcomes of physical therapy practice.

Abby Wilson, an RSD Ph.D. prorgam student, received the PODS I award for $7,500 each year to advance her research.Abby Wilson was awarded a PODS I scholarship for her project titled, “A Mechanistic Approach to Management of Patients with Musculoskeletal Pain.”  The $7,500 award supports the coursework phase of her doctoral studies prior to Ph.D. candidacy. The award is funded by the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) Scholarship Fund. Abby is mentored by Dr. Joel Bialosky and he encouraged Abby to apply for this scholarship and provided invaluable mentorship in the development of her project. She plans to use this scholarship to advance her research.

Katie Butera, RSD Ph.D. student, received the PODS II award. Katie Butera was selected by the Foundation for Physical Therapy Board of Trustees to receive a 2018 PODS II Scholarship in the amount of $15,000 for her work entitled “Pain as a Nervous System Disease.” This award is generously supported by the Academy of Neurologic Physical Therapy Endowment Fund.

The PODS II award provides support for physical therapists in the post-candidacy phase of their post-professional doctoral studies.  Butera previously received a 2016 PODS I award and a 2017 PODS II award.