Two Vanderbilt faculty members have received national recognition from the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) for their outstanding contributions to physical therapy research and professional advancement.
Kristin Archer, PhD, DPT, professor of Orthopaedic Surgery and associate director for Strategy and Innovation for the Institute for Population and Public Health, has been named a Catherine Worthingham Fellow of the APTA. The award recognizes physical therapists who have demonstrated unwavering commitment and lasting contributions to the profession over the course of 15 years or more and is widely regarded as one of the highest honors in the field.
“To be named a Catherine Worthingham Fellow is a tremendous honor,” said Archer, who holds the Clint Devin Directorship in Orthopaedic Surgery. “This recognition is a tribute to the unwavering support of my mentors and colleagues at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. To be a part of the physical therapy community is a privilege, and to receive this award inspires me to continue championing remote delivery of rehabilitation interventions and a biopsychosocial approach to physical therapy care.”
Archer’s research has focused on remote and in-person behavioral interventions and exercise programs as well as the assessment of pain-related and functional outcomes for clinical trials through survey and wearable technology.She currently leads several Department of Defense-funded clinical trials focused on the timing of physical therapy and efficacy of high-intensity exercise and mind-body strategies to improve patient outcomes after orthopaedic surgery.
Rogelio Coronado, PhD, MPT, research associate professor of Orthopaedic Surgery, received the Eugene Michels New Investigator Award, an honor given to promising researchers showing exceptional potential early in their careers. Coronado is one of only three recipients of this year’s award.
“Being recognized as a Eugene Michels Award recipient is tremendously meaningful, especially knowing the remarkable physical therapists who have received this award in the past and those who received it along with me,” Coronado said. “The list of award winners is inspiring, and I am overwhelmed with gratitude to be considered among them. This honor is a testament to the generosity of my mentors, the support from collaborators and the effort of the research and clinical teams with whom I’ve had the privilege to work.”
Coronado’s research has focused on clinical trials investigating the feasibility and efficacy of psychosocial and behavioral interventions for improving health outcomes in patients with musculoskeletal pain. He is currently working with colleagues in the Department of Emergency Medicine to test a remote coaching intervention to help patients recover from back pain.
“Drs. Archer and Coronado have made such significant contributions in the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and VUMC,” said Rick Wright, MD, the Dan Spengler, MD Professor of Orthopaedics and chair of the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery. “It is fantastic that they are being recognized nationally for their work.”
These awards are part of the APTA’s annual Honors & Awards Program, which celebrates individuals who have made extraordinary contributions to the profession through research, education, service and clinical practice.
