Alexa Johnson was recently awarded the American Society of Biomechanics Student Grant-in-Aid to conduct her dissertation titled, “How Low Back Pain Alters Lower Extremity Biomechanics and Shock Attenuation in Active Individuals”. The purpose of this project is to determine how LBP influences lower extremity biomechanics and shock attenuation in active individuals compared to healthy individuals and examine how altered biomechanical characteristics are related to clinical outcome measures. 

Doctoral student and SMRI graduate research assistant, Carolina Quintana was awarded the Lyman T. Johnson Fellowship through the UK Graduate School in the spring of 2018. This award is given to students who have maintained a minimum of a 3.2 GAP and contribute to the University of Kentucky’s interest in diversity, demonstrate leadership experience, extracurricular activities awards and recognition and/or community service. This fellowship will provide financial assistance during the 2018-2019 academic year.

Carolina Quintana was awarded the College of Health Science Diversity Enhancement Award for the 2017-2018 academic year. This scholarship is awarded to students who demonstrate diversity of thought, culture, gender, race, and ethnicity or are underrepresented in the health professions

Morgan Andrews, HHS Student and SMRI intern, received the Research Enhancement Award from University of Kentucky College of Health Sciences. This award will assist them with their project “Biomechanical Changes After Rucking: Using Inertial Measurement Units to Advance Performance and Practice”.

Alexa Johnson was chosen to represent the University of Kentucky at the Catalyzing Advocacy in Science and Engineering Workshop, sponsored by the American Association for the Advancement of Science and Association of Public & Land-Grant Universities. She traveled to Washington, D.C. where she learned about federal funding, appropriations, science policy and science communication, and spent a day on Capitol Hill meeting with Kentucky Congress Members Staff advocating for science funding.

Kelsey Picha is the SMRI’s first PhD graduate She successfully defended her dissertation entitled “The assessment and utilization of patients’ self-efficacy for exercise during rehabilitation on June 12th. Kelsey has accepted a post-doctoral fellowship at A.T. Still University where she will continue her research on patient reported outcomes and self-efficacy. 

Fred M. Dorsey III, intern at SMRI recently a graduated with a degree in Clinical Leadership and Management from the University of Kentucky.