Deborah D Espy (Debbie), PT, PhD
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 Title: Associate Professor
Health Professions and Center for Human-Machine Systems
 Dept: Physical Therapy
 Office: HS 120
 Phone: 216-687-3554
 Email: D.ESPY@csuohio.edu
 Address: 2121 Euclid Ave. HS 120, Cleveland, OH 44115

Courses Taught

Publications


Faculty Only:
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Research Keywords:
balance, exercise dosage, exercise intensity, balance training, motor learning, real-time feedback, sensor technologies, virtual reality, interactive video games, knowledge translation, harness support, multi-directional harnesses
 
Education:
Ph.D., Movement Science, University of Illinois at Chicago, 2010
M.S., Physical Therapy, Medical College of Virginia/Virginia Commonwealth University, 1992
B.A., Biology/Pre-Physical Therapy, College of Wooster, 1989
 
Brief Bio:
My clinical background includes acute care, inpatient and outpatient neuro-rehabilitation, assistive technology, and geriatrics.  My research interests are in the areas of motor learning, postural control, balance training, fall prevention, exercise dosage, therapeutic aspects of video gaming and virtual reality, and the use of sensor technologies to provide exercise and motor learning feedback.
 
Honors and Awards:
Golden Apple Teaching Award.  2018
 
Research Interests:
Dosing of Balance Training Interventions. Efficacy and Intensity of proactive vs. reactive balance training
Multi-directional harness support in balance and mobility training
Measuring the intensity of balance training
Video gaming as a therapeutic modality
Sensor based feedback for movement and motor learning
Motor control and learning especially for postural control and falls resistance
Off-the-shelf technology for rehab and health
Knowledge translation for rehab technologies
 
Teaching Areas:
Functional Anatomy, Adult Neurological Dysfunction, and Neuro-motor Interventions.
 
Professional Affiliations:
American Physical Therapy Association  (Research, Neurology, Geriatrics, and Education)

International Society for Posture and Gait Research

American College of Rehabilitation Science

American Heart Association
 
Professional Experience:
Associate Professor, Physical Therapy, College of Sciences and Health
Professions, Cleveland State University, Cleveland, OH (from 2017)
& Center For Human Machine Systems & Chemical and Biomedical Engineering Department of College of Engineering


Assistant Professor, Physical Therapy, College of Sciences and Health
Professions, Cleveland State University, Cleveland, OH (2010-2017)

Visiting Clinical Assistant Professor, Physical Therapy, College of Applied Health Sciences, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL (2010)

Graduate Research Assistant, Physical Therapy, College of Applied Health Sciences, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL (2005-2009)

Graduate Assistant, Specialist in Physical Therapy; College of Applied Health Sciences, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL (2003-2009)

Assistive Technology Specialist, Department of Disability and Human and Development, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL (1995-96, 2000-01)

Clinical Senior Physical Therapist, University of Illinois at Chicago Medical Center, Chicago, IL (1997-99, 2001-03)

Director of Rehab Services, Norton and Asc. Rehab Services, Boston, MA (1996-97)

Physical Therapist, University of Illinois at Chicago Medical Center,Chicago, IL (1993-96)

Staff Physical Therapist, Grant Hospital, Chicago, IL (1992-93)
 
Professional Service:
Chair (2019 - 2022) Balance and Falls SIG of The Academy of Neurologic Physical Therapy of the APTA; Vice Chair (2016-2019), and Secretary (2012-2015)

Reviewer for: Games for Health, Human Movement Science, Journal of Neuroengineering and Rehabilitation, PEERJ, PLOSONE, APMR, J. Biomech, IEEE Access.
Reviewer for  International Conference on Virtual Rehab, 2013, 2015, 2017, 2022
 
Research Grants:
Primary Investigator
American Heart Association. Balance training post stroke: Intense harnessed multidirectional gaming compared to reactive and conventional protocol.  Funded at $180,894 for July 2018 - June 2020. (Ann Reinthal, Ton Van den Bogert)

Ohio Bureau of Workers Compensation/Ohio Occupational Safety and Health Research
Program.  Safe Patient Handling among STNAs in Nursing Homes: Compliance, Monitoring, and Continuous Quality Improvement of Best Practices. $246,462 for 2 years (June 2015 - June 217).  Co-PI, with Glenn Goodman (COSHP, Occupational Therapy Program) as Program Officer, and others from COSHP, College of Engineering, School of Nursing, and external partners as Co-PIs, Contractors, and Practice Team.


Participant/Investigator
National Institutes of Health; National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute. Institutional Training Grant ¿CD-Cavs: Cross-Disciplinary Cardiovascular Sciences Training to Diversify the STEM workforce.¿ Funded at $1,162,225 for 7/1/2020 ¿ 6/30/25. Awarded to Lerner Research Institute of the Cleveland Clinic and Cleveland State University.  Faculty mentor/sponsor to funded student (Hala Osman)  

Schearer E (PI), Reinthal A (Co-PI). REU Site: RE@CSU -- Rehabilitation Engineering at Cleveland State University. Renewal. NSF. $450,021, 3/1/21 -- 2/29/24.  Participating Mentor.
Caregiver Teaching of Neuroprostheses for Functional Reaching: Educating Empathetic Engineers to Create Solutions for High Tetraplegia.  National Science Foundation CAREER award to Eric Shearer, Collaborator.  

National Science Foundation: Engineering and Computing in Rehabilitation and Assistive Technology.  REU Site.  Faculty Participant.  $391,824.  3/1/2017 - 2/28/2020. 0.1 summer months per year.  (Eric Schearer and Ann Reinthal co-PIs)