Physical Therapy
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Transitional DPT
Graduate Studies Links
Contact Information
School of Graduate and Extended Studies
Utica, NY 13502
Utica College
1600 Burrstone Road
(315) 792-3001
Physical Therapy at UC
Physical Therapy Faculty
Molly H. Crist
, DPT
Assistant Professor of Physical Therapy
Phone: (315) 792-3089
Office: 223A White Hall
Molly Crist's CV
Education
- BS Biological Anthropology, State University of New York at Buffalo
- MPT Temple University
- DPT Temple University
Clinical Experience
- 15 years, the bulk of which is in Acute Care/Facility-Based practice
- Rural home care
Content Expertise
- Post-professional clinical development
- Management of individuals with acute healthcare needs
- Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Physical Therapy
Research Interests
- History of Medicine in America
- Influences on Clinical Decision Making
- Prevention and Mitigation of Functional Impairments of Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Diseases
Thomas Crist
, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Physical Therapy
Phone: (315) 792-3390
Office: R304 Romano Hall
Education
- Temple University
Philadelphia, PA
Biological Anthropology
Doctor of Philosophy 1998
- Temple University
Philadelphia, PA
Biological Anthropology
Master of Arts 1997
- University of South Carolina
Columbia, SC
Anthropology/Public Service Archaeology
Master of Arts 1990
- Rutgers College, Rutgers University
New Brunswick, NJ
Classics and Archaeology
Bachelor of Arts 1987
Content Expertise
- Human Gross Anatomy
- Forensic Anthropology
- History of Gross Anatomy in Medical Education
- Historic Archaeology
- Paleopathology
Research Interests
- Forensic Paleopathology
- Analysis of historic skeletal populations
Ashraf M. Elazzazi
, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Physical Therapy
Phone: (315) 223-2518
Office: 248 White Hall
Ashraf Elazzazi's CV
Education
- Doctor of Philosophy in Physical Therapy (May, 2003) Texas Woman’s University, Houston, Texas
- Master of Science in Physical Therapy (May,1998), Texas Woman’s University, Houston, Texas
- Bachelor of Science (1985), School of Physical Therapy, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt
Clinical Experience
- Acute care and in patient rehabilitation
- Home care for post operative orthopedic, pulmonary and cardiac conditions
Content Expertise
- Musculoskeletal conditions
- Geriatrics and fall prevention
Research Interests
- Validation of physical therapy measurement tools, specifically functional outcome measures and test batteries
- Biomechanical analysis of movements in the young and elderly individuals.
- Effects of levels of activity on function and relationship between physical activity and wellness and its role in disease prevention.
Dawn E. Evans, DPT
Assistant Professor of Physical Therapy
Phone: (315) 223-2570
Office: 225 White Hall
Education
- BS in Physical Therapy SUNY Health Science at Syracuse 1990
- DPT Utica College 2007
Clinical Experience
- 3 years outpatient care at Faxton Hospital
- 8 years of Home Health Care Services
- 13 years manager/owner outpatient private practice
- Currently per diem therapist for local outpatient private practice with weekly hours of pro bono service
Content Expertise
- Currently teach in Modules I &II of entry level program which covers musculosketal and neuromuscular content of the curriculum
Mary Jean (M.J.) Gelsomino
, DPT
Associate Professor of Physical Therapy
Phone: (315) 792-3310
Office: 242 White Hall
MJ Gelsomino's CV
Education
- BS Physical Therapy, Ithaca College
- MA Kinesiology, Concentration in Developmental Disabilities, New York University
- DPT, Massachusetts General Hospital Institute of Health Professions
Clinical Experience
- 24 years clinical experience in acute and rehabilitation hospital settings, home care, and private practice
- 15 years primarily in pediatrics, including serving as a consulting therapist at a regional spina bifida clinic
Content Expertise
- Neuromuscular Physical Therapy
- Pediatrics
- Promotion of Health, Wellness and Fitness
Research Interests
- Childhood Overweight and Obesity
- Problem-based Learning
Shauna L. Malta, DPT
, M.S.
Associate Professor of Physical Therapy
Phone: (315) 792-3313
Office: 226 White Hall
Shauna Malta's Professional Publications and Presentations
Education
- BS in Physical Therapy, Russell Sage College
- MS in Adult Education, Elmira College.
- DPT – Utica College
Clinical Experience
- 11 years of clinical experience in adult inpatient rehabilitation and home health care settings
- 17 years of experience as an educator in the field of physical therapy.
Content Expertise
- Primary responsibilities include managing the clinical education component of the graduate program and teaching in areas of interest such as adult learning and adult neurological rehabilitation.
- Served as secretary for the NYNJ Physical Therapy Clinical Education Consortium for two consecutive terms. Please visit the consortium website for additional information related to current issues in clinical education www.nynjptclined.org.
Research Interests
- Development of clinical faculty
- Adult education
- Readiness for self directed learning
Peter A. Pawson
, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Physical Therapy
Phone: (315) 792-3385
Office: R306 Romano Hall
Education
- B.Sc. (Neurobiology) Mc Gill University
- Ph.D. (Neurobiology) McGill University
- B.S. (Physical Therapy) Utica College
Clinical Experience
- Outpatient Physical Therapy
- Home Care
Content Expertise
Research Interests
- Neuronal Plasticity
- Synapses
- Recovery of function post-stroke
Dale L. Scalise-Smith
, Ph.D.
Assoc. Prof. Physical Therapy
Phone: (315) 792-3376
Office: 222A White Hall
Dale Scalise-Smith's CV
Education
- BS in Physical Therapy from Northeastern University
- MS in Physical Therapy from University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
- PhD in Special Education fromUniversity of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Clinical Experience
- Early Intervention-children birth to three years
- Educational services in public school systems
Content Expertise
- Curriculum development-entry level
- Pediatric physical therapy
- motor control, motor development, and motor learning
Research Interests
- Motor control and motor learning across the lifespan (particularly the very young Immature systems) and very old (mature systems))
David T. Schilling
, B.S.
Phone: (315) 223-2561
Office: 248 White Hall
David Schilling's CV
Clinical Experience
- 9 years, Outpatient Orthopedic and Sports Medicine
Content Expertise
- Musculoskeletal Examination and Intervention including Manual Therapy
Research Interests
- Injury prevention for athletes
Jan M. Simpson, DPT
, B.S.
Assistant Professor of Physical Therapy
Phone: (315) 792-3308
Office: 225 White Hall
Jan Simpson's CV
Education
- B.S. Biology LeMoyne College
- B.S. Physical Therapy SUNY Upstate Medical Center
- M.S. Health Care Management and Policy
- Doctor of Physical Therapy Utica College
Clinical Experience
- 29 Years, practicing in multiple environments of care
- St. Elizabeth Medical Center - Utica, NY
- 9 years as Director of Physical Therapy Services
- Last 10 years as Director of Rehabilitation Services, overseeing staff in multiple environments of care, including:
- Facility based acute care
- Home care
- Ambulatory care
- Multi-phase cardiac rehabilitation
- Services to United Cerebral Palsy - Utica Division (adult and pediatric services)
- School based pediatric therapy, multi-disciplinary
Content Expertise
- Management/Professional Practice
- Clinical Management of the patient with acute health care needs
- Professional ethics
Research Interests
- Post-Operative physical therapy management of patients undergoing radiation therapy (see article referenced in CV)
- Creation of evidence-based care mapping
James (Jim) M. Smith
, DPT
Assistant Professor of Physical Therapy
Phone: (315) 792-3074
Office: 229 White Hall
Jim Smith's CV
Education
- Bachelor of Science in Physical Therapy, Northeastern University
- Master of Arts in Psychology (Neuroscience Program), University of Hartford
- Doctor of Physical Therapy, Simmons College
Clinical Experience
- 12 years of hospital-based practice and continuing part-time practice over the last 12 years.
Content Expertise
- Acute care physical therapy.
- Examination and interventions for impairments of the neuromuscular and integumentary systems.
- Pharmacology in rehabilitation.
- Strategies for wellness and health promotion.
Research Interests
- Clinical decision-making processes used by physical therapists.
- Direction and supervision in the physical therapy clinic.
A Message From The Chair Of Physical Therapy

Dale Scalise-Smith, Ph.D.
Welcome. If you want an exciting, lucrative, and personally satisfying career that involves working with people of all ages to meet their health care needs and improve their quality of life, Physical Therapy may be the field for you.
Read more >
"I liked the amount of research involved in the problem-based learning approach. Problem-based learning really prepared me to look up what I needed to know once I was a professional physical therapist."
"I liked the amount of research involved in the problem-based learning approach. Problem-based learning really prepared me to look up what I needed to know once I was a professional physical therapist."
~
Eric Stewart
Physical Therapist
Johns Hopkins Medical Center
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