Michaele R. Smith, PT, MEd
CAPT, U.S. PHS Ret.
Ms. Smith is the Chief of the Physical Therapy Section in the Rehabilitation Medicine Department at the National Institutes of Health (NIH), Clinical Center. She holds bachelor degrees from Morgan State University and Howard University respectively and a MEd from George Mason University and is a credentialed clinical education instructor through the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA). She completed the Bobath neuro-developmental treatment (NDT) for children. She was previously the Education Coordinator for the Physical Therapy section and developed the post-graduate Clinical Research Training program at the NIH. Currently, clinical and research interests are in the areas of pediatrics (metabolic, oncology, and genetic disorders) specifically, pediatric HIV infection, Juvenile Dermatomyositis, Smith-Magenis Syndrome, and Neurofibromatosis Type 1. She has presented lectures and written articles on the topics of pediatric HIV infection, Juvenile Dermatomyositis and Smith-Magenis Syndrome at local, national and international conferences.
Milan Barnes, MPT
Mr. Barnes is a contract Physical Therapist for the Physical Therapy section of the Rehabilitation Medicine Department at the National Institutes of Health (NIH), Clinical Center. He has been practicing for more than 15 years. He received a Master of Physical Therapy Degree from the University of Cincinnati. He has worked in a variety of clinical settings including acute hospital, inpatient rehabilitation as well as home-based health care for both private practice and for the Department of Veterans Affairs. His clinical interests include spinal cord injury rehabilitation and acute care rehabilitation.
Kieu-Phuong Capron, PT
LCDR Capron is a Commissioned Officer in the U.S. Public Health Service, Senior Staff Physical Therapist, Clinical Coordinator, and Education Coordinator for the Physical Therapy Section in the Rehabilitation Medicine Department at the National Institutes of Health (NIH), Clinical Center. She also functions as the Risk Management, Purchasing Officer and super user for the Enterprise electronic scheduling system and eRolodex for the Physical Therapy Section. She received her undergraduate degree in Physical Therapy from Mount St. Mary's College, Los Angeles in 1994 and currently collaborates on several studies involving patients with various forms of neuromuscular and rheumatologic diseases.
Earllaine Croarkin, MPT, NCS
Ms. Croarkin is a part-time contract Physical Therapist of the Physical Therapy Section of the Rehabilitation Medicine Department at the National Institutes of Health (NIH). She received her Bachelor's degree from the University of Delaware and a Master’s degree in Physical Therapy from Rutgers University in Camden, NJ. She is a board certified Neurological Clinical Specialist recognized through the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA). She is also certified in Neurodevelopmental Treatment in the management of adults (NDT). Her area of interests are neurological, oncological, patient care prevention of cancer related falls. She has lectured and published posters and manuscripts in the area of Friedreich's Ataxia, oncology and the use of neurological outcome measurement tools.
Bart Drinkard, MSPT, CCS
CAPT, U.S. PHS Ret.
Mr. Drinkard is a Senior Staff Physical Therapist in the Rehabilitation Medicine Department at the National Institutes of Health, Clinical Center. He received a Bachelor's degree in biology and Masters degrees in Physical Therapy and Exercise Physiology from Old Dominion University in Norfolk, VA. He is an American Board of Physical Therapy Specialties (ABPTS) certified Cardiopulmonary Specialist and Certified Exercise Specialist through the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM). He is currently an associate investigator on several NIH studies involving patients with a variety of clinical disorders including Advanced Lung Diseases, Cancer, Lupus, Traumatic Brain Injury and post-Covid syndrome.
Joan Elliott, PT, DPT
Dr. Joan Elliott is a Staff Physical Therapist of the Physical Therapy Section in the Rehabilitation Medicine Department at the National Institutes of Health, Clinical Center. She received her undergraduate degree from the University of Maryland in Kinesiology. She graduated from Shenandoah University with a Master of Science degree in Physical Therapy in 1994. She received her Doctor of Physical Therapy with a pediatric science track in 2015 from Rocky Mountain University of Health Professions. Her career as a physical therapist prior to NIH, includes working with pediatric patients in early intervention, school, and outpatient settings as well as adults in home care, rehabilitation, and home care. She served for four years as an Adjunct Professor at Marymount University’s Malek School of Health Professions in Arlington, VA, teaching a course on Evidence-based Practice and Critical Assessment of the Literature. While teaching there she served as a Clinical Instructor for doctoral students working overseas in Costa Rica and Nicaragua. She joined the Physical Therapy Section at NIH in December of 2020. Her research interests are in the area rehabilitation of children undergoing stem cell transplant and research in the area of pediatrics (metabolic, oncology, and pain management).
Adrienne Jackson, PT, PhD, GCS, CEEAA, MPA
Dr. Jackson is a Staff Physical Therapist of the Physical Therapy Section in the Rehabilitation Medicine Department at the National Institutes of Health, Clinical Center. She is an American Board of Physical Therapy Specialties (ABPTS) Board-Certified Clinical Specialist in Geriatric Physical Therapy. Dr. Jackson has a Doctor of Philosophy in Applied Gerontology from University of North Texas. Additionally, she has a Master of Public Administration with a specialization in Health Care Policy and Administration from Auburn University. She is a graduate of the physical therapy program at Florida A&M University. She is an American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) credentialed Clinical Instructor and an adjunct professor in the Doctor of Physical Therapy program at Florida A&M University. She has both clinical and classroom teaching experience at the undergraduate and graduate levels.
Mina Jain, PT, MS, DSc, PCS
Dr. Jain is a Research Coordinator and Senior Staff Physical Therapist of the Physical Therapy Section in the Rehabilitation Medicine Department at the National Institutes of Health, Clinical Center. She received her undergraduate degree from the University of Evansville, masters from the University of Indianapolis, and clinical doctorate from the University of Maryland. She is an American Board of Physical Therapy Specialties (ABPTS) certified Pediatric Specialist. Her research interests are in the areas of pediatrics (metabolic, oncology, and genetic disorders). She is associate investigator and lead therapist for multiple studies related to neuromuscular diseases, including gene therapy interventions. Additionally, her research interests are in the area of tracking movement using body worn inertial sensors. She has presented lectures and written articles on the topics of congenital muscular dystrophy, pediatric oncology, juvenile dermatomyositis and juvenile osteoporosis at local, national and international conferences.
Joseph A Shrader, PT, CPed
Mr. Shrader is a Senior Staff Therapist in the Physical Therapy Section in the Rehabilitation Medicine Department at the National Institutes of Health (NIH), Clinical Center. He graduated from the University of Maryland, Eastern Shore in 1989 and became a Board Certified Pedorthist in 1994. He has published papers on collaborative natural history and intervention trials for persons with Inclusion Body Myositis, Polymyositis, Dermatomyositis, HIV, Hereditary Inclusion Body Myopathy, Spinal Bulbar Muscular Atrophy, Hypoparathyroidism, and Post-Transplant Distal Limb Syndrome. His current collaborative research interests include the natural history of GNE myopathy, the effects of functional exercise in spinal-bulbar muscular atrophy (SBMA), early detection of impairments in Multiple Sclerosis, and development of tools to better understand the relationships between quantitative maximal voluntary muscle contractions and functional performance.
Brent Sperry, CPO
Mr. Sperry serves as a contract Pedorthist in the Physical Therapy Section in the Rehabilitation Medicine Department at the National Institutes of Health (NIH). He received an associate degree in specialized technical training of Orthotics and Prosthetics from the Median School of Allied Health Careers in Pittsburgh, PA and graduated from Edinboro University in Edinboro, PA with a degree in biology in 1996. He is board certified as an Orthotist and Prosthetist through the American Board for Certification in Orthotics and Prosthetics (ABC), with over 25 years of experience.
Melissa Waite, MSPT
Ms. Waite is a Staff Therapist in the Physical Therapy Section in the Rehabilitation Medicine Department at the National Institutes of Health (NIH), Clinical Center. She graduated from Simmons College in Boston, MA, with a Master of Science degree in Physical Therapy in 2000. She has worked with patients with mild to profound disabilities with a variety of diagnoses, including orthopedic, oncological and neurological disorders. Her clinical experience, prior to NIH, includes working with pediatric patients in early intervention, school, and outpatient settings as well as adult patients in outpatient settings. She joined the Physical Therapy Section at NIH in 2009 and is currently collaborating on research protocols involving patients with congenital muscular dystrophy, osteogenesis imperfecta, and giant axonal neuropathy.