Dr. Jain is currently serving as the Acting Chief and Research Coordinator of the Physical Therapy Section in the Rehabilitation Medicine Department at the National Institutes of Health, Clinical Center. She was awarded the Catherine Worthingham Fellowship award from the American Physical Therapy Association in 2023. 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 has over 30 years of experience at the NIH. Dr. Jain’s research interests are in the area of pediatric conditions (metabolic, oncology, and genetic disorders) and tracking movement using body-worn inertial sensors. She is an associate investigator and lead therapist for multiple studies related to neuromuscular diseases, including gene therapy interventions. Dr. Jain has presented lectures and written articles on the topics of congenital muscular dystrophy, pediatric oncology, and juvenile dermatomyositis at local, national, and international conferences.
Mr. Barnes is a Research 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 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.
Ms. Croarkin is a part-time contract Physical Therapist of the Physical Therapy Section of the Rehabilitation Medicine Department at the NIH Clinical Center. 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 areas of interests are neurological, oncological, and 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 NIH Clinical Center. He received a Bachelor's degree in biology and Master’s 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.
Dr. Elliott is a Staff Physical Therapist in the Physical Therapy Section of the Rehabilitation Medicine Department at the NIH 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, receiving 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 five 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. This course was taught online for seven years to both national and international physical therapists. While teaching 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 include: pediatric stem cell transplant, lymphedema management, oncological rehabilitation, and physical therapy as it relates to patients with opportunistic infections, such as human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).
Adrienne Jackson, PT, PhD, MPA▾
Dr. Adrienne Jackson is a Research Physical Therapist in the Rehabilitation Medicine Department specializing in geriatrics and balance.
Dr. Jackson is an ABPTS Board-Certified Clinical Specialist in Geriatric Physical Therapy. She is also an APTA-credentialed Balance and Falls Professional, a Certified Exercise Expert for Aging Adults, and a Certified Dementia Practitioner.
Dr. Jackson earned her BS in Physical Therapy at Florida A&M University and her PhD in Applied Gerontology at the University of North Texas. Additionally, she earned a Master of Public Administration with a specialization in Health Care Policy and Administration from Auburn University.
Prior to joining the NIH, Dr. Jackson served as the Director of Clinical Education for 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 and is an American Physical Therapy Association Credentialed Clinical Instructor. Dr. Jackson has lectured and published in the areas of geriatrics, gerontology, and neurology.
Alexandra "Sasha" Manurung, MS, PTA, ATC▾
Ms. Manurung is a Staff Physical Therapist Assistant in the Physical Therapy Section in the Rehabilitation Medicine Department at the NIH Clinical Center. She earned her Master of Science degree in Health Education and Promotion at Middle Tennessee State University, and Bachelor of Science degree in Athletic Training at Duquesne University before attending Montgomery College to earn her Associates of Applied Science through the Physical Therapist Assistant program. With her background in orthopedics, she has primarily worked in schools and outpatient orthopedic clinics and continues to practice as a licensed Athletic Trainer as needed in local schools. She treats patients throughout the Clinical Center with post-surgical, pre-and post-transplant, oncologic, neurologic or orthopedic needs. She also has a special interest in employee health and wellness and co-leads a Monthly Movement and Wellness initiative for the Rehabilitation Medicine Department. She is also on the NIH Health and Wellness Council board to improve employee health and wellness for the NIH as a whole.
Ms. Sheehan is a contract Physical Therapist for the Physical Therapy section of the Rehabilitation Medicine Department at the NIH Clinical Center. She has been practicing for more than 20 years. After receiving her Master of Physical Therapy Degree from the D’Youville University in Buffalo, NY, she worked throughout the US in Pennsylvania, Colorado, and Northern Virginia in acute care and acute rehabilitation. Her clinical interests include Neuro rehabilitation and Oncology rehabilitation.
Mr. Shrader is a Senior Staff Therapist in the Physical Therapy Section in the Rehabilitation Medicine Department at the 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.
Mr. Sperry serves as a contract Pedorthist in the Physical Therapy Section in the Rehabilitation Medicine Department at the NIH Clinical Center. 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 30 years of experience.
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.