Jennifer Stevens-Lapsley PT, PhD, FAPTA

Executive Director

jennifer.stevens-lapsley@cuanschutz.edu

Dr. Stevens-Lapsley is a Professor in the Physical Therapy Program at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Center. She is focused on identifying, integrating and advancing innovative evidence-based medicine solutions for older adult rehabilitation through highly effective research methods and partnerships. She has almost 20 years of clinical research experience in patients with osteoarthritis planning joint arthroplasty, and more recently, medically complex patient populations. Her research ranges from understanding the mechanisms of skeletal muscle dysfunction to studies of implementation of best rehabilitation practices in post-acute care settings. More specifically, her research focuses on clinical trials, includes the evaluation of care bundling strategies for joint arthroplasty, pragmatic interventions in medically complex patient populations, and health services research to understanding how rehabilitation services impact hospitalization rates and functional performance. Dr. Stevens-Lapsley earned her PT degree at the University of Delaware, where she went on to complete a PhD in Biomechanics and Movement Science with a focus in Applied Physiology. She then completed post-doctoral training at the University of Florida.

Michael Bade PT, DPT, PhD, OCS, FAAOMPT

Director of Musculoskeletal Research and Clinical Innovation

mike.bade@cuanschutz.edu

Dr. Michael Bade is an Associate Professor Physical Therapy Program Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO Dr. Bade is actively involved in the mentorship of both professional and post-professional students. He completed his orthopaedic manual physical therapy at Duke University and is the past director of Regis University’s Orthopaedic Manual Physical Therapy Fellowship Program. He is a recognized researcher and lecturer in the area of orthopaedics and has received funding from numerous sources including the National Institutes of Health. 

Alexander Garbin, PT, DPT, PhD

Director of Falls Prevention

alexander.garbin@cuanschutz.edu

Alexander Garbin is a Health Research Science Specialist in the Eastern Colorado VA Medical Center, Assistant Professor in the University of Colorado Physical Therapy program, and Director of Fall Prevention on the RESTORE Team. His research focuses on developing and assessing the feasibility of a multifactorial fall prevention model targeting older Veterans seen within VA primary care, as part of his VA Career Development Award-2, as well as implementation of routine walking speed measurements in primary care.

Lauren Hinrichs-Kinney, PT, DPT, PhD, OCS

Director of Implementation Science

lauren.hinrichs-kinney@cuanschutz.edu

Dr. Lauren Hinrichs-Kinney holds the position of Assistant Professor within the Physical Therapy program at the University of Colorado, concurrently serving as a post-doctoral fellow at the VA Eastern Colorado Health Care System Geriatric Research, Education, and Clinical Center. She is a board-certified orthopedic clinical specialist, having earned her Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) degree from Northwestern University. She received her PhD from the University of Colorado, where she had the distinctive opportunity to merge her interests in pedagogy, implementation science, and the clinical application of evidence-based exercise therapy. Her current research endeavors focus on exploring innovative strategies for implementing exercise therapy within skilled nursing facilities. Simultaneously, her educational mission in the field of physical therapy revolves around developing a framework to enrich the delivery of exercise-related curriculum and foster the proficiency of entry-level physical therapy students in effective exercise prescription techniques. 

Jeremy Graber, PT, DPT, PhD

Postdoctoral Fellow

jeremy.graber@cuanschutz.edu

Jeremy Graber is a post-doctoral research fellow in the VA Denver-Seattle Center of Innovation (COIN) and the University of Colorado Physical Therapy Program. His research focuses on supporting personalized and evidence-based rehabilitation, with a particular emphasis on postoperative orthopedic populations. 

Audrey Keleman, PhD, MSCI, OTR/L

Postdoctoral Fellow

audrey.keleman@cuanschutz.edu

Audrey Keleman is an Advanced Fellow in Geriatrics at the Eastern Colorado VA/GRECC. Her research interests are in implementing evidence-based interventions that support older adults to age in place, especially those with cognitive impairments. 

Mattie Pontiff, PT, DPT, PhD

Postdoctoral Fellow

mattie.pontiff@cuanschutz.edu

Dr. Pontiff is physical therapist and an Advanced Geriatrics Post-Doctoral Research Fellow in the Center of Innovation (COIN) at the Eastern Colorado Department of Veterans Affairs and a post-doctoral research fellow at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus. She completed her PhD at LSU Health Sciences Center in New Orleans in 2022. Her long-term career goal is to improve mobility in older Veterans through evaluation and implementation of novel and evidence-based rehabilitative interventions. Dr. Pontiff’s current projects are focused on improving function and mobility through implementation of high-intensity resistance training with older adults in post-acute care. 

Michelle Rauzi, PT, DPT, PhD, ATC

Postdoctoral Fellow

michelle.rauzi@cuanschutz.edu

Michelle Rauzi is an Advanced Research Fellow in the Denver-Seattle VA Center of Innovation and a post-doctoral fellow in the Department of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus. Her research centers around improving physical rehabilitation interventions for older adults with multiple chronic conditions and developing self-care interventions for patients with chronic pain. She also focuses on the use of digital health technologies to deliver physical therapy services, facilitate data sharing, and supplement interventions in the contexts of multimorbidity and chronic pain. 

Nina Carson, PT, DPT, OCS

PhD Student

nina.carson@cuanschutz.edu

Dr. Nina Carson is an orthopedic clinical specialist physical therapist working in the RETORE team on the total joint arthroplasty line of research during her PhD. Dr. Carson worked in outpatient rehabilitation after completing her Orthopedic Residency and her Doctor of Physical Therapy degree from Regis University and studying biomechanics at Cal Poly Humboldt for her Master of Science. Dr. Carson brings her passion for improving physical therapy practice and rehabilitation outcomes for older adults to the RESTORE team. Dr. Carson is a recipient of the Integrative Physiology of Aging T32 award and a Rheumatology Research Foundation research trainee. 

Melissa Tran, PT, DPT, MPH

PhD Student

melissa.tran@cuanschutz.edu

Melissa Tran is a practicing Physical Therapist in skilled nursing facilities and is passionate about improving rehabilitation outcomes in older adults. Dr. Tran completed her Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) at the University of Colorado and Master of Public Health (MPH) in Epidemiology at the Colorado School of Public Health. She is the recent recipient of the Physiology of Aging T32 and Foundation for Physical Therapy Research PODS I Awards, which will support her training in the University of Colorado Rehabilitation Sciences PhD program with a focus on advancing post-acute care for medically complex older adult.

Frannie Westlake, DPT

PhD Student

frannie.westlake@cuanschutz.edu

Frannie Westlake is a practicing Physical Therapist who is a board certified Neurologic and Oncologic clinical specialist.  Her current research interests are medically complex patient population and implementing research into clinical practice.  Dr Westlake completed her Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) at the University of North Florida.  She is the current recipient of the NIA Diversity Supplement to help support her training at the University of Colorado Rehabilitation Science PhD program with a focus on clinician and facility implementation facilitators and barriers.  

Rebecca Altic, PT, DPT
Research Services Professional

Professional Interests
Clinical trial management, rehabilitation education and training, clinical efficiency

Suzanne Behrens
Research Services Professional

Professional Interests
Research Outcomes Assessor for Multi-Component Telerehabilitation

Jennifer Fremgen, PT
Research Services Professional

Professional Interests
Musculoskeletal rehab, enhancing movement in ageing individuals, accelerating return to function while incorporating overall wellness

Mackenzie Fuller
Research Services Professional

Professional Interests
Clinical research focused on fall prevention and multicomponent telerehabilitation, participant recruitment

Maria Gifford, PT, DPT
Intermediate Research Services Professional

Professional Interests
Clinical trial coordination, data management and visualization, health equity

Maggie Givan
Research Services Professional

Professional Interests
Research regulatory compliance

Margie Grant
Business Services Professional

Professional Interests
Executive support to the director, administrative and HR onboarding support, clinical trial support, events and program coordination

Dennis Hansen, PT, MBA
Senior Business Services Professional

Professional Interests
Arts and STEM research, education and training, MSK health

Amy Peters
Senior Research Services Professional

Professional Interests
Clinical trial management, motion capture and wearable technology, optimizing rehabilitation, individualized health care

Jessica Plew
Intermediate Research Services Professional

Professional Interests
Clinical trial coordination to support older Veterans with complex health conditions

Renee Rudys-Sharpard
Senior Research Services Professional

Professional Interests
Collaborative project management, contributing to foundations that create team success, process improvement

Haley Russell
Research Services Professional

Professional Interests
Clinical trial management, recruitment and participant experience, ageing research

Class of 2024

Carmen Houck

Hannah Mader

Jamie McMullen

Michael Tran

Cassidy Weeks

Class of 2025

Maximilliano Martinez

Kaitlyn Mauder

Jacqueline Mosley

Daniel White

Class of 2026

Callum Bolger

Kahle Mercer

Fiona Story

Laura Churchill, PT, PhD
Postdoctoral Fellow, 2021-2023
Current Position: Research Associate, Active Ageing Research Team at the University of British Columbia

Emma Beisheim-Ryan, PT, DPT, PhD
Postdoctoral Fellow, 2021-2023
Current Position: Musculoskeletal Rehabilitation Scientist, DoD-VA Extremity Trauma and Amputation Center of Excellence, Naval Medical Center San Diego, Defense Health Agency

Maegan Olivos, PT, DPT, MPH, GCS
Postdoctoral Fellow, 2020-2023
Current Position: Affiliate Faculty, Rueckert-Hartman College for Health Professions, Regis University Department of Physical Therapy

Katie Butera, PT, DPT, PhD
Postdoctoral Fellow, 2020-2022
Current Position: Assistant Professor in the College of Health Sciences Department of Physical Therapy at the University of Delaware

Jacob Capin, PT, DPT, PhD, MS
Postdoctoral Fellow, 2019-2021
Current Position: Assistant Professor, Marquette University

Jesse Christensen, DPT, PhD, MS
Postdoctoral Fellow, 2017-2019
Current Position: Salt Lake City VAMC, Assistant Professor, U. Utah

Victor Cheuy, PhD
Postdoctoral Fellow, 2015-2018
Current Position: Assistant Professor, U. of California San Francisco

Roger Paxton, PhD
Postdoctoral Fellow, 2013-2017
Current Position: Research Fellow, U. of Colorado Children's Hospital

Joshua Winters, PhD
Postdoctoral Fellow, 2012-2014
Current Position: Assistant Professor, University of Kentucky

Abbey Thomas, PhD, ATC
Postdoctoral Fellow, 2010-2012
Current Position: Assistant Professor, University of North Carolina