Ph.D. in Interdisciplinary Health Sciences - WMU

04/30/2026

Announcement: IHS/PhD Program Dissertation Defense

Candidate Name: Erica Michelle Fernandes, PT, MS, DPT, PhD Candidate

Dissertation Title: Predicting Clinical Outcomes of Non-specific Low Back Pain by Studying the Interaction of Clinical and Demographic Factors of a Retrospective Data Set

Date: Wednesday, May 13, 2026
Time: 12:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Join Zoom Meeting: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81494737867
Meeting ID: 814 9473 7867

Dissertation Committee: Chairperson: Diane Powers Dirette, Ph.D., OTL, FAOTA, Professor- Interdisciplinary Health Sciences Ph.D. Program, WMU; Committee Members: Rob Lyerla, PhD, MGIS, Professor- Interdisciplinary Health Sciences PhD Program, WMU, Alessander Santos PT, PhD Professor, Physical Therapy Department, WMU, Kieran Fogarty, PhD, Director/Professor - Interdisciplinary Health Sciences PhD Program, WMU.

Abstract: The purpose of this research is to investigate demographic factors, including age, gender, body mass index (BMI), race, marital status, insurance type, severity of disease (initial pain level), and clinical factors such as number of visits (no. of visits) at physical therapy (PT), length of time at PT and the type of clinician either physical therapist versus physical therapy assistant (PTA), that most predict PT clinical outcomes in patients with nonspecific low back pain (NSLBP) and see if there is an interaction between demographic and clinical variables.

Methods: The current study is a retrospective, cross-sectional, observational study using secondary electronic medical records (EMRs) of patients receiving PT to examine associations among various factors influencing PT clinical outcomes. This exploratory study answered four research questions. The first research question analyzed whether demographic variables such as age, gender, BMI, race, marital status, insurance type, and initial pain level was associated with functional improvement, which is the Patient Specific Functional Scale (PSFS) change score, for patients receiving PT for NSLBP. In addition to demographic variables, clinical variables such as the no. of PT visits, the length of treatment time, and visits provided by a physical therapist versus the PTA were also included to observe for correlations with functional improvement. A total of four research questions were generated based on their clinical relevance to the field of physical therapy (PT). These four research questions examined the association of demographic factors on clinical outcomes, the association between the number of visits and outcomes, the association between initial pain and outcomes, and finally, the interaction between demographic and clinical factors.

Results: Demographic factors such as BMI, marital status, and insurance type were statistically significant. BMI was statistically significant but had no clinical relevance. The subgroup in the Marital Status, which is the Divorced group, was statistically significant with a small effect size. The subgroup in the insurance type, which is patients on Medicaid, was also statistically significant with a small effect size. The study found no interaction effects between the demographic and clinical variables. The no. of visits and initial pain levels did not show statistical significance.

Conclusion: The best fitting variables that were associated with the PSFS change score were BMI, being divorced, and Medicaid insurance. These variables, however, contribute to only 8% of the variance in the clinical outcomes, which reveals that the other 92% of the variance could be attributed to other factors.

Zoom is the leader in modern enterprise cloud communications.

04/29/2026

Announcement: IHS/PhD Program Dissertation Defense
Candidate Name: Heather Staal, PT, MSPT, Board Certified Clinical Specialist in Neurology (ABPTS), PhD Candidate

Dissertation Title: Personal and High-Intensity Gait Factors Associated with Balance and Walking Improvement with Outpatient Stroke Rehabilitation: A Retrospective Study

Date: Monday, May 11, 2026
Time: 12:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83692759510
Meeting ID: 836 9275 9510

Dissertation Committee: Chairperson: Diane Powers Dirette, Ph.D., OTL, FAOTA, Professor- Interdisciplinary Health Sciences Ph.D. Program, Western Michigan University; Committee Members: Rob Lyerla, PhD, MGIS, Professor- Interdisciplinary Health Sciences PhD Program, Western Michigan University, Amy M. Yorke, PT, PhD, Board Certified Clinical Specialist in Neurology (ABPTS), Professor, Myron and Margaret Winegarden Professor, Physical Therapy Department, University of Michigan Flint.


Abstract: The purpose of this study is to examine the relationships between personal factors and High-Intensity Gait variables and balance and walking improvement in an outpatient stroke population. Background: Stroke is a leading cause of long‑term disability, with persistent gait and balance impairments commonly limiting independence and participation. High-intensity gait training (HIGT) is an evidence-based rehabilitation approach that improves walking outcomes following stroke; however, guidance on how specific training variables are applied in outpatient physical therapy settings remains broad.

Methods: This retrospective observational study analyzes clinical data from outpatient physical therapy episodes in which HIGT is a primary intervention. Personal factors include age, stroke severity, and stroke chronicity. HIGT variables include visit frequency, total number of visits, duration of gait training per session, type of walking practice, and the proportion of sessions reaching target training intensity. Balance and walking outcomes are assessed using percentage change scores on the Berg Balance Scale, Functional Gait Assessment, Ten Meter Walk Test, and Six Minute Walk Test. Multiple linear regression models are used to examine associations between predictors and outcomes. Exploratory spline models are used to evaluate potential nonlinear relationships.

Results: Walking outcomes are most strongly associated with cumulative therapy exposure and training intensity, whereas balance outcomes show greater variability and possibly nonlinear patterns. Stroke severity is associated with proportional gains for walking endurance and speed. The single predictor that was associated with improvements in walking speed and endurance was the number of therapy visits an individual received.

Conclusion: These findings suggest that improvements in balance and walking after outpatient stroke rehabilitation are associated with both personal factors and the specific manner in which HIGT is delivered. However, the modest relationship between these variables and improvements in walking and balance suggests that future studies should consider non-linear relationships and additional variables that may limit PT visits in outpatient therapy. Prioritizing higher dosages of PT, as well as targeting high intensity during HIGT interventions in outpatient therapy, could optimize balance and walking outcomes after stroke.

Zoom is the leader in modern enterprise cloud communications.

04/03/2026

Jodi Haugen’s doctoral research, “A Mixed Methods Study Comparing Insurance-Billing and Non-Billing Payment Models in Occupational, Physical, and Speech Therapy Incorporating Hippotherapy,” has been selected for Western Michigan University’s Graduate Student Research Grant, Spring 2026, with an award of $900. Congratulations!

04/01/2026

Announcement: 2026–2027 Patricia L. Thompson Dissertation Award Recipient

The Graduate College at Western Michigan University announced that Oluwasomidoyin Bello, a Ph.D. student in the Interdisciplinary Health Sciences Program (IHS-PhD), has been selected as a recipient of the 2026–2027 Patricia L. Thompson Dissertation Award.

The award recognizes Bello’s dissertation project, “Maternal Utilization of Early and Adequacy of Prenatal Care Among Black Women in Kalamazoo, Michigan: Secondary Data Analysis of Phase 8 (2016–2022) PRAMS.” This work addresses critical issues in maternal and public health, with a focus on disparities in prenatal care utilization.

The Patricia L. Thompson Dissertation Award is granted annually to doctoral candidates who demonstrate outstanding scholarly achievement and are within one year of completing their dissertation. Recipients receive $1,000 to support expenses associated with dissertation completion.

Please join us in congratulating Oluwasomidoyin Bello on this well-deserved recognition.

03/05/2026

Announcement: IHS/PhD Program Dissertation Defense
Candidate Name: Sonia Young, CO, MSc, PhD Candidate
Dissertation Title: Convergence and Divergence of Opinion about Treatment of Binocular Vision Disorders among Vision Care Professionals
Date: Wednesday, March 18, 2026
Time: 12:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85643602336
Meeting ID: 856 4360 2336

Dissertation Committee: Chairperson: Kieran Fogarty, PhD, Director/Professor - Interdisciplinary Health Sciences PhD Program, Western Michigan University; Committee Members: Mary Lagerwey PhD, Professor Emerita WMU Bronson School of Nursing, Alison Jenerou OD, FCOVD, FAAO, Director of Optometric Residency Programs at Ferris State University, Darren Oystreck, OC(C), PhD, Program Chair of the Clinical Vision Science Program at Dalhousie University


Abstract: There are three distinct professions prominent in the field of pediatric vision care. They are ophthalmology, optometry and orthoptics. All professions are integral to the detection and treatment of pediatric binocular vision disorders (PBVD). However, distinct schools of thought exist to describe the best approach to PBVD and their treatments. Literature often highlights two opposing schools of thought represented by the “medical” and “behavioral” approaches. While there is academic debate about the merits and pitfalls of either approach, there is a paucity of nuanced perspectives which more closely resemble the ways in which pediatric ocular clinicians approach diagnosis and treatment of PBVD. The aim of this project was to investigate and describe what factors shape the way pediatric ocular clinicians build their practice patterns with respect to addressing PBVD.
This study included 22 pediatric ocular clinicians practicing in the United States or Canada (9 orthoptists, 9 optometrists and 4 ophthalmologists). These individuals participated in 30-90-minute semi-structured interviews whose transcripts were coded and analyzed via Atlas.TI software by two coders. Straussian grounded theory (GT) methodology was used to analyze the transcripts. Five themes emerged: (a) clinicians adhere to the universal principle to do no harm, (b) clinicians are ambassadors of their profession’s objectives, (c) practice is shaped by individual experiences, not just evidence, (d) interprofessional relations are confounded by language barriers, and (e) all clinicians exist on a spectrum of practice.
The findings of this study promote a better understanding of nuanced perspectives that exist among pediatric ocular clinicians with respect to the treatment of PBVD. They can contribute to better communication among clinicians on opposite ends of the spectrum of practice and to the development of a more unified approach to treatment of PBVD.

Zoom is the leader in modern enterprise cloud communications.

03/02/2026

Announcement: IHS/PhD Program Dissertation Defense
Candidate Name: Stephanie Althoff, MS, OTR/L, PhD Candidate

Dissertation Title: Lived Experiences in Burn Scar Management: A Qualitative Exploration of Perceived Intervention Effectiveness and Factors Influencing Adherence

Date: Monday March 9th, 2026
Time: 12:15 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Join Zoom Meeting: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83579637867
Meeting ID: 835 7963 7867

Dissertation Committee: Chairperson: Diane Dirette, PhD, Professor in Interdisciplinary Health Sciences PhD Program; Committee Members: Mary Lagerwey, PhD, Professor Emerita WMU Bronson School of Nursing and Gregory Chown, OTD, Director of Health Science Program at Salisbury University

Abstract: Burn injuries often result in scarring, which plays a role in physical functioning, such as the ability to move an affected joint or perform an everyday task, as well as psychosocial functioning, such as impaired body image. Various approaches to scar management are used to reduce the consequences of scar, including interventions such as pressure garments, laser therapy, and scar massage. Despite available interventions and some demonstrated efficacy in the literature, the development of scarring and subsequent associated consequences persist, leading some survivors to seek alternative interventions such as acupuncture or Reiki. A key component to understanding the success of and barriers to these scar management interventions is exploring the patients’ subjective experiences. Using an interpretive phenomenological approach, this qualitative study sought to explore burn survivors’ lived experiences of scar management interventions, including barriers and facilitators to engagement and perceived intervention effectiveness.

Data collected included a demographic survey, the patient scale of the Patient and Observer Scar Scale (POSAS) and in-depth, semi-structured interviews with ten burn survivors who had a history of burn scarring and engagement in scar management interventions. Data were analyzed using Braun & Clarke’s (2006) six-step approach to thematic analysis, which resulted in five superordinate themes: Long-Term Disruption and Identity Reconstruction, Integrating Scar Management into Everyday Life, Experiences of Scar Interventions, Systems, Access, and the Work of Getting Care, and Evaluating Scar Intervention Benefits, Limitations, and Adaptations, with additional subthemes identified for each primary theme.

Findings indicated that scar management was experienced within a broader context of life-altering and prolonged recovery, in which participants worked to integrate scar management interventions into their everyday lives and existing responsibilities. Motivation to engage in interventions varied by age at injury and life context, and at times varied throughout the course of recovery. Scar interventions were most often characterized as physically uncomfortable, with the appearance-altering burden of pressure garments being further highlighted. Additional barriers included financial concerns, limited resources, gaps in knowledge and preparedness, and accessibility issues, including access to specialized interventions and burn-competent providers.

Despite these apparent barriers, many participants continue to view interventions as non-negotiable and perceive effects including improved scar characteristics, improved range of motion, higher self-confidence, and overall improved function and quality of life. Key facilitators to intervention engagement included peer support, which provided validation, practical “tips and tricks”, and shared experiential knowledge. Establishing routines, flexible wear schedules, and the use of more acceptable alternatives such as athletic compressive clothing further supported engagement.

The findings from this study underscore the need for more realistic preparation for burn recovery, greater integration of mental health and peer support into care, and more flexible interventions that can be adapted to changing motivation, roles, and life contexts. The findings further reveal gaps in burn-specific expertise, access, and insurance navigation, suggesting opportunities for improved provider education, expanded case management, and system-level approaches. These results emphasize the need for burn scar management programs that are not only clinically informed, but also grounded in survivors’ realities, emphasizing feasibility, well-being, and participation in everyday life.

Zoom is the leader in modern enterprise cloud communications.

02/26/2026

Kalamazoo Forward Ventures is partnering with WMU to host Cultivate 269, a pitch competition with $100,000 on the line that is open to all Western students. One of our own Interdisiplinary Health Science doctoral students, Amber Duddy, has entered the inaugural competition.

Please consider voting for Amber (using your wmich email account) before March 12 at cultivate269.com.

Learn more about Amber’s proposal here: https://www.cultivate269.com/ideas/1960b0e6-8f0e-40ef-875a-d53b7eb8d39a

Share your ideas, vote for favorites, and compete at WMU's premier student pitch competition.

02/11/2026

IHS/PhD Program Dissertation Defense
Candidate Name: Dawn M. Smith, MSN, RN, AHN-BC, PhD Candidate

Dissertation Title: Barriers to Climate Change and Sustainability Action: Nursing Education and Practice

Time: Feb 26, 2026, 12:00 - 1PM PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Join Zoom Meeting: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84669297520
Meeting ID: 846 6929 7520

Dissertation Committee: Chairperson: Kieran Fogarty, PhD, Director of Interdisciplinary Health Sciences; Committee Members: Lisa Dechano-Cook, PhD, WMU School of Environment, Geography, and Sustainability and Teddie Potter, PhD, Director Center for Planetary Health and Environmental Justice, School of Nursing University of Minnesota.

Abstract: Climate change is one of the most pressing public health emergencies of our time and nurses can have a great impact in their current practice and in the education of future nurses (Health Care without Harm, 2025American Nurses Association, 2023; The Alliance of Nurses for Healthy Environments, n.d.). Deaths due to rising temperatures, vector-borne illness, and food insecurity related to drought and extreme weather are on the rise (WHO, 2024). It has been estimated that globally over 250,000 additional deaths will be attributed to climate related effects between 2030 and 2050 (WHO, 2023; Watts et al., 2020). Methods: A primary data collection cross sectional study used the validated Sustainability Attitudes and Nursing Survey (SANS-2) (Richardson, et al., 2015) focusing on a study sample of 144 US community health nurse educators, Michigan public health nurses, and US nurse educators. The variables of area of specialty were compared with the SANS-2 question 5, “I apply sustainability practices at home”, the non-SANS-2 question ranking common barriers, and the non-SANS-2 write in response to additional barriers related to implementing climate change and sustainability concepts into nursing curriculum. An independent T-test and one-way ANOVA were used to compare nursing specialty for the SANS-2 survey question 5, “I apply sustainability practices at home”. A Kruskal-Wallis H test was used to compare rank order responses to common barriers with specialty of nursing. A Mann-Whitney post hoc test was run in addition to the Kruskal-Wallis H for significance. The qualitative analysis guided by Charmaz (2014) process for the write in response to barriers in implementing climate change sustainability into nursing curriculum. Results: There were 144 respondents that completed the survey during September 2023-November 2023. The largest respondent groups were nurse educators in an academic setting (n=73, 50%), followed by Michigan public health nurses (n=46, 31%), community health nurse educators (n=13, 9%), and acute care/or other nurses (n=12, 8%). The study found that there is no reported statistical relationship between nurse’s specialty and the SANS-2 question 5 (p=.407), “I apply sustainability practices at home”. However, there was a reported positive statistical association between a nurse’s specialty and the barriers to climate change and sustainability in curriculum as a rank order response (p=

Zoom is the leader in modern enterprise cloud communications.

01/15/2026

Each semester starts with fresh IHS PhD swag! Our limited-time Apparel Pop-Up Shop opens at the beginning of the term and shuts down at 11:59 p.m. EST on Sunday, February 1—grab yours before it’s gone::))

WMU IHS PhD Apparel Shop Help support your WMU Interdisciplinary Health Sciences PhD Program with some custom branded apparel!

12/23/2025

12/04/2025

Dissertation Defense Announcement
Doctoral Candidate: Monica Trevino (Cohort 2014)
Title: Geographic and Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Behavioral Health Services in Michigan Medicaid
Dissertation Committee – Chair, Rob Lyerla (WMU), PhD MGIS; Renée Canady PhD MPA (MPHI); Kieran Fogarty, PhD (WMU)
Date/Time: Dec 8, 2025, 12:30 pm Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Join Zoom Meeting: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88966441863
Meeting ID: 889 6644 1863

ABSTRACT: Disparities in health access and outcomes exist across race, geography, and income. This is especially alarming in behavioral health services for the Medicaid population which has access to fewer supports and resources than the general population. This study investigates the extent and nature of geographic and racial/ethnic disparities in behavioral health services within the Michigan Medicaid program, focusing on three counties—Wayne, Kent, and Ingham—between 2018 and 2020. Using Medicaid claims and encounter data, the study analyzes two key quality measures: follow-up after emergency department visits for mental illness (FUM); and initiation and engagement in treatment for substance use disorder (IET).
Pairwise t-test analyses reveal significant racial disparities in both measures, with Black/African American Medicaid beneficiaries consistently less likely than their White counterparts to receive clinically appropriate care. The magnitude of these disparities varies by county and over time, with some counties showing persistent gaps and others exhibiting changes in disparity levels. Difference-in-difference-in-difference (DiDiD) analysis demonstrates non-significant findings for both measures.
The results underscore the need for targeted policy interventions based on community-level factors. Recommendations for future research include expanding the analysis to more recent data, exploring the impact of policy changes, and incorporating patient experience measures to better address the root causes of disparities.

Zoom is the leader in modern enterprise cloud communications.

12/01/2025

We are pleased to announce that Dr. Robert Near (Cohort 2018) has recently assumed the position of Muskegon County, MI., Public Health Epidemiologist. In this role, Dr. Near will support efforts to enhance the health and well-being of residents throughout Muskegon County and contribute to key public health initiatives across the community.

Please join us in congratulating Dr. Near on this important professional milestone.