 David
L. Somers, Ph.D., PT
Chairperson and Associate Professor
Department of Physical Therapy
Degrees:
Ph.D., PT, Medical University of South Carolina
Courses Taught:
PHYTH 530, Topics in Research
PHYTH 630, Grand Rounds
HLTSC 403, Neuroscience
REHSC 515, Advanced Theoretical Foundations
REHSC 605, Evidenced Based Practice
REHSC 615, Directed Teaching Experience I
Areas of Academic Specialty: Neuroscience, Research
Research Area: Neuroscience
Grants:
(most recent 5)
Improving transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation as a treatment for painful peripheral sensory neuropathy: an efficacy and mechanistic study, Principal Investigator, Medical Assistance and Research Grant, Pittsburgh Foundation, Awarded August 2006-2009
Improving high-frequencynerve stimulation as a treatment for neurogenic pain: Principal investigatorAgency: State Health Formula Research Fund Grants; Awarded, May 2004-2006
The Mechanism of Neurogenic Pain Relief by TENS. Role: Co-principal investigator Agency: Faculty Practice Plan Research Fund, RSHS, Duquesne University Status: Awarded, 2003-2004
Peripheral Electrical Nerve Stimulation for Treatment of Complex Regional Pain Syndrome Type II Role: Principal investigator Agency: Hunkle Foundation, Dreaded Disease Grant Status: Awarded, 2000-2001.
Sensory Nerve Stimulation for the Treatment of Causalgia. Role: Principal investigator Agency: National Institutes of Health, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, Grant # 1 R15 NS/OD363 15-01 Status: Awarded, 1997-2000.
Publications:
(most recent 5)
Somers, D.L. and Clemente, F.R., Contralateral high or a combination of high and low frequency transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation reduces mechanical allodynia and alters dorsal horn neurotransmitter content in neuropathic rats. Journal of Pain, 10:221-229, 2009.
Somers, D.L. and Clemente, F.R., Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation for the treatment of neuropathic pain: the impact of frequency and electrode position on prevention of allodynia in a rat model of complex regional pain syndrome type II. Physical Therapy, 86:698-709, May, 2006.
Somers, D.L. and Clemente, F.R., The relationship between dorsal horn neurotransmitter content and allodynia in neuropathic rats treated with high frequency transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation, Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, 84:1575-1583, 2003.
Somers, D.L. and Clemente, F.R., Dorsal horn synaptosomal content of aspartate, glutamate, glycine and gaba are differentially altered following chronic constriction injury to the rat sciatic nerve, Neuroscience Letters 323: 171-174, 2002.
Somers,. D.L. and Somer,s M.F. Treatment of neuropathic pain in a patient with diabetic neuropathy using transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation applied to the skin of the lumbar region, Physical Therapy 79 (8): 767-775, 1999.
Somers, D.L. and Clemente, F.R., High frequency transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) alters thermal but not mechanical allodynia following chronic constriction injury of the rat sciatic nerve, Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, 79: 1370-1376, 1998.
Professional Presentations:
(most recent 5)
Somers, David L., Clemente, F. Richard, Cipriani, Brad, Graves , Kristen, Lane, Nicholas, and Zeiler, Adrienne., Application of high (HFS) and low frequency (LFS) transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation to skin located contralateral to a nerve injury alters allodynia and dorsal horn neurotransmitter content and rats. Combined Sections Meeting of the American Physical Therapy Association, February, 2008.
Somers, D.L., Clemente, F. R., Cipriani, B., Graves, K., Lane, N., Ross, N. and Zeiler, A., Treatment of Neuropathic Rats with Contralateral, Combined Low and High Frequency Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS)Prevents Mechanical, but not Thermal Allodynia, Combined Sections Meeting of the American Physical Therapy Association, February, 2007.
Somers, D.L., Clemente, F.R., Bailey, C., Gregg, M., Marlow, K., Przbysz, M. and Snodgrass, J., Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation for the treatment of neuropathic pain: the impact of frequency and electrode position on prevention of allodynia in a rat model of complex regional pain syndrome type II. Society for Neuroscience, Presented November 2005.
Somers, D.L., Clemente, F.R., Begey, L., Clause, L. and Docherty, B.A., The relationship between dorsal horn neurotransmitter content and allodynia in neuropathic rats treated daily with low frequency TENS. Combined Sections Meeting of the American Physical Therapy Association, February, 2005.
Somers, D.L. and Clemente, F.R., High frequency electrical nerve stimulation applied to skin (TENS) opposite a chronic constriction injury (CCI) in rats alters dorsal horn content of amino acid neurotransmitters and tends to reduce mechanical allodynia, Society for Neuroscience, Presented October 2003.
Awards and Accomplishments:
Omicron Delta Kappa, The National Leadership Honor Society, Duquesne University Teacher of the Year, 2006-2007
John G. Rangos, Sr. School of Health Science Dean’s Award for Excellence in Service, 2007
Duquesne University, President's Award for faculty Excellence in Teaching, 2004
John G. Rangos, Sr. School of Health Sceinces Dean's Award for Faculty Excellence in Teaching, 2004
Mercy Hospital, Physicial Medicine and Rehabilitation Residency Program, 2004 Outstanding Didactic Faculty Award.
College of Health-Related Professions Distinguished Alumnus Award, Medical University of South Carolina, 2001.
John G. Rangos, Sr. School of Health Science President's Award for Faculty Excellence in Scholarship, 1999-2000.
Professional Narrative:
Dr. Somers received a Ph.D. in Anatomy and Cell Biology from the Medical University of South Carolina in 1991. He also received an M.S. in Health Sciences, a B.S. in Physical Therapy and completed his postdoctoral training at the Medical University of South Carolina. He is currently working with Dr. Richard Clemente on a research project investigating the effectiveness of peripheral sensory nerve stimulation as a treatment for Complex Regional Pain Syndrome Type II (causalgia). The effectiveness of this treatment is investigated at both the behavioral and neurochemical levels. Dr. Somers is a licensed physical therapist in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
Phone: 412.396.4776
E-mail: somers@duq.edu |
