 |
Martha F. Somers, PT, DPT, MS
Assistant Professor
Department of Physical Therapy
Education:
M.S. in Physical Therapy, Duke University
B.A. in Psychology, Earlham College
D.P.T., Slippery Rock University
|
Courses Taught:
Primary Instructor in:
Foundational Skills
Prosthetics and Orthotics
Clinical Neurologic science IV
Psychology of Illness and Disability
Areas of Academic Specialty:
Spinal Cord Injury
Prosthetics
Orthotics
Continuing Education Workshops Conducted/Organized:
Presenter, “Observational Gait Analysis and Orthotic Prescription,” a one-day workshop for physical therapy staff of local HealthSouth facilities, 2001
Presenter, "Functional Training Following Spinal Cord Injury,” a one-day workshop for physical and occupational therapy staff at HealthSouth Rehabilitation Hospital of Greater Pittsburgh (1994) and at Mountainview Rehabilitation Hospital in Morgantown, WV (1996)
Presenter, “Transfer Training Following Spinal Cord Injury” the Preconference Course at Third Annual Southeastern Spinal Cord Injury Conference, Charleston, SC, August 1995
Lecturer, “Gait Analysis,” a 3-part inservice for Medical University Hospital physical therapy department, 1991
Lecturer, “Normalization in Physical Medicine,” an inservice for the rehabilitation team of Colleton Regional Hospital, 1989.
Coordinator and Lecturer, “Physical Therapy Management of the Spinal Cord Injured: Accent on Independence,” Woodrow Wilson Rehabilitation Center, 1981 & 1982.
Publications:
(most recent 5)
Somers M. & Wlodarczyk S. (2002). Use of a Pushrim-Activated, Power-assisted Wheelchair Enhanced Mobility for an Individual with Cervical C5/6 Tetraplegia. Neurology Report, 27(1), 22-28.
Somers M. (2001). Spinal Cord Injury: Functional Rehabilitation (2nd ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall.
Somers M. (2000). SCI Lab - Developing and Modifying Interventions Based Functional Skills Analysis. In M. Schenkman & Gill-Body, K. (eds.) A Compendium for Teaching Professional Level Neurologic Content (pp. 67-68). Alexandria, VA: American Physical Therapy Association.
Somers D. & Somers M. (1999). 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).
Somers M. (1993). Addressing the Unique Mobility Requirements of Parenting from a Wheelchair: Case Report. Neurology Report, 17(4).
Professional Presentations:
"Conventional Gait Training vs. Body Weight-Supported Treadmill Training" 30th Annual Model Systems PT/OT Leadership Forum, October 18, 2008
"
Incomplete Spinal Cord Injuries” Southwest District Pennsylvania Physical Therapy Association, September 9, 1997
“Control Options for Power Wheelchairs: Finding the Best Match” National Spinal Cord Injury Association Annual Conference, October 4, 1997
“Incomplete Spinal Cord and Cauda Equina Injuries”, Fourth Annual Southeastern Spinal Cord Injury Conference, Charleston, SC, August 1996
“Early Management Following High Spinal Cord Injury,” and “Case Presentations: Sometimes It Ain't So Simple” Third Annual Southeastern Spinal Cord Injury Conference, Charleston, SC, August 1995
Awards and Accomplishments:
Academy of Advanced Item Writers, Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy, September 2008
Clinician Educator Award, Chatham College, August 1996
Teacher of the Year, Medical University of South Carolina College of Health Professions, May 1993
Professional Narrative:
Professor Somers received her DPT from Slipper Rock University, an MS in Physical Therapy from Duke University in 1979, and a B.A. in Psychology from Earlham College in 1977. She is a licensed physical therapist in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Professor Somers has worked in a variety of clinical settings, primarily in inpatient adult rehabilitation. Her areas of greatest clinical expertise include spinal cord injury, prosthetics, and orthotics. She is the author of the text, Spinal Cord Injury: Functional Rehabilitation (2nd Edition), published in 2001 by Prentice Hall. She teaches
Foundational Skills
and Orthotics and Prosthetics in Duquesne's Physical Therapy program, and assists in several other courses. Professor Somers has received teaching awards from Chatham College and the Medical University of South Carolina. In addition to teaching at Duquesne University,
In addition to teaching at Duquesne University, she works part-time as a physical therapist in inpatient rehabilitation at the UPMC Institute for Rehabilitation and Research, one of the Spinal Cord Injury Model Systems." .
Phone: 412.396.5541
E-mail: somersm@duq.edu
|
