Awards & Recognition

National and International Recognitions:

1. The 2024 John P. Maley Award by the Academy of Physical Therapy Research, APTA, for outstanding contributions to leadership in research over a sustained period of time.
2. Awarded with Level-1 funding by the US Department of Defense
   Title: Functional Balance Intervention (FBI) for Physical and Cognitive Symptoms of Multiple Sclerosis.Organization: Department of Defense (DOD)Dates of Award: 09/2024 – 09/2027Total Award Amount (including Indirect Costs): $ 1,599,898
3. Inception of the POCR Center (Patient-Oriented Clinical Research Center)
4. UIC Sparktalks: Are falls preventable or inevitable?One of the 30 influential UIC changemakers invited to present at the SparkTalks (Feb 2024)
5. Vermont Center for Cardiovascular and Brain Health talk: Evidence-based balance training: Slips, Trips and Beyond (June 2023?)
6. Community outreach and service: Led two health fairs: India Day health fair (Aug 2023), Health fair at UIC 55^th and Pulaski Health Collaborative (March 2024)
7. Invited lead speaker at the InSPIRE SWADES: Heritage, Health, and Healing – Virtua; Mini-Conference and Networking event (Feb 2024)
8. Primary Co-Ordinator at the 2024 AHS Research Labs and Center Fair

1. Doctoral grant by the National Institutes of Health
   Title: The effect of mild cognitive impairment on reactive stepping responses and motor adaptation to trip perturbationsOrganization: F31 Individual Fellowship for PhD Students, National Institutes of HealthDates of Award: 12/1/2023-11/30/2026Total Award Amount: $143,081 

1. Doctoral grant by the National Institutes of Health
   Title: The Impact of Cognitive-Motor Interference on Balance Control in Children with Cerebral Palsy.Organization: F31 Individual Fellowship for PhD Students, National Institutes of HealthDates of Award: 5/1/24-6/30/27

Intramural & Extramural recognitions

1. 2023-2024 Doctoral grant by the NIA-funded Midwest Roybal Center for Health Promotion and TranslationTitle: Home-based ABC training in older adults with stroke
   Organization: Doctoral pilot grant, Midwest Roybal Center for Health Promotion and TranslationDates of Award: 08/01/23-08/01/24
2. 2024 Chicago Consular Corps Professional Development Award, for academic and professional development of outstanding international students.
3. 2024 APTA Professional Student Travel Award, Academy of Physical Therapy Research
4. 2024 UIC Impact Day Presentation Award, for outstanding researchers among graduate students.
5. 2024 AHS Scholarship (Van Doren), for academic achievement and financial need.
6. 2024 Lillian Torrance Scholarship, a gift from an alumna and benefactor to cover tuition or fees for students in the Department of Physical Therapy.
7. 2023-2024 The Award for Graduate Research (AGR), to recognize outstanding researchers among UIC graduate students.

Intramural recognition

1. Chancellor’s Student Service and Leadership Awards (CSSLA) 2024. Recognized for outstanding contribution to the University through campus and community service.