Michaele R. Smith, PT, MEd
CAPT U.S. Public Health Service
CAPT Smith is Chief physical therapist of the Physical Therapy Section in the Rehabilitation Medicine Department at the NIH Clinical Center and a commissioned officer in the U.S. Public Health Service. She is past Discipline Specific Liaison and Mentoring Chairperson of the Therapist Professional Advisory Committee (TPAC) and past Education Coordinator of the Physical Therapy Section. She holds two bachelor degrees and an M Ed from George Mason University. CAPT Smith is certified in Bobath neuro-developmental treatment (NDT) for children, a credentialed clinical education instructor through the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA), and the developer of a post graduate Clinical Research Training Fellowship at the National Institutes of Health. Her clinical and research interests are in the areas of pediatrics (metabolic disorders, oncology, and genetic disorders); pediatric HIV infection, Juvenile Dermatomyositis, Smith Magenis Syndrome, Neurofibromatosis Type 1 and hypoparathyroid disorders. She has presented lectures and written articles on the topics of pediatric HIV infection, Juvenile Dermatomyositis and Smith-Magenis Syndrome at local, national and international conferences.

Willie L. Ching, PT, NCS
Mr. Ching is a staff physical therapist of the Physical Therapy Section in the Rehabilitation Medicine Department at the NIH Clinical Center. Mr. Ching received his BS degree in Physical Therapy from the University of Santo Tomas, Manila, Philippines in 1993. He completed the Neurologic Physical Therapy Residency Program at Moss Rehabilitation Hospital, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 2002. He is currently certified by the American Board of Physical Therapy Specialties as a clinical specialist in Neurologic Physical Therapy, and a credentialed clinical instructor for the American Physical Therapy Association. His clinical and research interests are in the areas of neurodegenerative and neuromuscular diseases, balance disorders, and exercise in the cancer population.

Bart Drinkard, MSPT, CCS
CAPT Bart Drinkard is a senior staff therapist in the Physical Therapy Section in the Rehabilitation Medicine Department at the NIH Clinical Center and a commissioned officer in the US Public Health Service. He received a Bachelor's degree in biology and two Masters degrees in Physical Therapy and Exercise Physiology from Old Dominion University in Norfolk, VA. He is an ABPTS certified Cardiopulmonary Specialist and Certified Exercise Specialist through the American College of Sports Medicine. In the Physical Therapy Section at the NIH Clinical Center he coordinates the metabolic exercise testing program. His research interests include the development of submaximal measures of cardiorespiratory fitness and physiological testing in obese children. He is currently collaborating on several NIH studies involving patients with a variety of clinical diagnoses including obesity, pulmonary hypertension, breast cancer, and endocrine disorders.

Mina Jain, PT, MS, DSc, PCS, ETT
Dr. Jain is a senior staff physical therapist of the Physical Therapy Section in the Rehabilitation Medicine Department at the NIH Clinical Center. She received her undergraduate degree from the University of Evansville, MS from the University of Indianapolis and clinical doctorate from the University of Maryland. She is an ABPTS certified Pediatric Specialist and Certified Exercise Test Technologist (ETT) through the American College of Sports Medicine. Her research interests are in the areas of pediatrics (metabolic disorders, oncology, and genetic disorders). She is the lead therapist for a study on juvenile dermatomyositis NOMID and CMD studies. She has presented lectures and written articles on the topics of pediatric oncology, juvenile dermatomyositis and juvenile osteoporosis at local and national conferences.

Ellen Levy, PT, OCS
Ms. Levy is a senior staff physical therapist of the Physical Therapy Section in the Rehabilitation Medicine Department at the NIH Clinical Center. She obtained a post-graduate baccalaureate in physical therapy from Downstate Medical Center, NY in 1978, and is a board certified specialist in orthopedic physical therapy. She has also received certifications in adult neurodevelopmental treatment (NDT), lymphedema management with LeDuc and Klose methods, and Pilates Polestar training. Her clinical interests are in the areas of orthopedic dysfunctions and breast cancer rehabilitation/lymphedema. She has presented lectures on TMJ dysfunction, myofascial pain, and lymphedema management. Currently, Ms. Levy is involved in research examining edema and upper limb impairments after breast cancer surgery in collaboration with the National Naval Medical Center.

Melissa Waite, MSPT
Ms. Waite is a staff therapist in the Physical Therapy Section in the Rehabilitation Medicine Department at the NIH Clinical Center. She graduated from Simmons College in Boston, MA, with a Masters of Science degree in Physical Therapy in 2000. Her interests in the field of physical therapy are numerous and varied. She has worked with patients with mild to profound disabilities with a variety of diagnoses, including oncological and neurological disorders. Her clinical experience includes working with pediatric patients in early intervention, school, and outpatient settings in Rhode Island and Northern Virginia, as well as working with adult patients in outpatient settings in the Washington, DC area. She joined the Physical Therapy Section of the National Institutes of Health as a staff physical therapist in January of 2009.

Joseph A Shrader, PT, CPed
Mr. Shrader is a senior staff therapist in the Physical Therapy Section in the Rehabilitation Medicine Department at the NIH Clinical Center. He graduated from the University of Maryland, Eastern Shore in 1989 and became a board Certified Pedorthist in 1994. For almost 20 years he has provided care to patients with rheumatologic diseases and other lower extremity disorders at the National Institutes of Health, Rehabilitation Medicine Department where he has developed protocols on the management of foot and ankle problems. He has served as adjunct faculty for the physical therapy programs of Howard University and University of Maryland Eastern Shore and has published papers in the areas of tendinitis, treatment of the foot affected by rheumatoid arthritis, orthotic interventions, and measurement of foot biomechanics. His research interests include design and evaluation of foot orthoses for patients with rheumatoid arthritis, evaluation techniques for foot deformities, and various aspects of muscular fatigue. He is currently collaborating on several NIH studies involving patients with different forms of neuromuscular and rheumatologic diseases.

Kieu-Phuong Capron, PT
LCDR Capron is a senior staff physical therapist, clinical coordinator and transitioning Education Coordinator of the Physical Therapy Section in the Rehabilitation Medicine Department at the NIH Clinical Center and a commissioned officer in the US Public Health Service. She received her undergraduate degree in Physical Therapy from Mount St. Mary's College in 1994. Her passion remains direct patient care. At the NIH she has been participating in several collaborative studies involving patients with various forms of neuromuscular and rheumatologic diseases.

Josh Woolstenhulme, DPT
Dr. Woolstenhulme is a research fellow in the Physical Therapy Section in the Rehabilitation Medicine Department at the NIH Clinical Center. He received his Bachelor of Science degree in Health and Human Performance with emphasis in exercise science from the University of Montana in 2004. In 2008, he received his Doctor of Physical Therapy degree from Idaho State University. He is currently involved with research examining the effects of exercise on individuals with pulmonary hypertension.

Zavera Brandon, MPT, DPT, CBIS
Dr. Brandon is a staff physical therapist of the Physical Therapy Section in the Rehabilitation Medicine Department at the NIH Clinical Center. Dr. Brandon received her Master's degree in Physical Therapy from the University of Maryland, Baltimore in 2003. She then received her Doctorate degree in Physical Therapy from the University of Maryland, Baltimore in 2004. She is currently a certified Brain Injury Specialist through the Brain Injury Association of Maryland. Her clinical and research interests are in the areas of brain injury, neuromuscular disorders, alternative and holistic medicine, and oncology.

Earllaine Croarkin, MPT, NCS
Earllaine Croarkin is a contract physical therapist of the Physical Therapy section of the Rehabilitation Medicine Department at the NIH. She received her Master in Physical Therapy degree from Rutgers University in Camden NJ and a bachelor degree from the University of Delaware. She is a senior staff therapist and a board certified neurological clinical specialist recognized through the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA). She is also certified in Neurodevelopmental treatment in the management of Adults (NDT). She is involved in clinical patient care and several research protocols. Her area of interests is neurological, genetic and rehabilitation of patients after chronic stroke. She has lectured and published posters and manuscripts in the area of Friedreich's Ataxia, oncology and the use of neurological outcome measurement tools.