The Department of Physical Therapy celebrated new space and equipment for the Patricia Leahy Research Lab when it hosted the Eighth Annual Patricia Leahy Memorial Lecture on Thursday, Sept. 25, 2008. The lecture followed the dedication ceremony.
This year's lecture asked: “How do you facilitate voluntary muscle activation in CNS patients with obvious sources of weakness versus injured musculoskeletal patients with not so obvious weakness?”
Participants explored the answer with Arcadia University Assistant Physical Therapy Professor Dr. Scott Stackhouse.
The annual lecture is held in memory of former PT Assistant Professor Patricia (Patti) Leahy who passed away on October 9, 1995, and supports the Patricia Leahy Scholarship Fund. Before her death, Leahy established a scholarship fund to financially assist PT students during clinical education. This memorial lecture serves to add monies to this fund and to honor the memory of Leahy. The evening consisted of two things that Leahy enjoyed—learning and a social event.
Dr. Stackhouse, whose primary focus is on stem cell transplantation in animal models of central nervous system (CNS) injury and motor retraining, and the use of neuromuscular electrical stimulation to improve strength and function in children and adults after CNS injury, will speak on “Failure of Voluntary Muscle Activation: Coming Out of Our Orthopedic Silo to Treat a Neurologic Impairment.” In addition to the title talk, the Department of Physical Therapy will celebrate the rededication of the Patricia Leahy Memorial Laboratory now located on the first floor of Glasser Hall.
Tours of the lab as well as breakout sessions and a buffet dinner were included in the cost. Continuing Education Units are also being offered.