Ph.D. in Interdisciplinary Health Sciences - WMU

09/03/2026

🎉 Congratulations to Lyndsay Nuyen, the 2026 Pisaneschi Prize Winner! 🏆

Lyndsay Nuyen was awarded the Pisaneschi Prize for Best Scientific Presentation at the 2026 Interdisciplinary Doctoral Research (IDR) Conference. Pictured here with her Cohort and faculty.

Her winning presentation, “Disease of Body, Disease of Mind: An Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis of Alcoholism Among Members of Alcoholics Anonymous,” showcased the depth and significance of her research.

Congratulations, Lyndsay, on this well-deserved achievement!

09/03/2026

In with the new, out with the old! 😊✨

Celebrating the 2024 and 2026 Cohorts at the Interdisciplinary Doctoral Research (IDR) Conference on July 24, 2026

09/03/2026

Announcement: IHS/PhD Program Dissertation Defense

Candidate Name: Jodi Haugen, MS, OTR/L, HPCS, PhD Candidate
Date: Tuesday, October 6, 2026
Time: 12:00pm -1:00PM Eastern Time (US and Canada))
Join Zoom Meeting: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82123801252
Meeting ID: 821 2380 1252

Dissertation Title: A Mixed Methods Study Comparing Insurance-Billing and Non-Billing Payment Models in Occupational, Physical, and Speech Therapy Incorporating Hippotherapy

Dissertation Committee: Chairperson: Kieran Fogarty, PhD, Director - Interdisciplinary Health Sciences PhD. Program, Western Michigan; Committee Members: Nancy Hock, Ph.D., OTRL, CHT, Chair, Department of Occupational Therapy Western Michigan University, Mary. D. Lagerwey, PhD, Professor Emerita, Western Michigan University and Deborah Silkwood-Sherer PT, DHSc, HPCS, Chair, Professor, Department of Physical Therapy, Central Michigan University.

ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND: Hippotherapy is a treatment tool incorporated into an occupational, physical, or speech therapy treatment plan that uses equine movement to achieve functional outcomes. Therapy practices integrating hippotherapy face unique financial challenges, balancing both equine and clinical costs against complex reimbursement and funding factors. While the benefits of using hippotherapy are well documented, literature is limited on how practices cover high overhead costs under today's healthcare landscape. This study examined the funding practices of organizations integrating hippotherapy and challenges to long-term sustainability. METHODS: This study used a mixed-methods sequential explanatory design. In the initial quantitative phase, a secondary analysis (𝑁=67) of 2023 survey data from therapy practitioners was completed. Demographic, operational, and financial parameters were analyzed between insurance-billing (𝑛=31) and non-billing (𝑛=36) cohorts using non-parametric statistical testing. In the subsequent qualitative phase, semi-structured interviews were conducted with five practice leaders (𝑛=5) from well-established U.S. organizations incorporating hippotherapy. Qualitative data were analyzed using Braun & Clarke’s (2006) thematic analysis approach and integrated with quantitative results. RESULTS: Quantitative findings revealed no statistically significant differences between billing and non-billing groups regarding discipline, experience, practice size, or session revenue. However, Cramér’s V indicated a moderate effect size in session fee distribution with billing practices clustering in a higher fee category ($101–$151) than non-billing practices ($51–$100). Within the billing cohort, practices using internal billing systems generated significantly higher session revenue than those outsourcing billing. Qualitative analysis yielded five themes: The Financial Mismatch, The Moral Pricing Tension, Playing the Insurance Game, Treat It Like a Business, and It’s All About Relationships. Specifically, results demonstrated that combined equine and clinical overhead routinely exceeds what standard session fees cover. Organizational leaders described a notable moral tension between professional altruism and covering this cost deficit, which was often mitigated by donating personal time. The choice to bill insurance was strongly influenced by local policies and reimbursement rates, with some citing insurance exclusions as a primary barrier. Insurance-billing practices relied on strategic CPT coding and creative scheduling, though two also used donations to bridge financial gaps. Non-billing practices depended heavily on donor support and fundraising, while also using lower-cost equine programming to supplement revenue. Finally, all participants emphasized the vital role of community and family support in starting and sustaining operations. CONCLUSIONS: While practices successfully use both insurance-billing and non-billing models, high overhead routinely exceeds standard single-session fees. To explain how practices navigate these deficits, this study proposes a new conceptual framework: “The Subsidy Model.” Defining a subsidy as any resource leveraged to offset true operational costs, the model identifies four essential mechanisms: Human (donated personal time), Reimbursement (creative scheduling and CPT coding), Diversification (lower-overhead supplemental programming), and Relational (community and family support). The Subsidy Model reveals that financial viability is not achieved through a single operational structure, but through a leader's ability to dynamically layer these strategies within sound business practices to bridge revenue gaps. Whether limited by regional insurance barriers or client self-pay constraints, the findings suggest that both insurance-billing and cash-based practices often rely on subsidization strategies to maintain operations.

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07/24/2026

Dr. Ashley Lubbers (IHS-PhD Alumni) speaking about her charity foundation.

Link:

One of In The Image's initiatives in providing basic needs in the community is its SHOES program, or Shoes Help Our Elementary Students.

06/29/2026

2026 Interdisciplinary Doctoral Research (IDR) Conference
Interdisciplinary Health Sciences Ph.D. Program
Western Michigan University

Date: July 24, 2026
Location: CHHS Building 1010
Time: 08:30 AM – Noon, Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Join Zoom Conference: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83733103899
Meeting ID: 837 3310 3899

2026 IDR Alumni Conference Judges

Barbara Cliff, PhD, RN, LFACHE (Cohort 2004) – 2008 Pisaneschi Prize Winner, Adjunct Faculty - George Washington University, Washington, DC; Indiana University, Bloomington, IN; Texas A & M, TX.

Angelique Day, PhD, MSW (Cohort 2008) - University of Washington, Seattle, WA, and University of Oxford, England.

Erica Fernandes, PT, MS, DPT, PhD (Cohort 2020) - Bronson Methodist Hospital, Kalamazoo, MI.

Patricia Geels, PhD, CCC-SLP (Cohort 2020) - Indiana University South Bend, Elkhart, IN.

Nancy Hock, Ph.D., OTRL, CHT (Cohort 2016) - Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo MI.

Heather Isaacson, PhD, CCC-SLP (Cohort 2020) - Northern Michigan University, Marquette, MI.

Sonia Manuchian, Ph.D., CO, MSc (Cohort 2020) - Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. Philadelphia, PA.

Duduzile, Mashinini, Ph.D., EIS-24 (Cohort 2014) - 2016 Pisaneschi Prize Winner, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Atlanta, GA.

Samantha McDaniel, PhD, CCC-SLP (Cohort 2018) - 2020 Pisaneschi Prize Winner, Georgia Southern University, Savannah, GA.

Michelle A. Padley, PhD, CRTM (Cohort 2018). Michigan State University, College of Human Medicine, Grand Rapids, MI.

Sarah Renner, Ph.D., OTRL, RYT (Cohort 2018) – Concordia University Ann Arbor, MI.

Kristen Smith, PhD, LCSW (Cohort 2018) - Rush University, Chicago, IL.

Katie A. Strong, Ph.D., CCC-SLP (Cohort 2010) - Central Michigan University, Mount Pleasant, MI.

Amy M. Yorke, Ph.D., PT (Cohort 2010) - 2012 Pisaneschi Prize Winner, University of Michigan - Flint, MI.

2026 IDR Oral Presentations

U.S. Validation of the LGBTQ+ Healthcare Experiences Scale (LGBTQ+ HCES), Mandy Cox, MSW, Kalamazoo, MI.

Predictors of Enrollment in Center-Based Educational Programs: A Retrospective Study. Nicole Grace, M.A. CCC-SLP, EdS. Roscommon, MI.

Disease of Body, Disease of Mind: An Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis of Alcoholism Among Members of Alcoholics Anonymous. Lyndsay Nuyen, LMSW, CAADC, CCS, DBT-LBC. Kalamazoo, MI.

A Mixed Method Examination of the Content Validity of the Physical Environment Instrument for Senior Living Facilities. Allison Chamberlain Miller, MS, OTRL, CAPS. Schoolcraft, MI.

Examining the Face and Content Validity of the Self‑awareness Enhancement through Learning and Function-Inventory. Jaimie Farrington, M.A., CCC-SLP, CBIS. Grand Rapids, MI.

A Secondary Data Analysis of the Relationship Between Unmet Social Determinant of Health Needs and the Likelihood that an Eligible Patient Returns a Cologuard Screening Kit. Amber Duddy, MS. Madison, WI.

Variation in Estimated Age of Entry into Special Education Services for Specific Learning Disability: Why Timing Matters. Jessica France, M.S. OTR/L. Madisonville, KY.

Calculating an Adequate System Tool (CAST): A Data-Informed Behavioral Health Planning Framework for Kalamazoo County. Blaire Zielke, LMSW, CAADC, CCS-DP. Portage, MI.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) Literacy Perceptions Among Clinicians in Underrepresented Minority Clinical Practices. Ty Faulkner, M.A, CHIT. Canton, MI.

Content validity of the Five-Step Evidence-Based Practice Process Instrument: A Formative Self-Report Assessment for Healthcare Professionals. Sharyn Coates, OTD, OTRL. Grand Rapids, MI.

Instrument Development and Pilot Validation for a Study on Su***de Death Classification. Kelsey Thorsby, LMSW. Grand Rapids, MI.

A Comparative Multiple-Case Study Examining the Capacity of Large Language Models to Conduct Discourse Analysis in Domestic Violence Narratives. Evie Jefferies, LMSW. Kalamazoo, MI.

Preliminary Psychometric Assessment of the Core Competencies on Disability for Health Care Education Survey. Elizabete Schramm-Ayers, MBA, MPA, MPH. Grand Rapids, MI.

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05/26/2026

Hi IHS-PhD Alumni,

The Interdisciplinary Health Sciences Doctoral Program’s 2026 Interdisciplinary Doctoral Research (IDR) Conference will be held on July 24, 2026. We are again seeking program alumni volunteers to serve as judges for this biennial conference for doctoral students enrolled in the Interdisciplinary Health Sciences Doctoral Program at WMU. Please note that a Zoom link will again be provided for judges and audience members who wish to participate remotely.

The IDR Conference provides doctoral students with an opportunity to present their research practicum studies in a professional setting and receive valuable feedback from experienced professionals and alumni.

Thank you for your continued support and for the considerable time and effort you contribute to making this event a hallmark component of your IHS/PhD Program. Your involvement is sincerely appreciated. If you are interested in serving as a judge, please let me know by June 5, 2026.

If you are able to serve as a judge this year, please respond (email to [email protected]) with the following information for event materials: Example: Patricia Geels, Ph.D., CCC-SLP (Alumni 2020) - Indiana University South Bend. Elkhart, IN.

2026 IDR Oral Presentations
U.S. Validation of the LGBTQ+ Healthcare Experiences Scale (LGBTQ+ HCES), Mandy Cox, MSW, Kalamazoo, MI.

Predictors of Enrollment in Center-Based Educational Programs: A Retrospective Study. Nicole Grace, M.A. CCC-SLP, EdS. Roscommon, MI.

Disease of Body, Disease of Mind: An Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis of Alcoholism Among Members of Alcoholics Anonymous. Lyndsay Nuyen, LMSW,
CAADC, CCS, DBT-LBC. Kalamazoo, MI.

A Mixed Method Examination of the Content Validity of the Physical Environment Instrument for Senior Living Facilities. Allison Chamberlain Miller, MS, OTRL, CAPS. Schoolcraft, MI.

Examining the Face and Content Validity of the Self‑awareness Enhancement through Learning and Function-Inventory. Jaimie Farrington, M.A., CCC-SLP, CBIS. Grand Rapids, MI.

A Secondary Data Analysis of the Relationship Between Unmet Social Determinant of Health Needs and the Likelihood that an Eligible Patient Returns a Cologuard Screening Kit. Amber Duddy, MS. Madison, WI.

Variation in Estimated Age of Entry into Special Education Services for Specific Learning Disability: Why Timing Matters. Jessica
France, M.S. OTR/L. Madisonville, KY.

Calculating an Adequate System Tool (CAST): A Data-Informed Behavioral Health Planning Framework for Kalamazoo County. Blaire Zielke, LMSW, CAADC, CCS-DP. Portage, MI.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) Literacy Perceptions Among Clinicians in Underrepresented Minority Clinical Practices. Ty Faulkner, M.A., Mass Communications, CHIT. Canton, MI.

Content Validity of the Five-Step Evidence-Based Practice Process Instrument: A Formative Self-Report Assessment for Healthcare Professionals. Sharyn Coates, OTD, OTRL. Grand Rapids, MI.

Instrument Development and Pilot Validation for a Study on Su***de Death Classification. Kelsey Thorsby, LMSW. Grand Rapids, MI.

A Comparative Multiple-Case Study Examining the Capacity of Large Language Models to Conduct Thematic and Discourse Analysis in Domestic Violence Narratives. Evie Jefferies, LMSW. Kalamazoo, MI.

Preliminary Psychometric Assessment of the Core Competencies on Disability for Health Care Education Survey. Elizabete Saukas, MBA, MPA, MPH. Grand Rapids, MI.

Sincerely,

Kieran J. Fogarty, PhD.
Director - Interdisciplinary Health Sciences PhD. Program
Western Michigan University

Diane Powers Dirette, Ph.D., OTL, FAOTA
Professor- Interdisciplinary Health Sciences Ph.D. Program
Western Michigan University

Rob Lyerla, PhD., MGIS
Professor- Interdisciplinary Health Sciences PhD Program
Western Michigan University

04/30/2026

Announcement: IHS/PhD Program Dissertation Defense

Candidate Name: Erica Michelle Fernandes, PT, MS, DPT, PhD Candidate

Dissertation Title: Predicting Clinical Outcomes of Non-specific Low Back Pain by Studying the Interaction of Clinical and Demographic Factors of a Retrospective Data Set

Date: Wednesday, May 13, 2026
Time: 12:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Join Zoom Meeting: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81494737867
Meeting ID: 814 9473 7867

Dissertation Committee: Chairperson: Diane Powers Dirette, Ph.D., OTL, FAOTA, Professor- Interdisciplinary Health Sciences Ph.D. Program, WMU; Committee Members: Rob Lyerla, PhD, MGIS, Professor- Interdisciplinary Health Sciences PhD Program, WMU, Alessander Santos PT, PhD Professor, Physical Therapy Department, WMU, Kieran Fogarty, PhD, Director/Professor - Interdisciplinary Health Sciences PhD Program, WMU.

Abstract: The purpose of this research is to investigate demographic factors, including age, gender, body mass index (BMI), race, marital status, insurance type, severity of disease (initial pain level), and clinical factors such as number of visits (no. of visits) at physical therapy (PT), length of time at PT and the type of clinician either physical therapist versus physical therapy assistant (PTA), that most predict PT clinical outcomes in patients with nonspecific low back pain (NSLBP) and see if there is an interaction between demographic and clinical variables.

Methods: The current study is a retrospective, cross-sectional, observational study using secondary electronic medical records (EMRs) of patients receiving PT to examine associations among various factors influencing PT clinical outcomes. This exploratory study answered four research questions. The first research question analyzed whether demographic variables such as age, gender, BMI, race, marital status, insurance type, and initial pain level was associated with functional improvement, which is the Patient Specific Functional Scale (PSFS) change score, for patients receiving PT for NSLBP. In addition to demographic variables, clinical variables such as the no. of PT visits, the length of treatment time, and visits provided by a physical therapist versus the PTA were also included to observe for correlations with functional improvement. A total of four research questions were generated based on their clinical relevance to the field of physical therapy (PT). These four research questions examined the association of demographic factors on clinical outcomes, the association between the number of visits and outcomes, the association between initial pain and outcomes, and finally, the interaction between demographic and clinical factors.

Results: Demographic factors such as BMI, marital status, and insurance type were statistically significant. BMI was statistically significant but had no clinical relevance. The subgroup in the Marital Status, which is the Divorced group, was statistically significant with a small effect size. The subgroup in the insurance type, which is patients on Medicaid, was also statistically significant with a small effect size. The study found no interaction effects between the demographic and clinical variables. The no. of visits and initial pain levels did not show statistical significance.

Conclusion: The best fitting variables that were associated with the PSFS change score were BMI, being divorced, and Medicaid insurance. These variables, however, contribute to only 8% of the variance in the clinical outcomes, which reveals that the other 92% of the variance could be attributed to other factors.

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04/29/2026

Announcement: IHS/PhD Program Dissertation Defense
Candidate Name: Heather Staal, PT, MSPT, Board Certified Clinical Specialist in Neurology (ABPTS), PhD Candidate

Dissertation Title: Personal and High-Intensity Gait Factors Associated with Balance and Walking Improvement with Outpatient Stroke Rehabilitation: A Retrospective Study

Date: Monday, May 11, 2026
Time: 12:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83692759510
Meeting ID: 836 9275 9510

Dissertation Committee: Chairperson: Diane Powers Dirette, Ph.D., OTL, FAOTA, Professor- Interdisciplinary Health Sciences Ph.D. Program, Western Michigan University; Committee Members: Rob Lyerla, PhD, MGIS, Professor- Interdisciplinary Health Sciences PhD Program, Western Michigan University, Amy M. Yorke, PT, PhD, Board Certified Clinical Specialist in Neurology (ABPTS), Professor, Myron and Margaret Winegarden Professor, Physical Therapy Department, University of Michigan Flint.


Abstract: The purpose of this study is to examine the relationships between personal factors and High-Intensity Gait variables and balance and walking improvement in an outpatient stroke population. Background: Stroke is a leading cause of long‑term disability, with persistent gait and balance impairments commonly limiting independence and participation. High-intensity gait training (HIGT) is an evidence-based rehabilitation approach that improves walking outcomes following stroke; however, guidance on how specific training variables are applied in outpatient physical therapy settings remains broad.

Methods: This retrospective observational study analyzes clinical data from outpatient physical therapy episodes in which HIGT is a primary intervention. Personal factors include age, stroke severity, and stroke chronicity. HIGT variables include visit frequency, total number of visits, duration of gait training per session, type of walking practice, and the proportion of sessions reaching target training intensity. Balance and walking outcomes are assessed using percentage change scores on the Berg Balance Scale, Functional Gait Assessment, Ten Meter Walk Test, and Six Minute Walk Test. Multiple linear regression models are used to examine associations between predictors and outcomes. Exploratory spline models are used to evaluate potential nonlinear relationships.

Results: Walking outcomes are most strongly associated with cumulative therapy exposure and training intensity, whereas balance outcomes show greater variability and possibly nonlinear patterns. Stroke severity is associated with proportional gains for walking endurance and speed. The single predictor that was associated with improvements in walking speed and endurance was the number of therapy visits an individual received.

Conclusion: These findings suggest that improvements in balance and walking after outpatient stroke rehabilitation are associated with both personal factors and the specific manner in which HIGT is delivered. However, the modest relationship between these variables and improvements in walking and balance suggests that future studies should consider non-linear relationships and additional variables that may limit PT visits in outpatient therapy. Prioritizing higher dosages of PT, as well as targeting high intensity during HIGT interventions in outpatient therapy, could optimize balance and walking outcomes after stroke.

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04/03/2026

Jodi Haugen’s doctoral research, “A Mixed Methods Study Comparing Insurance-Billing and Non-Billing Payment Models in Occupational, Physical, and Speech Therapy Incorporating Hippotherapy,” has been selected for Western Michigan University’s Graduate Student Research Grant, Spring 2026, with an award of $900. Congratulations!

04/01/2026

Announcement: 2026–2027 Patricia L. Thompson Dissertation Award Recipient

The Graduate College at Western Michigan University announced that Oluwasomidoyin Bello, a Ph.D. student in the Interdisciplinary Health Sciences Program (IHS-PhD), has been selected as a recipient of the 2026–2027 Patricia L. Thompson Dissertation Award.

The award recognizes Bello’s dissertation project, “Maternal Utilization of Early and Adequacy of Prenatal Care Among Black Women in Kalamazoo, Michigan: Secondary Data Analysis of Phase 8 (2016–2022) PRAMS.” This work addresses critical issues in maternal and public health, with a focus on disparities in prenatal care utilization.

The Patricia L. Thompson Dissertation Award is granted annually to doctoral candidates who demonstrate outstanding scholarly achievement and are within one year of completing their dissertation. Recipients receive $1,000 to support expenses associated with dissertation completion.

Please join us in congratulating Oluwasomidoyin Bello on this well-deserved recognition.