Joe Norman, Ph.D., professor of physical therapy education, has been appointed director of the PT program.
"I am thrilled to have Dr. Norman assume this leadership role," said Kyle Meyer, Ph.D., senior associate dean of the School of Allied Health Professions. "He brings incredible experience to the role and is immensely well respected by colleagues at UNMC and nationally."
Dr. Norman brings an outstanding record of research to the position, Dr. Meyer said. He has participated in a variety of roles on funded research projects totaling approximately $6.5 million in direct costs since 1990.
With principal investigator Bunny Pozehl, Ph.D., professor, College of Nursing-Lincoln Division, he is currently a co-investigator on a National Institutes of Health grant from the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute examining the impact of exercise adherence on the cardiovascular health of individuals with heart failure. Dr. Norman has more than 50 publications and abstracts to his credit.
Dr. Norman joined the UNMC faculty in 1992 in the division of physical therapy education, with teaching and research expertise in cardiopulmonary physical therapy. In 2000, he obtained board certification from the American Board of Physical Therapy Specialties as a cardiopulmonary clinical specialist and was further recognized the same year as a fellow in the American Association of Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Rehabilitation.
He is a member of the American Physical Therapy Association, the Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Section of the American Physical Therapy Association and the American Board of Physical Therapy Specialists (ABPTS). In 2013, he was appointed chair of the Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Specialty Council of the ABPTS.
Dr. Norman serves on the UNMC Promotion and Tenure Guidelines Review Committee and on its subcommittee on teaching. In addition, he serves on the UNMC Scientific and Pilot Grant Review Committee for the UNMC Center for Clinical and Translational Research.