Kurz joins MMI faculty

Max Kurz, Ph.D.

Max Kurz, Ph.D., is back.

The Omaha native returned to his roots recently after serving as a professor in the Health and Human Performance Department at the University of Houston where he taught biomechanics for three years.

Dr. Kurz joined the UNMC’s Munroe-Meyer Institute (MMI) faculty on Aug. 11, becoming the inaugural director of biomechanics at MMI.

An undergraduate of Doane College in Crete, Neb., Dr. Kurz went on to earn his master’s degree in exercise science from the University of Nebraska at Omaha and his Ph.D. in biomechanics from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

Dr. Kurz’s office is in the Motion Analysis Lab, which is in the lower level of MMI and features four force platforms and six high speed cameras for gait and posture analysis.

There he hopes to develop new tools to help understand how patients move.

“My main goal is to improve the stability of gait patterns and walking efficiency,” Dr. Kurz said.

Prior to his research on individuals with Parkinson’s disease, Dr. Kurz studied runners’ injuries.

Of note Dr. Kurz is married to Sara Kurz, a 1997 UNMC College of Pharmacy alum, who worked at UNMC before the family relocated to Texas. The Kurzes have three kids; Aidan, 6, Norah, 3, and Allie, 1.

“I’ve always been into physics and math and how it applies to the human body, but I found there were better questions to address than those associated with runners’ injuries,” Dr. Kurz said. “I think serving people with disabilities will be a better use of my skill set. I see the opportunity to improve the lives of children with disabilities and have an impact on that population here at MMI.”

After working extensively with biomechanist Nick Stergiou, Ph.D., at the University of Nebraska at Omaha, Dr. Kurz is open to collaboration with other disciplines.

His team-player attitude is just one reason Wayne Stuberg, Ph.D., director of physical therapy and the Motion Analysis Lab at MMI, recruited Dr. Kurz.

“He has a very strong academic background and promises to make significant contributions to the field of motion analysis and the care of special needs children,” Dr. Stuberg said.

Dr. Kurz is eager to get started.

“I know I’ll be part of a good team, and the medical center in general is on its way up,” he said. “Plus, I like Omaha and it’s good to be back.”