Catherine Certo ScD, P.T., FAPTA
Professor of Physical Therapy
Chair of the Department of Physical Therapy
Education: B.S. Marquette University; M.S., Sc.D., Boston University
Phone: Office 860.768.5367 UPT Clinic 860.768.5335
E-Mail: certo@hartford.edu
Special Interests: Cardiopulmonary rehabilitation for populations across the lifespan, congestive heart failure and exercise, and high risk populations.
Research Topics: Recent student-mentored projects include "The Effects of Aerobic Training on Balance in the Elderly" and "Is Self-Directed Learning Assessed by Competency Testing an Effective Method of Acquisition of Skill in Performing Manual Muscle Testing and Goniometry."

Barbara Crane PhD, P.T.
Assistant Professor of Physical Therapy
Education: B.S., University of Connecticut; M.A., Saint Joseph College; Ph.D., University of Pittsburgh
Phone: Office 860.768.5371 UPT Clinic 860.768.5335
E-Mail: bcrane@hartford.edu
Special Interests: Gerontology, assistive technology, management of adults with neurological impairments.
Research Topics: Outcomes related to applications of assistive technology, therapeutic outcomes of neurological treatment interventions, seated posture assessment.

Dr. Crane joined the faculty at the University of Hartford in January of 2005. She has been a physical therapist since 1989, practicing primarily in the areas of adult neurological rehabilitation and assistive technology. She is responsible for teaching content in the areas of neuroscience, gerontology, motor control and motor learning, and mentors student research projects. She holds a Doctor of Philosophy degree from the University of Pittsburgh where she studied outcomes related to wheelchairs and wheelchair seating technologies. She also holds a specialty certification as an Assistive Technology Practitioner and is involved in providing wheelchair assessment services at the University Physical Therapy clinic on campus. Her main research areas include outcomes of wheelchair and seating technologies, reliability of outcome measures, and assessment of sitting posture.

Janet M K Gangaway DPT, OCS, ATC
Assistant Professor of Physical Therapy, ACCE
Education: B.S. University of Connecticut; M.P.T., University of Southern California; DPT, Simmons College
Phone: Office 860.768.5266 UPT Clinic 860.768.5335
E-Mail: gangaway@hartford.edu
Special Interests: Orthopedic Physical Therapy, Aquatic Physical Therapy
Research Topics: Clinical Education Aquatic Physical Therapy.

Paul Higgins DPT, ATC, CSCS
Assistant Professor of Physical Therapy
Education: B.S. Exercise Science / Athletic Training, Rhode Island College; MPT American International College; DPT with Distinction, Simmons College
Phone: Office 860.768.4851 UPT Clinic 860.768.5335
E-Mail: phiggins@hartford.edu
Special Interests: Orthopedic and Sports Physical Therapy; Sports Specific Strength and Conditioning; Clinical Application of Therapeutic Modalities.
Research Topics: Clinical Application of Therapeutic Modalities: Thermal Ultrasound application and the effects to the posterior capsule of the shoulder.

Paul Higgins completed his undergraduate degree in Exercise Science in 1992 at Rhode Island College, Providence, RI. He earned his Athletic Trainer Certification from the NATABOC that same year while working in the high school and college sports medicine setting. During the spring of 1994 he became a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist with the NSCABOC. Paul returned to graduate school in 1996, earning a Master of Physical Therapy degree from American International College, Springfield, MA in 1999. While specializing in sports medicine and orthopedic injuries, he earned a Doctor of Physical Therapy from Simmons College in Boston, MA in 2006.

Paul became an adjunct professor for the University of Hartford during the fall of 2002. He later became a full-time clinician at the University Physical Therapy, LLC (UPT). UPT is the on-campus outpatient physical therapy clinic where he continues to practice daily.

His current specialties and areas of interest include orthopedic sports medicine, modalities and clinical anatomy. His current research focus is based on clinical modalities and the therapeutic benefits.

John Leard EdD, ATC, P.T.
Assistant Professor of Physical Therapy
Education: B.S., M.S., Northeastern University; Ed.D., West Virginia University
Phone: Office 860.768.5115 UPT Clinic 860.768.5335
E-Mail: leard@hartford.edu
Special Interests: Musculoskeletal injuries and assessment; Lower kinetic chain; Foot and ankle; Curriculum and instruction in physical therapy education.
Research Topics: Current research projects involve the examination of the interaction of movement between body segments in the foot, ankle, leg, and pelvis known as the lower kinetic chain. Research interests also include reliability and validity of hand size measurement and common lower extremity flexibility and strength measurements as well as evaluation of student clinical performance.

Dr. Leard has been teaching at the University of Hartford since 2001 with primary responsibilities teaching in the musculoskeletal portion of the curriculum. He holds a doctorate in curriculum and instruction from West Virginia University. Besides working clinically as either an athletic trainer or a physical therapist for over 25 years, Dr. Leard has simultaneously been involved in teaching musculoskeletal evaluation and treatment courses at Boston's Children’s Hospital, Northeastern University, West Virginia University, and Boston University. In addition, Dr. Leard helps run the on-campus physical therapy clinic that treats students and local area residents as well as serves as a site for clinical teaching of physical therapy students in the University of Hartford program.