Dr. Carie Barrett is an associate professor in the Doctor of Physical Therapy Program at Western Michigan University. She completed her PhD in Interdisciplinary Health Sciences at Western Michigan University, received her Doctor of Physical Therapy degree at Shenandoah University, earned the title Board-Certified Clinical Specialist in Neurologic Physical Therapy, and was recently awarded a Distinguished Teaching Award. Her primary research involves mild traumatic brain injury in geriatric populations. She serves as a member of a task force for DPT education in social determinants of health appointed through the American Council of Academic Physical Therapy. She conducts ongoing studies in exploratory, translational, population, and qualitative research in both older adults with neurologic conditions and interdisciplinary education practices. Her teaching disciplines include neurologic physical therapy care management, and her interests include treating adults specializing in post-concussion, balance, and vestibular physical therapy.
Prof. Dr. Rob Lyerla is a professor in the Interdisciplinary Health Sciences Ph.D. program at Western Michigan University (WMU). Prior to joining the faculty at WMU, Dr. Lyerla had a 20-plus-year career in the US Department of Health and Human Services. After joining the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) as an officer in the Epidemic Intelligence Service, Dr. Lyerla worked as a staff epidemiologist in viral hepatitis at the CDC. He then was seconded for 5 years to the Joint UN Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) in Geneva, Switzerland, to help monitor the global HIV epidemic in Asia and the former Soviet Union. He returned to the US and worked as a senior scientist with the Office of the Global AIDS Coordinator. Dr. Lyerla retired from government service after serving as the associate director for science at the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. He joined the Open Journal of Occupational Therapy advisory board in November 2022 to provide statistical support and expertise for research articles. Dr. Lyerla has published over 50 scholarly journals and maintains an active research portfolio in public health and epidemiology.
Dr. Kieran Fogarty is a Professor and Director of the Interdisciplinary Health Sciences PhD. Program at Western Michigan University. He received his doctoral degree from the University of Arkansas in 1997. Prior to joining the faculty at Western Michigan University in 2002, he completed a post-doctoral fellowship with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) as an Epidemic Intelligence Service Officer (EIS), where he later served as an epidemiologist in the National Center for HIV, STD, and TB Prevention, Division of HIV/AIDS Prevention.
