Lizzie Choma

Lizzie Choma is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Physical Therapy at Whitworth University, where she joined the faculty in 2022. Her expertise includes geriatric physical therapy and fall prevention strategies for older adults. She holds a Ph.D. Candidate in Nursing from the University of Minnesota Twin Cities, a Geriatric Physical Therapy Residency from the same institution, a Doctor of Physical Therapy from the University of Montana, and a B.S. in Health Sciences from Whitworth University.

Her research focuses on implementing exercise-based interventions to improve balance and mobility in aging populations, with a particular emphasis on mixed methods approaches. She has explored topics such as ankle-foot orthoses efficacy in peripheral artery disease, behavioral strategies for physical activity adherence, and pandemic impacts on older adults' activity levels. Her work integrates clinical practice with interprofessional education.

Dr. Choma’s awards include the Community-Building Grant (2020/2021) and the Alan T. Hirsch Travel Award (2019). She has received significant funding through grants like the Promotion of Doctoral Studies II Scholarship (2021–2022) and the Helen Wells Research Grant (2021–2023).

Her professional contributions include presentations at major conferences such as the Society of Behavioral Medicine and the Society for Vascular Medicine. Her clinical interests align with her research, emphasizing LSVT (Lee Silverman Voice Treatment) and BIG for Parkinson’s Disease certification.