Meaghan A. Costello

Meaghan A. Costello is a PhD student in Rehabilitation Sciences at the MGH Institute of Health Professions (IHP), specializing in developing interdisciplinary interventions for stroke patients. She serves as a term instructor and lab instructor in the Physical Therapy School under the School of Health & Rehabilitation Sciences. Her mentorship includes roles in the Neurologic Physical Therapy Residency Program at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH), where she has worked for 21 years as an inpatient physical therapist. She holds dual certifications as a Neurologic Clinical Specialist (NCS) and is Chair of the Neurologic Specialty Council at the American Board of Physical Therapy Specialties.

Education:

• Bachelor of Science in Biology, Bridgewater State University (2001)
• Doctor of Physical Therapy, MGH Institute of Health Professions (2003)

Research Interests: Meaghan focuses on novel stroke rehabilitation techniques, neuroplasticity mechanisms, and acute stroke care. Her work bridges clinical practice with translational research, notably contributing to the Stroke Motor Rehabilitation and Recovery Study (SMaRHT) and its successor SMaHRTer under Dr. David Lin’s lab at MGH. She emphasizes interdisciplinary collaboration and patient safety in her studies.

Awards:

• MGH Individual Patient Safety Star (2022)
• Best Poster of Stroke-Related Content (2022), ANPT Stroke SIG
• Outstanding Service Award (2020), ANPT Stroke SIG

Grants & Projects: Leading the Description of Specialty Practice Revalidation initiative funded by APTA until 2026. This project aims to redefine standards for neurologic physical therapy practice nationwide.

Labs/Teams: Active member of the Cognitive-Motor Behavior Lab and collaborates with the Lab for Translational Neurorecovery at MGH.