معرفی
Sean D. Rundell is an Associate Professor in the Department of Rehabilitation Medicine at the University of Washington School of Medicine. He is a physical therapist, epidemiologist, and researcher specializing in musculoskeletal conditions, with particular expertise in low back pain and chronic musculoskeletal pain conditions in older adults. Dr. Rundell serves as the Curriculum Coordinator for the University of Washington Orthopedic Physical Therapy Residency program and teaches in the musculoskeletal track of the Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) program.
Dr. Rundell's educational background includes:
- PhD in Epidemiology from the University of Washington (2014)
- MS in Epidemiology: Clinical Research from the University of Washington (2011)
- Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) from Duke University (2005)
- BS in Kinesiology from the University of Wisconsin-Madison (2002)
- Orthopaedic Physical Therapy Residency at Kaiser Permanente Southern California (2007)
His research program focuses on epidemiologic and health services research of musculoskeletal conditions, with particular emphasis on low back pain and chronic musculoskeletal pain conditions in older adults. Dr. Rundell's overall research goal is to enhance understanding of spine conditions and back-related disability in older adults to improve healthcare delivery and quality for this population. His work spans several key areas including spine conditions, pain epidemiology, and health services research in rehabilitation. Recent publications reveal a strong focus on patient phenotypes, pain characteristics, and the impact of multimorbidity on functional outcomes in older adults with back pain.
Dr. Rundell is affiliated with the UW CLEAR Center and has been involved in major research initiatives including the Lumbar Imaging With Reporting Of Epidemiology (LIRE) study, the Biomarkers for Evaluating Spine Treatments (BEST) trial, and the PROSPECTS Study examining lumbar stenosis.
Notable awards and recognitions include:
- Board-Certified Orthopaedic Clinical Specialist Emeritus, American Board of Physical Therapy Specialties
- The Center on Health Services Training and Research (CoHSTAR) Part-time Faculty Fellowship (2019)
- Outstanding Poster Award 2022 for clinical research on pain in older adults, by IASP SIG on Pain in Older Persons
Dr. Rundell's research has significantly contributed to understanding optimal care pathways for patients with back pain, particularly in geriatric populations. His work examining the safety of concurrent gabapentin and opioid therapy in older adults with spine conditions has important clinical implications. He has also made substantial contributions to understanding the relationship between pain characteristics and physical capacity trajectories in older adults, as well as the impact of financial incentives on therapy provision in skilled nursing facilities.
