Simon K. Ho

Simon K. Ho, DPT, CCS, serves as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Physical Therapy & Rehabilitation Science at the University of Maryland School of Medicine. A board-certified specialist in cardiovascular and pulmonary physical therapy, he maintains clinical expertise in heart failure rehabilitation, mechanical circulatory support, and critical illness management. His research integrates advanced physiological assessment with pediatric and cardiorespiratory rehabilitation contexts.

His academic credentials include:

• 2010: B.S. in Clinical Health Studies, Ithaca College
• 2012: Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT), Ithaca College

Dr. Ho's research program centers on applied respiratory physiology, with emphasis on the control of breathing, blood flow dynamics, and muscle oxygenation. Utilizing diaphragm ultrasonography and shear-wave elastography, his laboratory investigates diaphragm structure-function relationships during exercise and evaluates inspiratory muscle training interventions. Current projects specifically target pediatric populations including children with sickle cell disease and childhood cancer survivors, addressing gaps in cardiorespiratory rehabilitation for these vulnerable groups.

Analysis of his 2021-2023 publications reveals a cohesive research trajectory focused on translating physiological measurements into clinical rehabilitation outcomes. Key trends include establishing diaphragm function biomarkers for exercise tolerance in sickle cell disease, developing remote monitoring technologies for oxygenation assessment, and creating evidence-based protocols for inspiratory muscle training in pediatric oncology. His work bridges engineering innovation with clinical physical therapy practice.

Dr. Ho secured significant external funding as Site Principal Investigator for a National Science Foundation RAPID grant (Award #2030382; 2020-2021) titled 'Collaborative Research: Understanding and Facilitating Remote Triage and Rehabilitation During Pandemics via Visual Based Patient Physiologic Sensing.' This project exemplifies his focus on technology-enhanced rehabilitation solutions for crisis scenarios.

His research laboratory employs state-of-the-art diaphragm ultrasonography and shear-wave elastography systems to conduct translational investigations into respiratory mechanics. Current initiatives examine the intersection of mechanical ventilation weaning, diaphragm atrophy, and exercise capacity in critical care populations, with plans to expand into tele-rehabilitation applications for rural communities.