Janette Watkins is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Kinesiology at Penn State University, with an affiliate appointment at the Child Study Center. Her research focuses on community-based interventions for youth physical activity and digital wellness, integrating neuroscience and kinesiology methodologies. Dual-Ph.D. (2025) - Human Performance & Neural Sciences, Indiana University M.Ed. (2021) - Kinesiology, University of Virginia B.A. (2020) - Neuroscience, Transylvania University Watkins specializes in: Community-based, co-designed interventions for youth health Family dynamics influencing child self-regulation Interdisciplinary methods combining eye tracking (neuroscience) and accelerometry (kinesiology) Psychosocial/environmental factors affecting screen time and well-being Her recent publications examine screen time anxiety in youth, strength training feasibility, and inclusive sports practices. She collaborates with the Social Science Research Institute and focuses on implementation strategies for rural school environments.
Barbara Lohse serves as Professor and Head of the Wegmans School of Health and Nutrition within the College of Health Sciences and Technology at Rochester Institute of Technology. Previously holding positions as Principal Investigator of the Pennsylvania SNAP-Ed program and Research Professor at Penn State, she brings extensive experience in evidence-based nutrition education to her current leadership role. Education Background: BS in Nutritional Sciences, University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire MS in Food and Nutrition, University of Wisconsin-Stout PhD in Nutritional Sciences and Educational Psychology, University of Wisconsin-Madison Dr. Lohse's research centers on nutrition education engineering with particular emphasis on eating competence, obesity prevention, and low-income nutrition interventions. Her work focuses on developing feasible, sustainable nutrition education approaches that align with the Wegmans School's vision of scholars and students 'walking the talk' to secure health for all populations. She has pioneered methodologies in measuring adherence to Satter's Division of Responsibility in Feeding and developed the Fuel for Fun intervention for school-age children. Analysis of her recent publications reveals consistent focus on validation of nutrition assessment tools, parent-child feeding dynamics, and practical applications of eating competence theory across diverse populations. Her work frequently bridges nutritional science with behavioral psychology to create implementable solutions for real-world nutrition challenges. Scientific Recognition: Society of Nutrition Education and Behavior Researcher of the Year (2016) Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior Platinum Author Recognition Award (2016) Dr. Lohse has successfully led major research initiatives including the Pennsylvania SNAP-Ed program and the ELM study. Her grant-funded work emphasizes community-based interventions with special attention to low-income populations and program sustainability. Current teaching responsibilities include advanced courses in nutrition science, research methods, and implementation science. As department head, she oversees the Wegmans School's research initiatives including the Fuel for Fun program examining cooking skills and eating behaviors in fourth graders, and leads development of digital nutrition education tools like the NEEDs Center resources. Recent activities include hosting a global summit on eating competence and presenting internationally on nutrition intervention strategies.
Dr. Sai Vikas Yalla serves as an Assistant Professor at the Dr. William M. Scholl College of Podiatric Medicine at Rosalind Franklin University, where he lectures in the Department of Podiatric Surgery and Applied Biomechanics. With over 15 years of experience in biomechanics, Dr. Yalla specializes in cadaveric and prosthetic material testing, finite element modeling, human movement evaluation, and identifying physical activity patterns and human injury/risk thresholds. Dr. Yalla's research focuses primarily on diabetic complications of the lower extremities, fall prevention, and improving patient lifestyles through postural stability training. His vision centers on using innovative technology to develop new approaches for understanding biomechanics of human movement to improve quality of life for diabetic, traumatic brain injury, and dementia patients while reducing caregiver burden. His work with body worn sensors enables quantification and analysis of human gait, balance, muscle activity, patient compliance, and activity monitoring in terms of sitting, standing, walking, and lying. His publication record demonstrates consistent scholarly output with a focus on diabetic foot care, biomechanics, and innovative technology applications. The 15 most recent publications reveal a strong emphasis on diabetic complications, gait analysis, orthotic devices, and technological interventions for improving mobility and preventing foot ulcers in diabetic populations. His research spans clinical trials, systematic reviews, biomechanical studies, and technology development. Dr. Yalla has received notable recognition including the 'Best Industrial Engineering Graduate' award for both his Masters (2006) and PhD (2009) degrees from the University of Louisville. As an educator, Dr. Yalla coordinates the Biostatistics course for Sports Medicine research projects and conducts Gait Lab workshops focused on objective gait evaluation and postural control evaluation. His teaching and research activities are closely integrated, with his expertise in biomechanics directly informing his academic instruction. His research at CLEAR has focused on improving body worn sensor technology for visual feedback, gait retraining, evaluating compliance and intervention effectiveness, gamification as an adjunct to physical therapy, and exploring connections between lower extremity issues and low back pain.
Lesley Pritchard, PT, PhD, is a Professor in the Department of Physical Therapy within the Faculty of Rehabilitation Medicine at the University of Alberta. Her work bridges clinical practice and academic research in pediatric rehabilitation, with active teaching responsibilities including PTHER 563 (Gross Motor Development and Pediatric Physical Therapy) and REHAB 601 (Research Design in Rehabilitation Research). Her educational foundation includes: PhD in Rehabilitation Medicine (University of Alberta, 2008) MScPT (University of Alberta, 2002) BScPT (University of Alberta, 1996) Dr. Pritchard's research centers on improving rehabilitation outcomes for children with motor disabilities, particularly through understanding family perspectives on service delivery and developing evidence-based interventions for cerebral palsy. She investigates community participation barriers and designs child-focused rehabilitation approaches that prioritize functional outcomes in natural environments. Her recent publication trends (2022-2025) reveal a strategic focus on implementation science and translational research. Key themes include validation of assessment tools like the Gross Motor Family Report, qualitative exploration of family experiences with orthotics and telehealth, and rigorous evaluation of innovative interventions such as robotic gait training. There is strong emphasis on mixed-methods designs and multi-center trials that bridge clinical practice and research evidence. No scientific awards are documented in the provided materials. As a graduate supervisor, Dr. Pritchard mentors students in rehabilitation research methodology while securing substantial grant funding for projects like the ENGAGE study on goal setting and TIPS for telehealth implementation. Her work demonstrates consistent collaboration with interdisciplinary teams across clinical, academic, and policy domains. She leads the ENGAGE research group focused on child-centered rehabilitation and contributes to the University of Alberta's Pediatric Rehabilitation Research cluster, collaborating with clinicians, families, and international researchers to advance evidence-based service delivery models.
Victor Ezeugwu is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Physical Therapy at the University of Alberta's Faculty of Rehabilitation Medicine. He is a Physical Therapist and research affiliate with the Glenrose Rehabilitation Hospital. Dr. Ezeugwu is also a member of multiple research institutes including the Neuroscience and Mental Health Institute (NMHI), the Institute for SMart Augmentative and Restorative Technologies and Health Innovations (iSMART), the Women and Children's Health Research Institute (WCHRI), and the Sedentary Behaviour Research Network (SBRN). His educational background includes: Postdoctoral Fellowship - Canadian Healthy Infant Longitudinal Development (CHILD) Cohort Study, University of Alberta PhD - Rehabilitation Science, University of Alberta MSc - Physical Therapy, Obafemi Awolowo University, Nigeria BMR - Physical Therapy, University of Nigeria Dr. Ezeugwu's research primarily focuses on precision rehabilitation, utilizing wearable technologies, behaviour change techniques, and ecological approaches to study movement behaviours across the lifespan. His work involves personalizing rehabilitation interventions for individuals living with stroke, Parkinson's disease, frailty, and Long COVID. He has developed expertise in accelerometer-based movement behavior assessment and has contributed significantly to understanding how sedentary behavior impacts health outcomes in various populations, with particular emphasis on compositional approaches that consider physical activity, sedentary behavior, and sleep together rather than in isolation. Analysis of Dr. Ezeugwu's publication record reveals a strong progression from foundational work on movement behavior patterns to targeted clinical interventions. His recent high-impact publications in journals like The Lancet Neurology demonstrate his growing influence in stroke rehabilitation research. A distinctive theme throughout his work is the application of ecological momentary assessment approaches to understand real-world movement behaviors and develop practical, evidence-based interventions that can be implemented in clinical settings. His research increasingly focuses on precision rehabilitation approaches that integrate multiple movement behaviors rather than addressing them separately. Dr. Ezeugwu teaches PTHER 546 - Adult Neurology, covering theory and application of physical therapy for adults with neurological conditions. The course includes assessment, intervention, outcome evaluation, therapeutic exercise, electrophysical agents, and evidence-based skills. While specific scientific awards are not explicitly mentioned in the available information, his research has been published in high-impact journals including The Lancet Neurology, PLoS One, and Journal of Physical Activity and Health. As a research affiliate with the Glenrose Rehabilitation Hospital, Dr. Ezeugwu maintains strong clinical connections that inform his research agenda. His work with the CHILD Cohort Study demonstrates his commitment to longitudinal research that tracks movement behaviors from early childhood through development. His current research program addresses critical gaps in rehabilitation science, particularly in developing evidence-based approaches to reduce sedentary behavior and promote optimal movement patterns across various patient populations and conditions.
Niels Chavannes is a Full Professor of eHealth Applications in Population Health Management at Leiden University Medical Centre, where he also serves as Chair of the Research Council for Lifestyle & Prevention. He has held this position since January 2015 and is actively involved with the National eHealth Living Lab. His work bridges primary care medicine with digital health innovations, focusing on improving healthcare delivery through technology. Chavannes' research interests span eHealth applications in population health management, COPD and asthma disease management, smoking cessation therapies, and digital health interventions for people across socioeconomic positions. His work particularly emphasizes addressing health disparities through inclusive eHealth design and implementation in both high-income and low-resource settings. He has extensive expertise in primary care medicine, lung diseases, and rehabilitation, with a strong focus on practical applications that can be implemented in real-world healthcare settings. His publication record demonstrates a consistent focus on digital health solutions for chronic disease management, with particular attention to cardiovascular risk, respiratory conditions, and lifestyle interventions. Recent work shows increasing emphasis on inclusive design for vulnerable populations, remote patient monitoring, and the integration of artificial intelligence in primary care settings. National Public Health Stimulation Award for 'Kroonluchter COPD-Project by Health Center Zuiderkroon', Rotterdam, Netherlands 2006 Chavannes leads significant research initiatives in population health management, particularly through the National eHealth Living Lab, which focuses on developing and implementing digital health solutions for chronic disease prevention and management. His work has strong international dimensions, with collaborations extending to low- and middle-income countries. Current projects include developing inclusive eHealth guides for people with lower socioeconomic positions, implementing lifestyle medicine in healthcare practice, and creating digital tools for smoking cessation and cardiovascular risk management.
