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Research Physical Therapist
Burke Neurological Institute
Chappaqua, New York, United States
NAME: Amy Bialek
POSITION TITLE: Research Physical Therapist, Study Coordinator
EDUCATION/TRAINING
FIELD OF STUDY
University of Delaware, Newark De B.A. 06/1992 Communication/Psychology
New York Medical College, Valhalla NY M.S. 06/1998 Physical Therapy
A. Personal Statement
I have 24 years of expertise as a physical therapist, including experience as a research physical therapist and study coordinator for the past 7.5 years. I am a leader in utilizing different types of technology to treat the neurologically impaired population. I am level 2 certified to train others and use both the overground exoskeleton, Ekso GT, and the Walkbot treadmill-based exoskeleton. I have experience using the Bionik Arm robot. I am an experienced patient recruiter and have been the study coordinator for 3 studies, one a multi-site RCT, all of which utilized technology to explore the impact on neurological impairment. My experience in clinical trials extend from development, recruitment and study coordination to study execution, staff training and data collection. I was the co-developer and study coordinator for a completely virtual tele-exercise program for persons with neurological impairments. My ultimate goal is to provide much needed access to assistive technology and exercise to people with neurological impairments in an effort to keep them well and increase their quality of life. I hope to study methods of decreasing secondary impairments and staving off disease progression while providing access to mobility
B. Positions and Honors
Positions and Employment
1998-2000 Physical Therapist at Sound Shore Medical Center in New Rochelle, NY
2004-2005 Clinical Instructor at New York Medical College doctorate PT program Valhalla, NY
2008-2016 Physical Therapist at Visiting Nurse Service of Westchester, White Plains, NY
2014- Advanced clinician, supervisor, Study Coordinator and Research Physical Therapist at Burke Neurological Institute, White Plains, NY
Other Experience and Professional Memberships
2015 Level 1 and 2 Ekso GT certified
2016 Certified to use and train others for Walkbot
2016-2019 Trained staff members of Burke Rehabilitation Hospital and Burke Neurological Institute to use Walkbot for study
2017 Member of the American Society of Neurorehabilitation (ASNR)
2019 Keynote speaker for Ekso Bionics-Commack, NY
2019 Keynote speaker for Ekso Bionics-Tarrytown, NY
2019 Presenter- Burke Neurological Institute “Transverse Myelopathy”
2019 Presenter- APTA Robotics and Neurological Injury course
2019 Edited for a book chapter for Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Secrets.
2020 Presenter-Webinar “Wellness and Clinical Trials: The Science you Need to Know”
2020 Presenter-Webinar “Physical Therapy for Friedreich’s Ataxia”
2020 Presenter-Webinar “The 3 E’s of Wellness: Enabling, Encouraging and Extracting Data”
C. Contributions to Science
My initial research focused on the ability of gait robotic technology to improve function in people with neurological impairment:
One study explored the chronic incomplete spinal cord injured population to determine difference in gait speed and therapist burden between tradition physical therapy (body weight supported treadmill training) versus an overground exoskeleton.
The second study compared traditional physical therapy in those with acute stroke with robotic gait training using a treadmill-based exoskeleton.
The third study, Home Based Tele-Exercise for People with Chronic Neurological Impairments, was
a tele-exercise initiative through Burke Neurological Institute that provided an in-home, seated exercise program to persons with a wide range of neurologic impairments
Role: Study co-developer and Coordinator
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT04564495 Friel (PI)
D. Publications
Park C, Oh-Park M, Dohle C, Bialek, A, Friel K, Edwards D, Krebs H and You J. Effects of innovative hip-knee-ankle interlimb coordinated robot training on ambulation, cardiopulmonary function, depression, and fall confidence in acute hemiplegia. NeuroRehabilitation. 2020;46(4):577-587. doi:10.3233/NRE-203086
"Walking Improvement in chronic incomplete Spinal cord injury with Exoskeleton robotic training (WISE): A randomized controlled trial" (reference number: SC-2020-0749) accepted to Spinal Cord.
I do not have any relevant financial / non-financial relationships with any proprietary interests.
Wednesday, November 9, 2022
3:15 PM – 3:31 PM
