Susan L. Whitney, PhD, PT, NCS, ATC
	Office Location 6055 Forbes Tower Office phone 412-383-6642 E-mail address whitney@pitt.edu

Academic Appointment

Associate Professor

Education

PhD, PT, NCS, ATC

PhD, University of Pittsburgh
MS, University of Pittsburgh
BS, Temple University

Research Interests

Rehabilitation of persons with balance and vestibular disorders, the use of virtual reality for the rehabilitation of persons with balance and vestibular dysfunction

Recent Publications

Whitney SL, Marchetti GF, Morris LO.  The usefulness of the Dizziness Handicap Inventory in determining the diagnosis of benign paroxysmal positional vertigo.  Otology and Neurotology, 26(5):1027-1033, 2005

Whitney SL, Wrisley DM, Marchetti GF, Gee MA, Redfern MS, Furman JM.  Clinical performance of sit-to-stand performance in people with balance disorders:  Validity of data for the fives-times-sit-to-stand test.  Physical Therapy.  2005:85(10):1034-1035.

Brown KE, Whitney SL, Marchetti GF, Wrisley DM, Furman JM.  Physical therapy for central vestibular disorders.  Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, 87(1):76-81, 2006.

Whitney SL, Marchetti GF, Schade A I. Computerized dynamic posturography, vestibular laboratory testing, and reported falls in persons with vestibular disorders.  Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, 87(3):402-407, 2006

Langraff NL, Whitney SL, Rubenstein EN, Yonas H.  The Physical Performance Test’s ability to determine physical performance in patients with asymptomatic carotid artery disease.  Physical Therapy, 86(4):541-548, 2006

Whitney SL, Sparto PJ, Hodges LF, Babu SV, Furman JM, Redfern MS.  Responses to a Virtual Reality Grocery Store in Persons with and without Vestibular Dysfunction.  Cyber Psychology and Behavior. 9(2):152-6, 2006.

Kelley JL, Whitney SL.  The use of spinal mobilization for the treatment of functional thoracic pain and rib dysfunction: A Case Report.   Journal of Orthopedics and Sports Physical Therapy.  (Expected publication September, 2006)

Marchetti GF, Whitney SL.  The Construction and Validation of the Four-Item Dynamic Gait Index (DGI-4).  Physical Therapy (Expected publication December, 2006)

Marchetti M, Whitney SL.  Postural control of older adults with cognitive dysfunction.  Physical Therapy Review. (Acepted for issue 11.3)

Furman JM, Whitney SL.  Illustrative cases.  Neurol Clin. 23(3):919-33, 2005.

Marchetti GF, Whitney SL.  Older adults and balance dysfunction.  Neurol Clin. 23(3):785-805, 2005.

Letgers K, Whitney SL, Porter R, Buczek F.  The relationship between the activities-specific balance confidence scale and the dynamic gait index in peripheral vestibular dysfunction.  Physiother Res Int. 10(1):10-22, 2005.

Whitney SL, Jacob RG, Sparto PJ, Olshansky E, Detweiler-Shostek G, Brown EL, Furman JM.  A case report of acrophobia and height vertigo.   Physical Therapy, 85(5):443-58, 2005.

Whitney SL, Marchetti GF, Schade A, Wrisley DM.  The sensitivity and specificity of the Timed “Up & Go” and the Dynamic Gait Index for self-reported falls in persons with vestibular disorders”,  Journal of Vestibular Research, 14(5):397-409, 2004

Sparto PJ, Whitney SL, Hodges LF, Furman JM, Redfern MS.  Simulator sickness when performing gaze shifts within a wide field of view optic flow environment: Preliminary evidence for using virtual reality in vestibular rehabilitation.  Journal of Neural Engineering and Rehabilitation, J Neuroengineering Rehabil. 23;1(1):1-14, 2004.

Wrisley DM, Marchetti GF, Kosloskey D, Whitney SL.  Reliability, internal consistency, and validity of data obtained with the functional gait assessment.  Physical Therapy, 84(10):906-918, 2004.

Wrisley DM, Whitney SL, Furman JM.  Measurement of health status in patients with dizziness with a history of migraine.  Neurology Report, 28(2):84-90, 2004.

Whitney SL, Wrisley DM. The effect of footwear on the modified test of sensory integration and balance. Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, 85(3):439-43, 2004.

Whitney SL, Wrisley DM, Brown KE, Furman JM.  Is perception of handicap related to functional performance in persons with vestibular dysfunction?  Neurotology and Otology, 25(2):139-143, 2004.

Wrisley DM, Whitney SL.  The effect of foot position on the modified test of clinical sensory integration and balance.  Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, 85(2):335-338, 2004.

Marcus, DA, Whitney SL, Furman JM.  Treatment of migrainous vertigo. Expert Rev. Neurotherapeutics, 3(3):307-316, 2003.

Whitney SL, Wrisley DM, Musolino MC, Furman JM.  Orthostatic Tremor: Two Persons in a Balance Disorders Practice.  Neurology Report, 27(2):46-53, 2003.

Whitney SL. Guest editorial. The history of physical therapy education in the United States.  Journal of Physical Therapy Education. 17(3):2, 2003.

Whitney SL, Wrisley DM, Furman JM.  Concurrent validity of the Dynamic Gait Index and the Berg Balance Scale in persons with vestibular disorders.  Physiotherapy Research International, 8(4):178-186, 2003.

Furman JM, Hsu LC, Whitney SL, Redfern MS.  Otolith-ocular responses in patients with surgically confirmed unilateral peripheral vestibular loss.  Journal of Vestibular Research. 13(2-3):143-151, 2003.

Whitney SL, Wrisley DM, Marchetti G, Furman JM.  The effect of age on rehabilitation outcome in persons with vestibular disorders.   Laryngoscope, 112:1785-1790, 2002.

Poole JL, Whitney SL.  Assessments of motor function post stroke: A review.   Physical and Occupational Therapy in Geriatrics, Physical & Occupational Therapy in Geriatrics. 2002;19(2):1-22.

Whitney SL, Sparto PJ, Brown KE, Furman JM, Redfern MS, Jacobson J.  The potential use of virtual reality in persons with vestibular disorders.  Neurology Report. 26:72-78, 2002.

Wrisley DM, Whitney SL, Furman JM.  Vestibular rehabilitation outcomes in patients with a history of migraine.  Neurotology and Otology, 23:483-487, 2002.

Whitney SL, Titus JL.  Identification of vestibular disorders in mild head injury.  Athletic Training Today, 6(1):33-39, 2001.

Whitney SL, Furman JM.  Central causes of dizziness and physical therapy intervention.  Fisoterapista, 2001;7:45-55.

Brown KE, Whitney SL, Wrisley DM, Furman JM.  Physical therapy outcomes for persons with bilateral vestibular loss.  Laryngoscope, 111:1812-1817, 2001.

Jacob RG, Whitney SL, Detweiler-Shostak G, Furman JR.  Effect of vestibular rehabilitation in patients with panic disorder with agroraphobia and vestibular dysfunction: A pilot study.  J of Anxiety Disorders,  15:131-146, 2001.

Wrisley DM, Sparto PJ, Whitney SL, Furman JM.  Cervicogenic Dizziness: Diagnosis and Intervention.  Journal of Orthopedic and Sports Physical Therapy. 30(12):755-766, 2000.

Whitney SL, Marchetti G, Hudak M. The Dynamic Gait Index related to self-reported fall history in individuals with vestibular dysfunction.   J of Vestibular Research, 10:99-105, 2000.

Whitney SL, Wrisley DM, Brown KE, Furman JM. Physical Therapy for Migraine-related Vestibulopathy and Vestibular Dysfunction with History of Migraine. Laryngoscope. 110:1528-1534, 2000.

Furman JM, Whitney SL.  Central causes of dizziness.   Physical Therapy, 80(2):179-187, 2000.

Lin YH,  Whitney SL.  Effect of ankle taping on the isometric muscle contraction of the ankle evertors.  Journal of Back & Musculoskeletal Rehabilitation. 14(3):123-6, 2000.

Whitney SL, Rossi MM.  Efficacy of vestibular rehabilitation. Otol Clinics of North Am  33(3):659-672, 2000.

Courses Recently Taught 

Vestibular Rehabilitation and Balance disorders as part of Neuromuscular II of the DPT curriculum.

Biographical Profile

Delegate to the National Convention, American Physical Therapy Association, June 1978 (Southeast District), 1979 (Southeast District), 1982 (Southwest District), 1991 (Southwest District), 1993 (Southwest District), 1994 (Southwest District), 1996 (Southwest District). 1997 (Southwest District), 2000, 2001, 2002, 2004, 2005.

Treasurer, Southwestern District, Pennsylvania Physical Therapy Association, 1982 to 1984

Member, Nominations Committee, Southwest District, Pennsylvania Physical Therapy Association, 1990–93

Chairperson, Nominating Committee, Southwest District, Pennsylvania Physical Therapy Association, 1992–93

Chair, Neurology Special Interest Group, Penna Physical Therapy Association, 1994–99

Neurology Section of the American Physical Therapy Association Vice President, 1994–98

Neurology Section of the American Physical Therapy Association, President Elect, 1997–98

Neurology Section of the American Physical Therapy Association, President, 1998–2000

Chief Delegate, Pennsylvania Physical Therapy Association, 2000–03.

Chairperson, Continuing Education Committee, Southeastern District, Pennsylvania Physical Therapy Association, 1978–79

Member, Southwestern District Education Committee, Pennsylvania Physical Therapy Association, 1981–83

Member, Registration Committee for the Pennsylvania State Meeting, Seven Springs, Pennsylvania, January 1982

Coordinator for the Sports Physical Therapy Specialty Examination Questions for the Pittsburgh Area, 1983

Manpower Chairperson for the Southwestern District, Pennsylvania Physical Therapy Association, 1983 (six months)

Member, Pennsylvania State Physical Therapy Public Laws Committee, 1987–93

Co-chair of the Faculty Network in Pennsylvania, 1990–96

Liaison to State Representative Richard Cessar for the Pennsylvania Physical Therapy Association, 1991–94

Member, Research Section of the American Physical Therapy Association History Committee, 1991–present

Membership Chairman of the Neurology Section of the American Physical Therapy Association, 1993–94

Chair, Southwest District PPTA Archives, 1992–95

Member, Southwest District Task Force on Physical Therapy Aides, 1993

Member of the Advisory Board of the Butler County Community College Physical Therapist Assistant Program, 1993–present

Chair, Southwest District PPTA Education Committee, 1993–97

Member, Pennsylvania Physical Therapy Association Continuing Education Committee, 1993–96

Chair, Pennsylvania Physical Therapy Association History Committee, 1994–96

Roundtable Discussant, Combined Sections Meeting for the Neurology Section, February 16, 1996

Member, American Physical Therapy Association History Committee, 1996–99

Chair, American Physical Therapy Association History Committee, 1998–99

Chair, Political Action Committee, Southwestern District, 1997–2000

Chair, Fundraising campaign for the Neurology Section Adopt-a-Doc awards, 2001–03

III Step Program Committee, Neurology Section, 2002–05

Historian, Neurology Section, 2003–present

Member, APTA Awards Research Subcommittee, 2004–present

Professional Memberships

Member, Pennsylvania Physical Therapy Association, 1975–present
Member, National Athletic Trainers Association, 1979–present
Member, Sports Physical Therapy Section of the American Physical Therapy Association, 1979 –2000
Member, American College of Sports Medicine, 1984–2000
Member, Pittsburgh Orthopedic Study Group 1980–1984
Member, Neurology Section of the American Physical Therapy Association, 1990–present
Member, Research Section of the American Physical Therapy Association, 1991–present
Member, Geriatric Section of the American Physical Therapy Association, 1996–present
Member, Association for Research in Otolaryngology, 1998–present
Associate Member, American Academy of Head and Neck Surgery, 2001–present

Awards and Honors

Mary McMillan Doctoral Scholarship, 1989.
Pennsylvania Physical Therapy Achievement Award, November 6, 1993.
Certificate of Honor, Temple University, April 17, 1994.
Lucy Blair Service Award, June 15, 2000. 
Neurological Clinical Specialist, June 2001. 
Neurology Section Service Award, February 15, 2003.
Neurology Section Award for Clinical Excellence in Neurology, February 7, 2004. 

Whitney SL. Virtual reality in balance disorders (K23 grant funded).  It provides five years salary support at 75 percent for a total of $707,645.00. NIDCD funded January 2003–08

External Service and Assignments 

Activities Director for Cub Scout Pack 560, 1995–98

Member of the Strategic Planning Committee Subgroup, Shaler Area School District, 1995

Typist for the Shaler Soccer Club, 1994–95

Assistant Soccer Coach, 1992–93

Volunteer at the Shaler Community Library, 1992

Hand in Hand Festival Physical Therapy Advisor 1987, 1988, 1990

CCD co-instructor, St Bonnaventure Parish, 1996–99

Volunteer, Bethlehem Haven Shelter, 1996–97 and 1989–91

Assistant Scoutmaster, Troop 560, 1997–2000

Parent Advisory Committee for the Ports of Discovery Center, Carnegie Science Center, 1996–2000

Scoutmaster, Troop 560, BSA, 2000–02

Assistant Scoutmaster, 2003–present

Member, ALS Board of Directors, 2002–present

Adult Advisory Board, St. Bonnaventure Youth Group, 2002–present

ALS Patient Services Committee Chair, 2003–present

Secretary, Shaler Area High School Parent Teacher Association, 2003–05

Chair, After Prom gift solicitation, Shaler Area High School, 2004

Vice President, Shaler Area High School Parent Teacher Association, 2005–present