Miriam Rafferty PT, DPT, PhD

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About Me

Dr. Miriam Rafferty is the Director of Implementation Science and a Research Scientist at the Shirley Ryan AbilityLab. She is an Assistant Professor at Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine in the Departments of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation and Psychiatry & Behavioral Science. Dr. Rafferty also is an active physical therapist clinician specializing in neurologic physical therapy, particularly for people with Parkinson’s disease. Dr. Rafferty’s research focuses on health services delivery models for people with Parkinson’s disease, particularly proactive delivery models. She also uses implementation science methodology to study the implementation of evidence-based practices and novel technologies into real-world rehabilitation settings.

Location

Shirley Ryan AbilityLab

355 E Erie St

Chicago, IL 60611

Education

1999 - 2003

BA Biology, Saint Mary's College of Maryland

2003 - 2006

Doctor of Physical Therapy, Washington University in St. Louis

2010 - 2015

PhD Neuroscience, University of Illinois at Chicago

Fellowship

2015 - 2018

Postdoctoral Fellowship n Health Services and Outcomes Research and Implementation Science, Northwestern University

Featured Research

Effects of 2 Years of Exercise on Gait Impairment in People With Parkinson Disease: The PRET-PD Randomized Trial.

Journal of neurologic physical therapy : JNPT

Rafferty MR,
Prodoehl J,
Robichaud JA,
David FJ,
Poon C,
Goelz LC,
Vaillancourt DE,
Kohrt WM,
Comella CL,
Corcos DM

Recent Publications

Regular Exercise, Quality of Life, and Mobility in Parkinson's Disease: A Longitudinal Analysis of National Parkinson Foundation Quality Improvement Initiative Data.

Rafferty MR, Schmidt PN, Luo ST, Li K, Marras C, Davis TL, Guttman M, Cubillos F, Simuni T, all NPF-QII Investigators

Journal of Parkinson's disease

doi: 10.3233/JPD-160912

Commentary on "A Tandem Cycling Program: Feasibility and Physical Performance Outcomes in People With Parkinson Disease".

Rafferty MR, Corcos DM

Journal of neurologic physical therapy : JNPT

doi: 10.1097/NPT.0000000000000144

Two-year exercise program improves physical function in Parkinson's disease: the PRET-PD randomized clinical trial.

Prodoehl J, Rafferty MR, David FJ, Poon C, Vaillancourt DE, Comella CL, Leurgans SE, Kohrt WM, Corcos DM, Robichaud JA

Neurorehabilitation and neural repair

doi: 10.1177/1545968314539732

Honors & Awards

Golden Synapse Award of the Journal of Neurologic Physical Therapy
Best Article of 2017
, 2018
Illinois Physical Therapy Association Physical Therapist of the Year
2014
Baskin Award for Excellence in Research: Clinician/Clinical Researcher
From the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago, 2010

Professional Affiliations

Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine
Assistant Professor Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine
Assistant Professor Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Science
Parkinson's Foundation
Parkinson's Outcome Project Steering Committee Member

Research Interests

Implementation Science
Knowledge Translation
Physical Therapy
Parkinson's Disease

Exercise

Grants

Processes to Increase Exercise Adherence and Sustainment in Parkinson's Disease
Parkinson's Foundation
, 2018 - 2019
"Development and Implementation of a Feasible
Parkinson's Foundation
, 2018 - 2019
knowledge translation projects...vestibular rehabilitation
American Physical Therapy Association (APTA)
, 2018 - 2019
Implementation, spread, and sustainment of Physical Therapy for Mild Parkinson’s Disease through a Regional System of Care
American Physical Therapy Association (APTA)
, 2018 - 2019

We research implementation science methodology to study best ways to translate findings of exercise research studies into the real-world clinical & community.

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