Adrianna Laprea Ellis, PT, DPT
Associate Professor

Curriculum Vitae

Research & Teaching Areas of Interest

Geriatrics, Falls, Neurological Rehabilitation, Posture and Gait, and Heterogeneity

Biography

Adrianna Laprea Ellis, PT, DPT is an Associate Professor in the Department of Physical Therapy in the School of Health Professions (SHP) at the University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB). She received her Doctor of Physical Therapy degree from Nova Southeastern University in 2007 and became a Certified Geriatric Specialist through the American Board of Physical Therapist Specialties in 2011.

Dr. Ellis is experienced in neurological rehabilitation, as she worked at TIRR Memorial Hermann Neurological Outpatient services from 2008-2016. Utilizing her past experiences as a certified bilingual health care professional, she has cared for patients during mission trips overseas and at multiple settings including inpatient rehabilitation, skilled nursing facility and home health.

Her current primary instructor responsibilities include the Bridge Neurotherapeutic Rehabilitation courses I-III, Bridge Rehabilitation Technologies and Medical Spanish for the Healthcare Professionals. Furthermore, she is a secondary instructor, guest lecturer and grader in other courses. She has delivered courses on-line and on-site since August 2014, and she has presented posters and courses at state and national Physical Therapy conferences. In 2015, she received the School of Health Professions' Junior Faculty Excellence Award.

Her research includes rehabilitation outcomes impacting the adults and older adults with and without neurological deficits on posture and ambulation. She supervises patient care weekly at the UTMB St.Vincent’s pro-bono clinic. Additionally, Dr. Ellis serves as both the student recruitment committee chair and a student admissions’ committee member for all Physical Therapy programs at UTMB. Outside of UTMB, Dr. Ellis performs committee tasks for the American Physical Therapy Association and has received recognition for her work.

Research Projects

• IRB#: 21-01762021 - 2022
  • Group: UTMB SHP Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Task Force
  • Title: Inter-professional Cultural Awareness with a focus on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion: Students, Faculty and Staff Perceptions.
  • Role: Principal Investigator
  • Co-Investigators: Pappadis M, Li CY, Rojas J, Washington JS.
• IRB#: 15-00982018 - 2020
  • Group: UTMB SHP Department of Physical Therapy
  • Title: Effectiveness of a Physical Therapy Intervention in Patients with Pneumonia, or COPD, or Hyperkyphosis in Galveston, Texas.
  • Collaborators: Hughes L, Laprea A, Rojas J, Welsh R
• IRB#: 17-02652018 - 2020
  • Group: UTMB SHP Department of Physical Therapy
  • Title: Initiating gait with the non-paretic limb affects walking performance in people with hemiparesis in Galveston, Texas.
  • Collaborators: Ko M, Furtado M, Laprea A, Oppermann L

Notable Publications & Posters

• Ellis AL, Pappadis MR, Li CY, Rojas JD, Washington JS. Interprofessional Perceptions of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Cultural Competence, and Humility Among Students and Faculty: A Mixed-Methods Study. J Allied Health. 2023;52(2):89-96.
• Ko, M., PT, PhD, Ellis, A. L., PT, DPT, & Sannbia, K. P., PTA, MS. Gait Deviation Associated with Absent Terminal Stance Phase in People with Stroke. (2020). NEUROTHERAPY, 24(1), 1-9. doi:10.17817/2020.03.13.111551
• AAOMPT Conference, FL. Hughes L, Galloway R, Ellis A, Smith J, Fisher S. Cognitive Mapping Illustrates Student Learning Through Participation in a Simulated. Research Case.
• AAOMPT Conference, FL.Hughes L, Galloway R, Capps K, Glidden B. Effectiveness of a 4-Week Physical Therapy Intervention Using Manual Therapy and Therapeutic Exercise to Improve Posture and Function in Older Adults with Hyperkyphosis: A Preliminary Report.
• Annual Conference Texas Physical Therapy Association, The Woodlands, TX. Hughes L, Gracia J, Thaimuriyl N, Galloway R, Ellis A, Welsh R. What is the Impact of Physical Therapy on Posture and Function in Older Adults at Two and Four Weeks of Intervention?
• Combined Sections Meetings-American Physical Therapy Association, Washington, DC. Capps K, Hughes L, Galloway R, Laprea A, Welsh R, & Rojas J. Effectiveness of a Physical Therapy Intervention on Posture and Clinically Relevant Outcome Measures in Individuals over 50 Years of Age with Hyperkyphosis.

Note: A complete list of all publications can be found on the abbreviated CV.