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Susan S. Deusinger

Director, Program in Physical Therapy and Associate Professor of Neurology and Physical Therapy

Expertise: Exercise, obesity, weight loss, physical therapy, fitness, functional independence, health promotion

Bio:
Deusinger
Deusinger
On a clinical level, Susan Deusinger, Ph.D., is interested in promoting movement and functional independence in adults and children who are obese and/or disabled. Her research interests include studying the movement-related effects of sedentary behavior in obese individuals, testing interventions to remedy these effects and understanding the attitudes and beliefs that compromise pursuit of regular and appropriate physical activity and exercise.

WUSTL Contact Information:
Work:(314) 286-1407

Education:
  • B.S. in Physical Therapy at University of Kansas
  • M.A. at Washington University
  • Ph.D. at Washington University


News Stories & Tip Sheets:

Showing 2 Stories.
Renovation of top-ranked program

With New "Found Space," Everyone Wins

Aug. 29, 2008 -- A renovation to enhance efficiency, flexibility, ease of movement, and functioning—as befits the top-ranked Program in Physical Therapy at the School of Medicine—is now in its last lap at 4444 Forest Park Parkway. To demonstrate just what the redesigned space will mean to patients, faculty, students, and staff, Susan S. Deusinger, PT, Ph.D., director of the physical therapy program, and her colleagues hosted an open house complete with ribbon-cutting on August 8.


The ?Freshman 15?"

Study finds most students gain weight during early college years

Sept. 8, 2005 --
College eating habits can pack on extra pounds.
College eating habits can pack on extra pounds.
College students talk about the "Freshman 15." That's the typical number of credit hours a full-time student takes during a semester. Some also claim it's the number of pounds students gain eating dorm food and studying all night. New work from researchers at Washington University in St. Louis confirms that most students do, indeed, gain weight in college. Reporting in the Journal of American College Health, the research team found that about 70 percent of students gained a significant amount of weight between the start of college and the end of sophomore year.



Showing 2 Stories.

Additional Background: Deusinger's academic career began at Washington University in 1978 with her appointment as Academic Coordinator of Clinical Education in the Program in Physical Therapy. During the next 10 years, she pursued clinical practice in pediatrics and academic interests in understanding how clinical competence is developed and maintained in health practitioners. She has pursued strategies to ensure comprehensive preparation of physical therapists who can practice competently in a changing health care system, fostered the development of post-professional education for physical therapists at the clinical and academic doctoral levels, and led the development of science-based practice throughout the health care system associated with Washington University. Recent research and practice is focused on improving and increasing movement in otherwise healthy obese individuals and understanding the attitudes and beliefs that compromise pursuit of healthy lifestyles. Deusinger's visibility in The American Education Research Association and National Association for the Study of Obesity enables her to blend scientific, educational and clinical perspectives to the care of obese adults. Her leadership in the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) has been at the local, state and national levels. She actively pursues professional roles that enable her to advocate for the profession and demonstrate the value of physical therapy intervention for patients and the high level career satisfaction for individuals who pursue physical therapy for their life's work.

Washington University in St. LouisSchool of Medicine

Affiliated with Barnes-Jewish Hospital and St. Louis Children's Hospital, members of BJC HealthCare.

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Related Information
Media Assistance:

Jim Dryden
Assoc. Dir. of Broadcast Services
jdryden@wustl.edu

(314) 286-0110
Secretarial Contact

Related Links:
Deusinger's Web page
Physical Therapy Progam Web page

Related Groups:

Programs:
Physical Therapy

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Related Topics:
Medical Science

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Revised:

Tuesday, Oct. 25, 2005


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