RESEARCH
The School of Health Professions & Sciences at LSU Health Shreveport is dedicated to research and service that aligns with the institution’s vision of healing, teaching, and discovery. Through the School’s accredited academic programs, faculty and students are actively involved in research and service. Research in the School of Health Professions & Sciences is multi-disciplinary and incorporates faculty and students from the Schools of Medicine and Graduate Studies.
What are some recent research projects?
Recent initiated projects and publications through the School have included studies focusing on the cognitive and physiological effects of rapid heat stress on emergency first responders, pain mitigation with novel physical rehabilitation for knee osteoarthritis, mitigation of urinary incontinence in older adults utilizing novel therapeutic techniques, advanced kinematic and kinetic movement/sports analysis, and exploring the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the local community and its association with social determinants of health.
Heat Stress Laboratory
Our Heat Stress Laboratory is dedicated to investigating human thermoregulation, performance, and safety under extreme environmental conditions. The lab features a fully controlled environmental chamber capable of simulating a wide range of heat and humidity levels to study physiological, cognitive, and cardiovascular responses. Researchers utilize advanced wearable sensors and core temperature monitoring technologies to develop predictive models for heat strain, optimize performance, and enhance safety across occupational and athletic populations.
Motion Analysis and Human Performance Laboratory
The Motion Analysis and Human Performance Laboratory integrates biomechanics, physiology, and cognitive assessment to advance understanding of human movement and performance. The lab is equipped with a Vicon motion capture system, force plates, and electromyography for high-fidelity kinematic and kinetic analysis. In addition, the facility supports comprehensive physiological testing, body composition assessment, and cognitive performance evaluation. This integrated approach allows researchers to examine how physical, physiological, and cognitive systems interact to influence performance, injury risk, and recovery.
Our passion for research, with community and state as our focus, propels the School of Health Professions & Sciences towards our institution’s vision.
FACULTY RESEARCH SPOTLIGHTS
Daniel Flowers, PT, DPT, PhD
Board Certified Specialist in Orthopaedic Physical Therapy, Chair and Associate Professor of Physical Therapy
Dr. Daniel Flowers' research has primarily focused on clinical trials involving human subjects examining the effectiveness of novel interventions for patients with knee osteoarthritis and systematic reviews evaluating the quality of existing research related to manual therapy interventions. Dr. Flowers has studied the use of both core muscle activation and stabilization training to improve the gait and overall functional ability of persons with knee osteoarthritis. His research was the first to show that core stabilization training improves gait speed and functional scores of those with this pathology. He has also recently published several systematic reviews with his colleagues emphasizing the need to improve the quality and rigor of clinical trials evaluating the effectiveness of manual therapy as an intervention for patients with musculoskeletal pathologies. His multidisciplinary research has focused on multi-ligamentous knee injury and the role of urinary incontinence on gait. Additional projects have included examining the safety of early weight-bearing after lower extremity fractures and educational factors related to optimal learning in physical therapy students. Dr. Flowers’ work has been published in peer-reviewed journals, and has been presented at local, state, national and international conferences.
Dr. Deborah Smith has expertise in the field of Epidemiology with a focus on Infectious Diseases, Health Disparities, Women's Health, Vulnerable Populations, and Cancer Prevention. During her doctoral studies, Dr. Smith was a co-investigator in a federal grant funded by the Brazilian government, conducting the first nationwide research on female prisons in Brazil. Dr. Smith has conducted two research studies in Louisiana. One of her pilot studies investigated the risk factors of HPV among women living in rural and underserved areas of North Louisiana. Furthermore, she conducted the first study to analyze the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the Hispanic population in Northwest Louisiana. Currently, Dr. Smith contributes as a Co-investigator in collaboration with Dr. Konstantin Kousoulas and Dr. Mila Shah-Bruce on an NIH study titled “Virtual Case Simulations to Increase Clinical Reasoning, Knowledge, and Awareness of Health Disparities in Obstetrics and Gynecology.” Dr. Smith’s ongoing research projects include “Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices among Healthcare Providers towards HIV Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP)” and “Social Determinants of Health and Other Risk Factors for Colorectal Cancer Among Women in North Louisiana.” She is a Co-investigator in a statewide project sub-award grant from the American Cancer Society for the Louisiana Cervix Cancer Risk Evaluation (LA Cervix CaRE).
Cory Coehoorn, PhD
Program Director of Rehabilitation Science Program, Associate Professor of Rehabilitation Science and Family Medicine
Dr. Cory Coehoorn's research investigates the effects of heat stress on cognition, stress responses, hemodynamics, and inflammation within high-risk populations like firefighters, athletes, and United States Air Force personnel. He is particularly interested in how these metrics are altered among groups that wear personal protective equipment. His research highlights how extreme ambient and core temperatures impact the human body in demanding work and athletic environments. Dr. Coehoorn additionally focuses on developing advanced core temperature prediction models, potentially revolutionizing safety protocols for individuals facing intense heat exposure. Through his work, he aims to deepen the understanding of the interplay between heat stress and human cognition and physiology, contributing to a safer future for those navigating these challenges in their daily occupational or athletic routines.
