Faculty Director
Faculty Co-Directors
Faculty Researchers
  Susan Whitney
Rolf Jacob
Patrick Loughlin
Margaretha Casselbrant
Staff
Students

Susan L. Whitney, PhD, PT, ATC
Associate Professor for the Departments of Otolaryngology and Physical Therapy.
Director of Vestibular Rehabilitation Program, Centers for Rehab Services, Eye & Ear Institute.

ACADEMIC HISTORY
Dr. Whitney received her BS in Physical Therapy from Temple University in 1976. In 1979 she completed Master's Degree in Orthopedic PT from the University of Pittsburgh. She also received a certificate in Athletic Training in 1981 from the University of Pittsburgh. In 1992 she received a PhD in Education from the University of Pittsburgh.

CURRENT RESEARCH PROJECTS
Rehabilitation of Vestibular Disorders
Migraine Headache

SELECTED PUBLICATIONS
  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. Cyberpsychology & Behavior, 9(2):152-156, 2006.
  Whitney SL, Jacob RG, Sparto PJ, Olshansky E, Detweiler-Shostak G, Brown EL, Furman JM: Acrophobia and pathological height vertigo: indications for vestibular physical therapy? Physical Therapy, 85:443-58 2005.
  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. 2004 23;1(1):14.
  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, 2004;14(5):397-409.
  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.
  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.
  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.
  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, Sparto PJ, Brown KE, Furman, JM, Jacobson JL, Redfern MS. The Potential Use of Virtual Reality in Vestibular Rehabilitation: Preliminary Findings with the BNAVE. Neurology Report. 26(2):72-78, 2002.
  Borger LL, Whitney SL, Redfern MS, Furman JM: The influence of dynamic visual environments on postural sway in the elderly. J Vestib Res 9:197-205, 1999.

 

©2008 Medical Virtual Reality Center - University of Pittsburgh All Rights Reserved.