Sambit Mohapatra, Ph.D., M.S., PT, Named Chair of the Department of Rehabilitation Sciences
Dr. Mohapatra, Will Oversee the Divisions of Physical Therapy and Speech-Language Pathology
Sambit Mohapatra, Ph.D., M.S., PT, has been named chair of the newly designed Department of Rehabilitation Sciences at New York Medical College (NYMC) School of Health Sciences and Practice (SHSP). Dr. Mohapatra will be responsible for the oversight of the Divisions of Physical Therapy and Speech-Language Pathology. He joins NYMC after serving as an associate professor and interim program director of the Department of Rehabilitation and Movement Science at the University of Vermont (UVM). At UVM, he increased the number of submitted applications to the physical therapy program by 30 percent, while significantly reducing the total cost for a Doctor of Physical Therapy education.
“Dr. Mohapatra is joining SHSP at an auspicious time, to lead our newly realigned academic structure that brings two clinical programs - physical therapy and speech-language pathology - into a new interprofessional focus on rehabilitation and recovery for patients of all ages and conditions,” said Robert W. Amler, M.D., M.B.A., dean of the SHSP and vice president for government affairs.
"He will be developing new training modalities, research opportunities, and clinical affiliations with our newly appointed division chiefs, Dr. Janet Dolot and Dr. Vikas Grover.”
Dr. Mohapatra specializes in designing novel assessment tools for mild Traumatic Brain Injury and Post-Concussion Syndrome. Specifically, his assessments utilize both behavioral, cognitive and neurophysiological-based outcome measures.
He also has expertise in designing novel rehabilitation paradigms to improve recovery of motor functions post-stroke. He is trained in Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation and has used this technique to correlate neurophysiology with specific motor outcomes.
Dr. Mohapatra has a strong research record, including a study on individuals with Long COVID-19 who are experiencing balance-related issues. He also has an impressive background in clinical settings as a licensed physical therapist. Dr. Mohapatra has 22 peer-reviewed publications and has secured millions of dollars in grants and funding for numerous institutions throughout his career.
He is active in the American Physical Therapy Association among other organizations and has served as a grant reviewer for the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living and Rehabilitation research for several years.
Dr. Mohapatra received his Master of Science degree in kinesiology and his Ph.D. in rehabilitation science from the University of Illinois-Chicago.