Ms. Valerie McIntosh is a former Research Assistant and ARMS Study II Team Leader (DC VAMC site) at the DC VAMC Clinical Research Center.  She earned her Bachelor of Science degrees in Exercise Science from Trinity University in Washington, DC and Psychology from Excelsior College in Albany, NY.   Ms. McIntosh has administrative experience from her previous service as a U.S. Veteran and Noncommissioned Officer.  In addition, she is a former Prebaccalaureate and Postbaccalaureate Exercise Science Intern at the Muscle Morphology, Mechanics and Performance Laboratory at the DC VAMC.

valerie.mcintosh@va.gov

Dr. Kim Benson was previously a Post-Doctoral Fellow in the Muscle Morphology, Mechanics and Performance Laboratory within the DC VAMC Clinical Research Center. Her VA/OAA appointment was sponsored by the Polytrauma/TBI Research Rehabilitation Fellowship Program within the Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation Service at the DC VAMC.  Dr. Benson received her Bachelor of Science degree in Rehabilitation Science, Masters degree in Physical Therapy, and Doctor of Physical Therapy degree from Northeastern University in Boston, MA.  She also has certification as a Neurology Specialist through the American Board of Physical Therapy Specialties (ABPTS). Dr. Benson has previous clinical experience from Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, Landstuhl Regional Medical Center (DoD, Germany), and Johns Hopkins Hospital.  Dr. Benson partnered with the VA Multiple Sclerosis Centers of Excellence - East to develop a lower extremity model of anaerobic fatigue in Veterans with gait impairments.

kimberlybenson1@gmail.com

Ms. Erin Leasure previously served as the Laboratory Manager and Interim Clinical Research Coordinator of the Muscle Morphology, Mechanics and Performance Laboratory at the DC VAMC Clinical Research Center.  In addition, she contributed to the conduct of the ARMS Study II and the Quality Vets projects involving Veterans with chronic kidney disease. Ms. Leasure proctored accentuated eccentric exercise sessions at the Clinical Research Center and assisted with imaging data processing and management. Ms. Leasure has a Bachelor of Arts in Exercise and Sport Science degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and she is currently pursuing her Masters of Public Health degree from George Washington University.  She has previous experience as a Research Assistant during her time at UNC Chapel Hill. Ms. Leasure has served the Interdisciplinary Human Movement Science Laboratory, and the Matthew Gfeller Sport-Related Traumatic Brain Injury Research Center.

Erin.Leasure@va.gov

Mr. Brian Hoover was the Research Coordinator for the Muscle Morphology, Mechanics and Performance Laboratory at the DC VAMC. Mr. Hoover previously served as a Co-Investigator on the ARMS Study II and managed several 3MAP Lab clinical studies and laboratory projects. Mr. Hoover has academic training in Applied Physiology and Kinesiology from the University of Florida (UF), earning his Bachelor of Science with a concentration in Exercise Science, and his Master’s degree with a concentration in Human Performance. He has previous experience as a Research Coordinator at Children's National Health System in Washington DC, and at the UF Department of Aging and Geriatric Research in support of clinical studies involving sarcopenia.

brian.hoover@gmail.com

Dr. Bryant Seamon is a Clinical Research Associate in the Muscle Morphology, Mechanics and Performance Laboratory within the DC VAMC Clinical Research Center. He formerly served as a  Polytrauma/TBI Research Rehabilitation Fellow within the Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation Service at the Washington DC VA Medical Center.  He received his Doctor of Physical Therapy degree from University of Florida in Gainesville in 2013 and recently completed a Neurologic Physical Therapy Residency at the James A. Haley VA Medical Center in Tampa, FL.  In addition, he has certification as a Strength and Conditioning Specialist through the NSCA, a Clinical Instructor through the APTA, and a Neurology Specialist through the ABPTS.  Dr. Seamon is currently a PhD student with the Medical University of South Carolina. His primary work is focused on understanding the implications of fatigue on independence and quality of life in individuals with neurological pathology.

bseamon@gmail.com

Mr. Tomas Gonzales is a Research Associate in the Muscle Morphology, Mechanics and Performance Laboratory at the DC VAMC Clinical Research Center.  In addition, he previously served as a Co-Investigator on the ARMS Study II and provided broad support for other 3MAP Lab initiatives and VA rehabilitation research fellowship projects. In addition, he he developed custom software solutions to aid workload assignment, participant feedback, and torque-velocity curve analysis for rotational inertia modes of eccentric training. He is currently involved with research efforts that include the development of computational methods for cross-comparison of muscle composition measurements across multiple ultrasound systems. Mr. Gonzales has academic training in Kinesiology, earning his Bachelor of Science degree from California State University in San Marcos, and his Master’s degree from San Diego State University.  He has previous research experience as a Graduate Research Assistant at the Motor Control Laboratory at the University of Michigan, and the Sensory Motor and Rehabilitation Technology Laboratory at San Diego State University.

tomstcp@gmail.com

Dr. Haniel Hernandez is a Clinical Research Associate in the Muscle Morphology, Mechanics and Performance Laboratory within the DC VAMC Clinical Research Center. He formerly served as a  Polytrauma/TBI Research Rehabilitation Fellow within the Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation Service at the Washington DC VA Medical Center. He received his Doctor of Physical Therapy degree from Howard University in Washington, DC in 2012.  Dr. Hernandez is currently contributing to our Innovators Network medical screening project, and a VHA Office of Rural Health telerehabilitation initiative for Veterans with MS.  His recent activities have included publications on telerehabilitation and mild TBI, rehabilitative ultrasound methodology, and the efficacy of eccentric exercise for Veterans with knee arthritis.

haniel.hernandez@va.gov

Dr. Catheeja Ismail is a Research Associate in the Muscle Morphology, Mechanics and Performance Laboratory at the DC VAMC Clinical Research Center, and the former Director of the Sonography Program at George Washington University.  Her primary appointment is in the Department of Radiology at the George Washington University Hospital. She has over 20 years of academic experience and led the effort to develop the curriculum, design various courses, and establish the clinical rotations of the program. Dr. Ismail is currently collaborating with 3MAP Lab to further develop the sonographic approach to sarcopenia screening, and to propose a framework for the skills, knowledge, and ability required for physical therapists to optimally perform rehabilitative ultrasound imaging.

34cath@gmail.com