Joseph A. Zeni, Jr., PT, PhD

 

MULTIFACETED, WELL-EDUCATED PROFESSIONAL WITH A STRONG CLINICAL, RESEARCH AND WRITING BACKGROUND

 

 

 

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

 

FREELANCE MEDICAL & SCIENTIFIC WRITING/EDITING – Multiple clients: 2009-present

Freelance Scientific Writer, Editor and Consultant

·         Performed comprehensive editing, proofreading and formatting on scientific manuscripts in a variety of biological, mathematical and medical fields

·         Wrote healthcare related articles and developed web content for multiple organizations and individuals

·         Offered statistical consulting to international scientific researchers, medical device companies and independent hospitals and private practice physicians

·         Owner, operator of Empirical Ink Scientific Consultants; www.EmpiricalEditing.com

 

RESEARCH ASSISTANT PROFESSOR

University of Delaware - Dept. of Physical Therapy, Newark, DE: 2009-present

·         Instructed incoming DPT students in Gross Anatomy Cadaver Laboratory

·         Responsible for the coordination of Applied Physiology II and Rehabilitation for graduate students

·         Acquired independent funding to conduct high-quality clinical and biomechanical research that enhances the physical therapy profession and biomechanical community

·         Conducted predictive and longitudinal clinical outcomes research in the areas of total joint replacement

 

POST-DOCTORAL RESEARCHER

University of Delaware – Dept. of Physical Therapy, Newark, DE: 2008-2009

·         Oversaw daily laboratory activities including the management and mentorship of six graduate and three undergraduate students all carrying out clinical trials and human subjects research

·         Mentored in technical and grant writing with the publication and preparation of five articles, multiple grant submissions and national presentations (Finalist – New Investigator Research Award)

·         Wrote several custom programs for data processing and analysis (LabView, Matlab, SPSS) which reduced average processing time by weeks

·         Demonstrated proficiency in statistical analysis for clinical trials research and provided statistical consultation to international collaborators

 

RESEARCH ASSISTANT AND LABORATORY COORDINATOR

University of Delaware – Dept. of Mechanical Engineering, Newark, DE: 2005-2008

·         First author on four manuscripts published or in review at peer-reviewed journals and presented findings at seven national and regional conferences

·         Worked closely with Human Subjects Review Board to ensure ethical guidelines were followed

·         Responsible for collecting and processing data on subjects with medial knee osteoarthritis while overseeing the confidential and accurate analysis of the data

·         Performed surface electromyography and 3D motion analysis with an instrumented treadmill capable of collecting force, moment and center of pressure data

·         Performed pilot data collections with meticulous troubleshooting and problem solving to establish proper data collection procedures for the Neuromuscular Biomechanics Laboratory

 

STAFF/PER DIEM PHYSICAL THERAPIST

Rubin Institute For Advanced Orthopaedics – Baltimore, MD: 2003-2008

·         Carried a full outpatient orthopedic caseload with many post operative patients and a heavy emphasis on manual therapy and returning clients to prior level of function

·         Presented findings of innovative therapy device at the national physical therapy meeting

·         Participated as a laboratory instructor during continuing education classes offered to other internal and external healthcare professionals

 

EDUCATION

 

PHD IN BIOMECHANICS AND MOVEMENT SCIENCE (2008)

Concentration – Biomechanics

University of Delaware, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Newark, DE 19716

Dissertation: “Alterations in joint loading and muscle coordination in persons with a progressive increase in medial compartment knee osteoarthritis”                                                    

Mentor: Dr. Jill Higginson

 

MASTERS OF PHYSICAL THERAPY, WITH HONORS (2003)

Quinnipiac University, Hamden, CT, 06518

 

BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN HEALTH SCIENCE, WITH HONORS (2001)

Quinnipiac University, Hamden, CT, 06518

 

RELATED EXPERIENCE

 

GRANT WRITING EXPERIENCE

Principal Investigator: Pilot Project Grant from NIH P20-RR16458- Comparison of Methods of Viscosupplementation on Function and Pain in Patients with Knee Osteoarthritis

Funded 1/1/10; $50,000 1 year, renewable

Co-investigator: Supplemental Grant to NIH P20-RR16458 – Joint loading and the progression of osteoarthritis (successfully funded; 9/09)

 

PEER-REVIEW EXPERIENCE

Gait and Posture Journal, Medical Engineering and Physics Journal, Complementary Therapies in Medicine Journal, American Society of Biomechanics Annual Meeting, Journal of Rehabilitation Research and Development, Journal of Orthopedic Research, Journal of Biomechanics, Clinical Biomechanics, Reumafonds (Dutch Arthritis Association), Physical Therapy Journal

 

PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIP

American Physical Therapy Association, American Society of Biomechanics, Osteoarthritis and Research Society International, Orthopedic Research Society, American Medical Writers Association

 

TEACHING EXPERIENCE

Lead Laboratory Instructor (PHYT 622) Gross Anatomy Lab (2007-present)

Guest Lecturer (PHYT604) Functional Anatomy and Biomechanics (2008)

Coordinator/Instructor (PHYT633) Applied Physiology II (2010)

Coordinator/Instructor (PHYT804) Rehabilitation (2010)

 

AWARDS AND HONORS

New Investigator Research Award (Finalist) – Orthopaedic Research Society 2009

 

LICENSURE AND CERTIFICATIONS

Physical Therapist – Maryland (2003-present), Delaware (2006-present), Pennsylvania (Pending)

CPR, AED, First Responder Certification – 1999 - present

 

SOFTWARE AND HARDWARE EXPERIENCE

Extremely proficient with Microsoft Office, LabView, SPSS, Matlab, EndNote X, Motion Analysis Software (Cortex, EvaRT, OrthoTrak), Visual3D and Vicon Workstation.  Significant experience using Motion Analysis Eagle-I cameras, Bertec treadmill with dual integrated forceplates, Noraxon and MotionLab electromyography systems, Vicon eight camera gait laboratory. 

 

PEER-REVIEWED PUBLICATIONS

 

·         Zeni J, Richards JG, Higginson JS (2008). Two simple methods for determining gait events during treadmill and overground walking using kinematic data. Gait Posture 27(4): 710-4.

·         Zeni J and Higginson, JS.  (2009) Differences in gait parameters between healthy subjects and persons with moderate and severe knee osteoarthritis: A result of altered walking speed?  Clinical Biomechanics 24(4): 372-8. doi:10.1016/j.clinbiomech.2009.02.001    

·         Zeni J and Higginson, JS.  (2009) Dynamic knee joint stiffness in persons with a progressive increase in severity of knee osteoarthritis.  Clinical Biomechanics.  24(4): 366-71. doi:10.1016/j.clinbiomech.2009.01.005   

·         Zeni J, Snyder-Mackler, L.  (2009) Clinical outcomes following simultaneous bilateral knee replacement: A two year prospective study.  Journal of Arthroplasty.  Published online. doi:10.1016/j.arth.2009.02.016

·         Zeni J, Rudolph K and Higginson JS.  (2010) Alterations of quadriceps and hamstring coordination is present in persons with medial compartment knee osteoarthritis.  Journal of Electromyography and Kinesiology. 20(10): 148-54. doi:10.1016/j.jelekin.2008.12.003    

·         Zeni J, Snyder-Mackler, L.  (2010) Early Post-operative function predicts long term outcomes after total knee replacement: The importance of contralateral limb strength.  Physical Therapy Journal. 80(1): 43-54 doi:10.2522/ptj.20090089.

·         Zeni J, Snyder-Mackler, L.  (2010) Most Patients Gain Weight in the Two Years After Total Knee Arthroplasty: Comparison to a Healthy Control Group.  Osteoarthritis and Cartilage. 18(4): 510-514 doi:10.1016/j.joca.2009.12.005

·         Zeni J and Higginson, JS.  (2010) Gait parameters and stride-to-stride variability during familiarization to walking on a split-belt treadmill.  Clinical Biomechanics. 25(4): 383-386 doi:10.1016/j.clinbiomech.2009.11.002

·         Zeni J, Snyder-Mackler, L. (2010) Pre-operative predictors of stair climbing ability after total knee replacement.  Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery. 92: 1130-1136 doi:10.2106/JBJS.I.00299

·         Zeni J, Snyder-Mackler, L.  Clinical predictors of elective total joint replacement in persons with end-stage knee osteoarthritis.  BMC Muscloskeletal Disorders. 86(11): doi:10.1186/1471-2474-11-86

·         Zeni J and Higginson, JS.  Severity of osteoarthritis results in redistribution of joint moments.  The Knee. In Press

·         Mizner R, Petterson S, Clements K, Zeni J, Irrgang J, Snyder-Mackler L. Measuring Functional Improvement after Total Knee Arthroplasty Requires both Performance-Based and Patient-Report Assessments: A Longitudinal Analysis of Outcomes. Journal of Arthroplasty. In Press

 

PEER-REVIEWED ABSTRACTS

                                           

·         DeGennaro S and Zeni J. The Effects of Strain and Counterstrain versus Muscle Energy Technique on Hamstring Extensibility.  Connecticut Physical Therapy Association Annual Meeting, Hartford, CT November, 2002.

·         Bhave A, Mont M, Brown C, Zeni J, Tennis S, Etienne G.   A New Cost Effective Customized Knee Device for Knee Flexion Contractures in Patients who had Undergone Total Knee Arthroplasty.   American Physical Therapy Combined Sections Meeting.  Boston, MA 2005.

·         Zeni J, Higginson JS.  Familiarization to Treadmill Walking: Kinetic, Kinematic and Temporospatial Parameters.  NIH IDeA Conference. Washington, DC 2006.

·         Zeni J, Higginson JS.  Familiarization to Walking on a Split-Belt Treadmill: Kinetic, Kinematic and Temporospatial Parameters.  American Society of Biomechanics Conference. Blacksburg, VA 2006.

·         Zeni J, Higginson JS.  Influence of Walking Speed and Severity of Knee Osteoarthritis on Medial Compartment Loading.  American Society of Mechanical Engineering Bioengineering Conference.  Keystone, CO 2007.

·         Zeni J, Higginson JS.  Estimation of knee joint compression force in subjects with medial compartment knee osteoarthritis.  American Society of Biomechanics Annual Conference, Palo Alto CA 2007.

·         Zeni J, Higginson JS.  Influence of speed on kinetics and coordination in knee osteoarthritis.  Northeast American Society of Biomechanics Meeting. College Park, MD 2007.

·         Zeni J, Higginson JS.  Dynamic knee joint stiffness in persons with medial compartment knee osteoarthritis.  CBER Day. Newark, DE 2008.

·         Zeni J, Snyder-Mackler, L.  Most persons gain weight following primary total knee arthroplasty.  Orthopedic Research Society Annual Meeting. Las Vegas, NV 2009

·         Kubinski A, Zeni J, Higgonson JS. Compensations to a weighted walking challenge among varying osteoarthritis severities. Orthopedic Research Society Annual Meeting. Las Vegas, NV 2009

·         Zeni J, Snyder-Mackler, L. Clinical predictors of elective total knee replacement in persons with end-stage knee osteoarthritis. CBER Day. Newark DE 2009

·         Richards C, Zeni J, Higginson JS. Two methods to determine muscle forces and joint contact force: Comparison to experimental muscle activity. American Society of Biomechanics Annual Meeting, State College, PA 2009.

·         Hartigan E, Zeni J, DiStasi S, Snyder-Mackler L. Pre-operative Predictors for Non-copers to Return to Sport Post-operatively. APTA Combined Sections Meeting, San Diego, CA 2009.

·         Bade M, Wolfe P, Zeni J, Stevens-Lapsley J, Snyder-Mackler L. Determination of optimal timing for total knee arthroplasty using preoperative clinical measures. APTA Combined Section Meeting, San Diego, CA 2009

·         Zeni J, Higginson JS. The effects of gait speed on kinetic and kinematic variables in persons with varying severity of knee osteoarthritis. OARSI Annual Meeting, Montreal, Quebec 2009.

·         Zeni J, Snyder-Mackler L. Clinical predictors of elective joint replacement in persons with end-stage knee osteoarthritis. OARSI Annual Meeting, Montreal, Quebec 2009.

·         Zeni J, Snyder-Mackler L. Early post-operative measures predict one and two year outcomes after unilateral total knee arthroplasty: the importance of contralateral limb strength. OARSI Annual Meeting, Montreal, Quebec 2009.

·         Zeni J, Snyder-Mackler L. Revised Views on the Timing for TKA and Rehabilitation Protocols. ORS Annual Meeting, New Orleans 2010.

·         Farquhar S, Zeni J, Snyder-Mackler L. Linking Frontal Plane Mechanics during Stair Climbing to the Progression of Osteoarthritis in the Nonoperated Knee after Unilateral Total Knee Arthroplasty. ORS Annual Meeting, New Orleans 2010

·         Zeni J, Snyder-Mackler L. Post-operative Rehabilitation Following Total Knee Arthroplasty Should Include Weight Management. ACSM Annual Meeting, Baltimore MD 2010.

·         Zeni J, Snyder-Mackler L, Bhave A, Baker, E. What Do We Know? Evidence-Based Practice Guidelines for Outpatient Rehabilitation Following Total Knee Arthroplasty. Symposium submitted to APTA Combined Section Meeting, New Orleans LA, 2011

·         Hunter-Giordano A, DiStasi S, Lynch A, Logersted D, Hutchinson A, Zeni J. The Continuum of Care of the ACL Injured Knee: Operative and Non-operative Management. Symposium submitted to APTA Combined Section Meeting, New Orleans LA, 2011

·         Zeni J, Snyder-Mackler L. The Delaware Osteoarthritis Profile: a comprehensive evaluation of disability and recovery. Submitted to the OARSI Annual Meeting, Brussels, Belgium 2010

·         Zeni J, Snyder-Mackler L. Revised views on the timing and rehabilitation for total knee arthroplasty. Submitted to the OARSI Annual Meeting, Brussels, Belgium 2010