In May of this year, Dr. Quatman-Yates and Dr. Crick of the LIFT Lab each earned a 2025 HRS Award. The awards are given out by The Ohio State University’s School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences each year to high achieving faculty and staff members.
James earned the Distinguished Research Staff Award, while Katie earned the Excellence in Mentoring Award.
We are collectively grateful for their efforts and positive impact on our community. Thank you both – you’ve earned it!
At LIFT Lab, we celebrate more than just research milestones—we celebrate the individuals whose personal pursuits embody the very essence of peak human performance, resilience, and mastery. This month, two of our collaborators exemplified those ideals in extraordinary ways.
Matthew Marquardt, a professional triathlete and surgical trainee, stood atop the podium in his first-ever Pro Ironman win, a culmination of years of integrating sport science with surgical performance. Four years ago, he approached us with a compelling idea: could the physiological principles that guide elite athletes be applied to optimize the stamina, precision, and focus required in surgery? Today, his win is more than just a race result, it’s living proof that the same systems of performance, recovery, and mental conditioning that drive athletic excellence can transform how we think about clinician performance. We’re proud to support the Surgeon Athlete research he helped launch—and excited to share those data with the broader healthcare community soon. https://medicine.osu.edu/news/anything-is-possible
John Dobrea reached a remarkable personal milestone of his own: on June 14, 2025, he achieved the rank of Master in Taekwondo, earning his Fourth-Degree Black Belt. Beyond the physical discipline required, John continues to bring the mindset of a martial artist into his work at LIFT Lab. His experience on the mat deepens our exploration of how movement, mental conditioning, and repetition can build not just strength, but mastery.
Both Matthew and John remind us that science isn’t just in the lab—it’s in the training ground, the clinic, and the dojo. It’s in the tireless pursuit of excellence, whether on the race course or in service of others. At LIFT Lab, we’re honored to support and learn from individuals who live the work, test the edge of human performance, and bring their insights back to elevate us all.
The LIFT Lab is excited to introduce two new additions to our personnel – Alexa Plotkin and Peyton Thomas!
Alexa is a Staff Research Assistant who will specialize in data management for several of the Lab projects, notably the Women’s Health Study. She is passionate about advancing healthcare engineering, and helping to merge the skillsets and realms of both medicine and the various fields of engineering.
Peyton is a Graduate Student who previously worked with Dr. Stephanie DeStasi’s lab at the Jameson Crane Sports Medicine Institute, while attaining a Doctor of Physical Therapy at Ohio State. He will assist with numerous projects in the LIFT Lab, and bring his unique skills to further enhance clinical outcomes in physical therapy.
Check out their bios under the Lab Staff section of our Team for more details on their fascinating backgrounds!
Najhee Purdy and Riley Summers each graduated with a Master’s Degree in Public Health, with specializations in Health Behavior and Health Promotion in May 2025! Riley will continue her work with the lab, and Najhee will be returning to medical school to complete his MD.
Congrats to both of you for all of your hard work and for your continued contributions to the LIFT Lab!
On April 23, 2025, the Department of Emergency Medicine at The Ohio State University hosted its 22nd Annual Spring Research Day, an event that continues to elevate the cutting-edge work of our students, researchers, and faculty. The day showcased a dynamic range of research contributions that are shaping the future of emergency medicine and acute care.
Nick discusses the origins of CARESTREAM
Nick Leahy, a standout presenter, delivered a Plenary session titled “Undergraduate Experiential Learning in Emergency Medicine: Insights from a CARESTREAM Course Cohort.” His presentation highlighted the transformative impact of immersive learning experiences for undergraduate students pursuing careers in healthcare, offering valuable insights into educational strategies that enhance preparedness and engagement in high-pressure clinical environments.
Nick sharing insight from his research
In addition to his Plenary session, Nick also led a breakout session titled “Peak Stress Correlates with Stress Perception in Surgeons: Implications for Acute Care Specialties.” This session explored the critical connection between objective measures of peak stress and surgeons’ subjective perceptions, providing key findings that have important implications for managing surgeon wellness and optimizing performance in high-stakes surgical settings. Nick, who has been a big contributor to the LIFT Lab, will be continuing his journey in healthcare as he heads to medical school this spring.
Angela Emerson, MPH, poses the question: Can we apply wearable sensors to physicians to improve performance?
Angela Emerson, MPH, further contributed to the day’s scholarly excellence with her breakout session, “A Qualitative Analysis Exploring the Use of Wearable Devices in the Operating Room.” Angela’s research offered a thoughtful analysis of how wearable technologies can be integrated into surgical workflows, advancing real-time monitoring and enhancing understanding of surgical team dynamics.
The event exemplified Ohio State Emergency Medicine’s commitment to advancing research, fostering collaboration, and training the next generation of leaders. The energy and innovation displayed throughout the day continue to drive emergency medicine forward, setting new standards for inquiry and impact in emergency and acute care research.
HPC and LIFT Lab members at the 22nd Annual Research Day
On April 16th, Najhee Purdy and Riley Summers showcased the culmination of their hard work and dedication by presenting their Master of Public Health (MPH) capstone projects through formal poster presentations. These projects, an essential requirement for completing their MPH degrees, reflected not only academic rigor but also their commitment to addressing timely public health challenges.
Riley Summers’ project, “Single Shot, Double Defense: Exploring Interest and Acceptability of a Combined Influenza and COVID-19 Vaccine,” delved into an increasingly
important topic within infectious disease prevention. With the public health community seeking innovative strategies to improve vaccination uptake, Riley’s research explored how combining two critical vaccines into a single shot could influence public interest and acceptability. Her findings offer valuable insights for healthcare providers, policymakers, and public health campaigns aiming to streamline vaccination efforts and bolster community protection.
Najhee Purdy’s project, “Willingness to Use HPV Self-Collection in a Healthcare Setting for Cervical Cancer Screening Among Women in the United States,” examined a pivotal advancement in women’s health. As cervical cancer screening remains a critical preventive measure, Najhee’s work focused on understanding how self-collection methods could be integrated into clinical practice to increase screening rates, particularly among populations who face barriers to traditional screening approaches. Najhee will be advancing his academic journey further by finishing medical school following the completion of his MPH.
Beyond their academic achievements, both Najhee and Riley have been integral members of the LIFT Lab, contributing significantly to developing and expanding
the Quality Improvement (QI) Hub.
Congratulations to Najhee and Riley on reaching this important milestone in their MPH journey. Their contributions embody the spirit of innovation, inquiry, and impact that defines the next generation of public health leaders
Dr. Catherine Quatman-Yates has been named a Scarlet and Gray Associate Professor through the Provost’s Midcareer Scholars Program at The Ohio State University. This award recognizes a small group of tenured associate professors leading the way in research, teaching, and service. Recipients are chosen for their outstanding contributions and are considered among the most promising midcareer faculty across the university.
As Co-Director of the LIFT (Leading Improvement-Focused Teams) Lab in the School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, Dr. Quatman-Yates is dedicated to helping people stay active, safe, and healthy across their lifespan. Her work focuses on improving how health systems serve individuals, especially those recovering from injury, living with illness, or managing chronic health challenges.
A core focus of her research is creating and leveraging learning health systems that bring healthcare providers and researchers together to improve care more quickly and effectively. She is helping build systems that make it easier for clinicians to use the latest evidence and participate in quality improvement every day.
Dr. Quatman-Yates is also advancing care for individuals with concussions and mild traumatic brain injuries, working to improve how physical therapists identify and treat symptoms after injury. She partners with healthcare teams across the state on fall prevention efforts, especially through community paramedicine programs that deliver care directly to people’s homes. Her research also explores physical literacy, developing tools and strategies that help individuals, particularly those facing health or social challenges, build the skills and confidence to stay physically active throughout life.
As a Scarlet and Gray Associate Professor, Dr. Quatman-Yates will receive flexible funding to accelerate her research, time to deepen her scholarship, and the opportunity to engage in a vibrant cohort of peers focused on growth and collaboration. The LIFT Lab team congratulations Dr. Quatman-Yates for this incredible honor and the platform it provides to to continue to elevate Ohio State University’s impact on healthcare, education, research, and community.
Dr. Katie Quatman-Yates’ family supported her winning this tremendous honor.
Highlights from the 4th Annual HRS Research Day
Last Friday, March 28th, the School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences (HRS) proudly hosted its 4th Annual Research Day—an energizing event that showcased the impressive work of our student researchers and their mentors. Atwell 136 and its lobby were filled with engaging poster sessions and oral presentations spanning a range of topics that reflect the depth and diversity of health sciences research.
Among the standout contributors were students from the LIFT Lab, including Ella Snead, who presented “Barriers and Facilitators to Engaging in Physical Activity in Individuals with Chronic Brain Injury: A Qualitative Study,” and Alex Oberyszyn, who shared findings from “Student-Led Mobility Interventions for Hospitalized Adults: A Mixed-Methods Feasibility and Acceptability Study.” Their work exemplifies the translational and impact-driven research that defines our program.
Throughout the day, attendees joined in-person and virtually via livestream to support student scholarship and celebrate the collaborative spirit between learners and mentors. We extend our gratitude to all who participated, attended, and made the event a success. The future of HRS research is in excellent hands.
Ella sharing her poster after her presentation on CBI-PLAAY
Alex presenting on Carestream at HRS Research Day
PhD student Angela Emerson discussing wearable use in the Surgeon Athlete project
PhD student Matt Paponetti discusses anti-obesity medications in adolescents
We also commend the contributions of two outstanding PhD students whose projects reflected a high level of scientific rigor and relevance. Matthew Paponetti presented “Body Composition Changes in Adolescents Treated with Anti-Obesity Medications: A Retrospective Review with Descriptive Chart Analysis of Physical Activity Behavior,” offering meaningful insights into pediatric health and treatment outcomes. Angela Emerson shared her research titled “The Surgeon Athlete: Wearable Sensor Monitoring to Improve Performance and Wellness in Physicians,” highlighting the intersection of technology, occupational wellness, and clinical performance. Both presentations added critical depth to the day’s interdisciplinary dialogue.
Dr. Nicholas Gulla, a Physical Therapist for The Ohio State Wexner Medical Center, recently published a study investigating concussion rehabilitation through the lens of cervical spine intervention.
Dr. Quatman-Yates and other members of the LIFT Lab helped in the study.
The LIFT Lab’s Najhee Purdy was recently interviewed by the College of Public Health to discuss his goals and future ambitions for advancing public health. Najhee, may you find great success!
