RESEARCH

Dr. Daniel Flowers' research has primarily focused on clinical trials involving human subjects examining the effectiveness of novel interventions for patients with knee osteoarthritis and systematic reviews evaluating the quality of existing research related to manual therapy interventions. Dr. Flowers has studied the use of both core muscle activation and stabilization training to improve the gait and overall functional ability of persons with knee osteoarthritis. His research was the first to show that core stabilization training improves gait speed and functional scores of those with this pathology. He has also recently published several systematic reviews with his colleagues emphasizing the need to improve the quality and rigor of clinical trials evaluating the effectiveness of manual therapy as an intervention for patients with musculoskeletal pathologies. His multidisciplinary research has focused on multi-ligamentous knee injury and the role of urinary incontinence on gait. Additional projects have included examining the safety of early weight-bearing after lower extremity fractures and educational factors related to optimal learning in physical therapy students. Dr. Flowers’ work has been published in peer-reviewed journals, and has been presented at local, state, national and international conferences.

Dr. Deborah Smith has expertise in the field of Epidemiology with a focus on Infectious Diseases, Health Disparities, Women's Health, Vulnerable Populations, and Cancer Prevention. During her doctoral studies, Dr. Smith was a co-investigator in a federal grant funded by the Brazilian government, conducting the first nationwide research on female prisons in Brazil. Dr. Smith has conducted two research studies in Louisiana. One of her pilot studies investigated the risk factors of HPV among women living in rural and underserved areas of North Louisiana. Furthermore, she conducted the first study to analyze the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the Hispanic population in Northwest Louisiana. Currently, Dr. Smith contributes as a Co-investigator in collaboration with Dr. Konstantin Kousoulas and Dr. Mila Shah-Bruce on an NIH study titled “Virtual Case Simulations to Increase Clinical Reasoning, Knowledge, and Awareness of Health Disparities in Obstetrics and Gynecology.” Dr. Smith’s ongoing research projects include “Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices among Healthcare Providers towards HIV Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP)” and “Social Determinants of Health and Other Risk Factors for Colorectal Cancer Among Women in North Louisiana.” She is a Co-investigator in a statewide project sub-award grant from the American Cancer Society for the Louisiana Cervix Cancer Risk Evaluation (LA Cervix CaRE).

Dr. Cory Coehoorn's research investigates the effects of heat stress on cognition, stress responses, hemodynamics, and inflammation within high-risk populations like firefighters, athletes, and United States Air Force personnel. He is particularly interested in how these metrics are altered among groups that wear personal protective equipment. His research highlights how extreme ambient and core temperatures impact the human body in demanding work and athletic environments. Dr. Coehoorn additionally focuses on developing advanced core temperature prediction models, potentially revolutionizing safety protocols for individuals facing intense heat exposure. Through his work, he aims to deepen the understanding of the interplay between heat stress and human cognition and physiology, contributing to a safer future for those navigating these challenges in their daily occupational or athletic routines.