Padua Lab Group
Darin A. Padua, Ph.D., ATC
Joseph Curtis Sloane Distinguished Professor, Department of Exercise and Sport Science
Adjunct Professor, Department of Orthopaedics
Adjunct Professor, Department of Biomedical Engineering
Adjunct Professor, Department of Allied Health
Contact Information:
Email: dpadua@email.unc.edu | Twitter: @DarinPadua
Dr. Padua’s research has focused on the prevention of sport-related musculoskeletal injuries. Specifically, his research centers on understanding the role of movement quality and biomechanics in ACL and other lower extremity injuries. In addition, his work seeks to develop evidence based interventions to prevent lower extremity injuries and enhance functional performance. In support of this research, Dr. Padua has been the recipient of multiple research grants, and has published over 200 journal articles and textbook chapters related to the prevention of sport-related musculoskeletal injury.
Previous Education
Ph,D., University of Virginia, 2001
M.A., University of North Carolina, 1998
B.S., San Diego State University, 1996
PubMed Link:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/myncbi/darin.padua.1/bibliography/49465532/public/
Awards and Honors
- Freddie Fu New Investigator Award. National Athletic Trainers’ Association Research and Education Foundation. 2006
- O’Donoghue Sports Injury Research Award for Most Outstanding Research Paper. American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine. 2008
- Fellow. National Academy of Kinesiology. 2013
- Most Distinguished Athletic Trainer Award. National Athletic Trainers’ Association. 2015
- Medal for Distinguished Research in Athletic Training. National Athletic Trainers’ Association Research and Education Foundation. 2017
Lab Video: She Gave Us Hope
The Team
Courtney Chaaban, PT, DPT
Doctoral Student
Educational Background
B.A., University of North Carolina, 2011
D.P.T., East Carolina University, 2014
Contact Information:
Email: rosscj@live.unc.edu | Twitter: @CourtneyChaaban
Courtney is a board-certified specialist in sports physical therapy. Her research goals are to improve the ability of athletes to return to sport after ACL injury and decrease their risk of subsequent injury. She hopes to accomplish these goals through the incorporation of cost-effective technology, like inertial sensors, to measure of lower extremity loading both clinically and in real-world environments.
Darren Hearn, PT, DPT, MPH
Doctoral Student
Educational Background
D.P.T., University of St. Augustine, 2007
M.P.H., University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, 2016
B.S., United States Military Academy, West Point, 2002
Contact Information:
Email: dwhearn@gmail.com
Darren is an Army officer and board-certified specialist in orthopaedic physical therapy. His research goals are to improve the ability to identify those at greatest risk for sustaining injury during training and sport in order to design effective and targeted intervention. He also has a strong interest in understanding the application of load for optimal human performance and injury prevention.
Lauren Hawkinson, MA, ATC
Doctoral Student
Educational Background
M.A., University of North Carolina Chapel Hill, 2014
B.S., Winona State University, 2012
Contact Information:
Email: hawkinso@email.unc.edu
Lauren is a licensed and certified athletic trainer. Her research goals are to improve dissemination and implementation of ACL injury prevention programs in youth sports. She is also interested in how best to deliver feedback during these programs. Particularly, to produce correct movement patterns and enhance retention without loss of performance.
Matt Hartshorne, PT, DPT
Doctoral Student
Educational Background
B.S., Virginia Tech, 2010
D.P.T., Duke University, 2013
Contact Information:
Email: hartmatt@email.unc.edu
Twitter: @lotsobear13
Matt is a board-certified specialist in orthopaedic physical therapy. His research goals are to advance the ability to identify individuals at the greatest risk for sustaining an injury during training and sport and improve the effectiveness of targeted injury prevention programs. He hopes to accomplish these goals through the incorporation of field-expedited physical performance and strength tests.
Undergraduate Research Assistants:
Taylor Pitsinger, class of 2021
Lab Group Alumni
PhD Students
Tim Eckard, PhD, DPT, Assistant Professor, Western Carolina University. 2019
Laura Pietrosimone, PhD, DPT, Assistant Professor, Duke University, 2018
Tim Mauntel, PhD, ATC, Research Lead, Walter Reed National Military Medical Center EACE Musculoskeletal Injury. 2016
Barnett Frank, PhD, ATC, Director of Performance Science, Utah Jazz. 2016
Shiho Goto, PhD, ATC, Clinical Biomechanist, Texas Health Resources. 2015
Rebecca Begalle, PhD, ATC, Director of Clinical Education, University at Buffalo. 2014
Ben Goerger, PhD, ATC, Teaching Assistant Professor, University of North Carolina. 2012
David Bell, PhD, ATC, Associate Professor, University of Wisconsin. 2010
Lindsay DiStefano, PhD, ATC, Associate Professor, University of Connecticut. 2009
Shana Harrington, PhD, DPT, Assistant Professor, University of South Carolina. 2009
Melanie McGrath, PhD, ATC, Assistant Professor, University of Montana. 2009
Michelle C. Boling, PhD, ATC, Associate Professor, University of North Florida. 2008
Daniel Herman, MD, PhD, Assistant Professor, University of Florida. 2006
Chuck Thigpen, PhD, PT, ATC, Sr. Director of Practice Innovation and Analytics, ATI Physical Therapy. 2006
Current Grant Funding & Research Projects
Validation of IMU’s to Quantify vGRF and Knee Mechanics – A Machine Learning Approach
Comparison of Impact Load Symmetry Before and After Fatigue in ACLR and Healthy Athletes
Combining Kinematic and Kinetics Factors to Predict Musculoskeletal Injury – A Multi-Factorial, Time to Event Approach
Role of Physical Readiness and Integrated Movement Efficiency (PRIME) in Primary and Secondary Injury