Principal Investigator

Lab Director

Lab Director
David Howell, PhD, ATC

The overarching goal of Dr. Howell’s research is to evaluate objective and quantitative measures that provide clinically relevant data for concussion assessment and intervention, and to discover the physiological underpinnings of post-concussion deficits. Concussion is a multifaceted and heterogeneous injury, so monitoring recovery and determining biological predictors of long-term outcomes remains challenging. Currently, Dr. Howell and team are focused on establishing a framework to better understand effective recovery strategies for patients with a concussion to return to the things they love doing, in a safe manner. Dr. Howell is the current treasurer of the Concussion in Sport Group (CISG) and the past president of the Pediatric Research in Sports Medicine (PRiSM) Society. Outside of the office, Dr. Howell enjoys activities that are typical for a Colorado resident: fly-fishing, skiing, hiking, canoeing, and generally adventuring outdoors with his wife and son.

Title:

• Associate Professor, Department of Orthopedics, University of Colorado School of Medicine
• Director of Clinical Research, Colorado Program for Musculoskeletal Research, Department of Orthopedics, University of Colorado School of Medicine
• Director of Research, Sports Medicine Center, Children’s Hospital Colorado
• Director, Colorado Concussion Research Laboratory

Email :

[email protected]

Links to complete bibliography of published work:

• https://profiles.ucdenver.edu/display/15074432
• https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/myncbi/david.howell.1/bibliography/public/

Education:

• BA, Whitworth University, Spokane, WA
• MS, University of Oregon, Eugene, OR
• PhD, University of Oregon, Eugene, OR
• Post-Doc, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA

Associate Lab Director

Associate Lab Director/Medical Director:
Julie C. Wilson, MD.

Through her clinical practice and corresponding research, Dr. Wilson’s goal is to advance the clinical care of children and adolescents with concussions through research investigating methods to diagnose, manage, and reduce the risk of concussions and their subsequent effects. As the Co-Director of the Concussion Program at Children’s Hospital Colorado, Dr. Wilson provides a wealth of experience as someone who treats children with a concussion daily, conveying unique insights from both a clinician and patient/parent perspective to incorporate into our ongoing research studies. Outside of work, Dr. Wilson enjoys cycling, snowboarding, spending time with her dogs, and trying to find the best tea and ice cream shops in Colorado.

Associate Medical Director:
Smitha Bhaumik, MD

Smitha Bhaumik, MD., earned her medical degree from Northwestern University and completed her emergency medicine residency at Denver Health. She completed her research fellowship with a focus on trauma epidemiology under the mentorship of Drs. Nee-Kofi Mould-Millman and Adit Ginde. Dr. Bhaumik is interested in studying methods for early diagnosis and prognostication for mild traumatic brain injury applicable to the acute care setting. She also hopes to help improve care integration for patients who are discharged from the emergency department with concussion and mTBI. Outside of work, she enjoys chasing after her toddler (who is busy chasing the dog) and hunting for good Asian food.

Lab Members

Post-Doctoral Researcher

Catherine (Cat) Donahue, PhD, ATC

Catherine (Cat) Donahue, PhD, ATC,  graduated with her Ph.D. from the University of Virginia (UVA) in 2023 and is now a post-doctoral research fellow in the Department of Orthopedics with a research focus on sports concussions. Prior to her PhD at the University of Virginia, she completed her master's in 20 16 also at UVA, and her bachelor's at Point Loma Nazarene University in 2012.  Dr. Donahue brings over 10 years of research and clinical experience as a certified athletic trainer, working in a variety of settings, including athletics, military, and performing arts. Her research focuses on the sequelae of sports concussions, specifically the role of sleep and sleep-related factors. Outside of the lab, she enjoys paddleboarding, snowboarding, and spending time with her golden retriever, Goose.

Doctoral Students

Mathew Wingerson, MS

Mathew Wingerson, MS, is a Ph.D. student at the University of Colorado Anschutz studying rehabilitation sciences. The focus of his research is understanding how post-concussion exercise affects physiological markers of recovery in adolescents and young adults. Mathew is passionate about innovations of research and is dedicated to leveraging advanced statistical and data science methods to enhance the clinical care of concussions. Outside of research, Mathew is an avid sports fan (Rock Chalk!), loves reading mystery novels, and will never turn down an offer to go thrift/antique shopping!

(Josh) Kniss, PT, DPT, OCS

(Josh) Kniss, PT, DPT, OCS is a Major in the U.S. Army and a Ph.D. candidate in the Rehabilitation Science Program at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus. He brings over seven years of clinical experience in sports and orthopedic physical therapy, with a focus on bridging research and practice in military and civilian settings. His research centers on gait dynamics and movement analysis in individuals recovering from concussion, emphasizing the development of clinically accessible, objective assessment tools. Josh aims to advance concussion diagnosis and prognosis, inform treatment strategies, and reduce the risk of secondary injuries through translational research. Outside the lab, he enjoys spending time with his wife and two young sons, playing basketball, and exploring the outdoors.

Livia Wunderlich, BS

Livia Wunderlich, BS, is a Ph.D student at the University of Colorado Anschutz studying rehabilitation science, currently in her first rotation year. She completed her BA in Neuroscience and Psychology at the University of Colorado Boulder. She then worked for the University of Pittsburgh where she researched musculoskeletal health in military populations. Livia’s research interests include using exercise to promote brain health at mental and physiological levels. She is also interested in exploring sex differences in concussion recovery and seeks to optimize female athlete health and recovery for those participating in team-based sports. Outside of the lab you may find Livia hiking, doing arts and crafts, checking out a new farmer’s market, or at concerts and sporting events!

Research Professionals

Kelsie Richardson, MS

Kelsie Richardson, MS, is a research professional in the Colorado Concussion Research Lab. She completed her BS in Biology at Chadron State College (2017) and her MS of Pharmaceutical Bioengineering at the University of Washington (2021), which focused on drug discovery and design as well as clinical drug and device development. Kelsie is particularly interested in the use of biomarkers as a method of determining concussion severity and long-term effects of brain injury.  As an athlete and youth softball coach, she hopes to apply her knowledge and experience both on the field and in the lab.

Katelyn Hurlburt, BS

Katelyn Hurlburt, BS, is a research professional in the Colorado Concussion Research Lab. She completed her BS in Neuroscience at the University of Vermont. After college, she worked as a research coordinator for the University of Colorado Cancer Center. Here, clinical trials explored the treatment and management of cancer through radiation therapy. Katelyn is excited to return to the field of neuroscience and is broadly interested in how environmental characteristics (nutrition, exercise, pharmaceuticals, etc.) influence recovery from brain injury and/or prevent injury. Outside of the lab, Katelyn can be found running, hiking, reading, or traveling all with her Dobie mix, Juno, glued to her side.

Medical Students

Ross Moseley, BA

Ross Moseley, BA, graduated from Cornell University in 2022 with a degree in Biological Sciences and Arabic, where he was a member of the varsity Rowing team. He is currently pursuing his MD at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus. His research interests focus on the clinical presentations involved in Concussion and the potential to harness underlying biology in order to further patient care. Outside of school and research, Ross enjoys creating art and spending time outdoors. Originally from New York City, he is excited to take advantage of everything Colorado has to offer!

Physical Therapy Students

Jasmine Acree, BS

Jasmine Acree, BS, is a Doctor of Physical Therapy student at University of Colorado - Anschutz Medical Campus. She graduated from the University of Oregon in 2022 with a degree in Human Physiology and Japanese. There, she also worked as a student research assistant in the Clinical Psychology department, where she conducted research on the association between discrimination and drive for muscularity in Asian and Asian American men. Her research interests lie in finding appropriate exercise protocols for adolescents for best outcomes following a concussion. Outside of the lab, she enjoys hiking, rock climbing, and finding the best coffee shops in Denver!

Lab Alumni

Morgan Potter, PT, DPT. Research Assistant (2017-2019). Current: Ph.D. Student, University of Delaware

Tatiana Patismas, Medical Resident (2019-2020). Current: Sports Medicine Fellow, Children’s Hospital Colorado.

Katie Van Deventer, Medical Student (2019-2020). Current: Medical Resident, UC-Irvine.

Julia Southard, Undergraduate Intern, Regis University (2019).

Corrine Seehusen, Research Assistant (2019-2021). Current: Medical Student, University of New England.

Linda Neely, Master’s Student (2021-2022). Current: Physical Therapy Student, University of Colorado.

Casey Little, Research Assistant (2021-2022). Current: Medical Student, University of Virginia

Jake Rademacher, Undergraduate Intern (2022-2023).

Samantha Magliato, Research Assistant and Master’s Student (2020-2023).

Samual Messenger, Master’s Student (2023-2024).

Madison Brna, Research Assistant (2022-2024). Current: Medical Student, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill.

Lindsey Kemp, Research Assistant (2023-2024).

Makenna Hemmerle, Research Assistant (2023-2024).

Katherine  L. Smulligan, PhD, PT, DPT. Doctoral Student/Candidate (2020-2024). Current: Post-Doctoral Fellow, Boston Children’s Hospital.