Meet our Team
Directors
Erin Futrell, PT, MPT, PhD
Dr. Futrell is an Assistant Professor of Physical Therapy and a Board-Certified Specialist in Orthopaedic Physical Therapy. Her clinical background includes evaluating and treating patients with a variety of abilities and ages. This includes older adults, professional athletes, non-professional athletes, work injuries, and post-surgical conditions. Dr. Futrell has a clinical and research background in running gait biomechanical analysis and gait retraining methods. While earning her PhD and working as a research assistant at the Spaulding National Running Center in Cambridge, MA, she began researching intrinsic foot muscle strengthening exercises in runners. She has expanded her research of intrinsic foot muscle function beyond the running population and seeks to produce clinically applicable research to assist physical therapists and their patients.
Regina Kaufman, PT, EdD
Dr. Kaufman is a Professor of Physical Therapy and a Board-Certified Specialist in Neurological Physical Therapy. She has over 30 years of clinical and teaching experience and specializes in treating adults with neurological conditions and impaired mobility. She has a particular interest in community outreach and fall prevention, and is the director of Springfield College’s Community Mobility Clinic.
Post-Doctoral Research Professional
Melissa Supinski has been a licensed physical therapist since 2006 and is also a Certified Lymphedema Therapist through Dr. Vodder School International. Her clinical background is in outpatient orthopedic and inpatient acute care rehabilitation with emphasis on a multidisciplinary treatment approach, including collaboration with physicians, occupational therapists, speech therapists, nurses and others. She has experience working with patients of a variety of ages from adolescents to older adults, encompassing routine to complex injuries. She joins the research team as our Postdoctoral Research Associate with an interest in contributing to research studies in the field of physical therapy.
Student Research Assistants
Carolyn Ives
Hometown: Farmington, CT
Major: Physical Therapy
Minor: Business Management
Pronouns: She/her
Fun Fact: I have been sky diving in New Zealand.
Other Campus Involvement: I’m really excited to work on this study as I will have the chance to interact with a lot of members of the community. I’m also eager to be on the frontline of research working to limit falls in older adults as I know the tragic consequences these incidents can have.
Why are you excited to work on this study?: I’m really excited to work on this study as I will have the chance to interact with a lot of members of the community. I’m also eager to be on the frontline of research working to limit falls in older adults as I know the tragic consequences these incidents can have.
Natalie Calo
Hometown: Watertown, CT
Major: Physical Therapy
Minor: Psychology and Honors Program
Pronouns: She/her
Fun Fact: I’ve traveled to China and Australia on academic exchanges!
Other Campus Involvement: NSO, Ultimate Frisbee
Why are you excited to work on this study?: I’m excited to further my knowledge on intrinsic foot muscles and see how the participants can be affected through the interventions. Furthermore, I’m interested to see how I myself can incorporate the study into practice!
Riley Robinson
Hometown: Adams, MA
Major: Physical Therapy
Minor: Rehabilitation and Disability
Pronouns: she/her
Fun Fact: My favorite day of the year is October 31st.
Other Campus Involvement: Student government, mental health organization, women’s basketball.
Why are you excited to work on this study?: I’m excited to understand the evidence- based profession from outside a classroom perspective and more into a hands-on learning experience. Interacting with participants and improving my communication skills with peers will greatly benefit me in creating a professional mindset. I am excited to see how these results may improve the way we treat our future patients.
Sam Budnick
Hometown: East Providence, RI
Major: Physical Therapy
Minor: Business Management
Pronouns: he/him
Fun Fact: I enjoy running marathons.
Other Campus Involvement: Intramural sports.
Why are you excited to work on this study?: I’m excited to work on this study to further enhance my learning in research. I am also very interested in learning new ways to reduce fall risk to help out future patients as a physical therapist.
Adi Ramos-Delgado
Hometown: Methuen, MA
Major: Physical Therapy
Minor: Business Management
Pronouns: She/her
Fun Fact: I was born and raised in Puerto Rico.
Other Campus Involvement: I was the manager of the women’s gymnastics team on campus throughout my undergraduate years. I also currently tutor other physical therapy students who are taking courses I have already completed.
Why are you excited to work on this study?: I am looking forward to working in collaboration with others and growing as a person through this experience. I am excited to learn about research and the effort it takes to conduct a study.
Karly Suppicich:
Hometown: South Windsor, CT
Major: Physical Therapy
Minor: Psychology
Pronouns: She/her
Fun Fact: I can juggle with my feet or hands.
Other Campus Involvement: I was class president during undergrad and was a member of the women’s soccer team all four years.
Why are you excited to work on this study?: I am excited to learn more about the research world and get more hands-on experience with patients.
Rachel Perry
FiTT Alumni
Jack Myers
FiTT Alumni
Sam Molloy
FiTT Alumni
Caitlyn Mills
FiTT Alumni
Ashley Barnes
FiTT Alumni
Madelyn Coon
FiTT Alumni
