Joyce White

Joyce White

Associate Professor Emerita

College
Zuckerberg College of Health Sciences
Department
Physical Therapy and Kinesiology

Research Interests

Orthopedic Physical Therapy; Musculoskeletal Examination and Treatment; Research Methods

Education

  • D.Sc.: Epidemiology, (1996), Boston University - Boston MA
    Dissertation/Thesis Title: Musculoskeletal Disorders Related to Cigarette Smoking and Tobacco Use"
  • MS: Physical Therapy, (1980), Boston University - Boston, Massachusetts
    Dissertation/Thesis Title: Effects of Postural Drainage Positions and Percussion on the Blood Pressure of Normal Human Subjects
  • BS: Physical Therapy, (1974), University of Connecticut - Storrs, Connecticut

Biosketch

Joyce White, PT, D.Sc. was named Associate Professor Emerita in 2017 after serving as faculty within the Department of Physical Therapy (now Physical Therapy and Kinesiology) at the University of Massachusetts Lowell for 30 years. Dr. White previously taught as Clinical Assistant Professor at Boston University from 1980-1987. Dr. White earned her B.S. in Physical Therapy from the University of Connecticut, and her Advanced M.S. in Physical Therapy and D.Sc. in Epidemiology degrees from Boston University. Dr. White is a licensed physical therapist with expertise in musculoskeletal conditions and has clinical experience practicing in both acute care and outpatient orthopedic settings.

As faculty at UMass Lowell, Dr. White taught in the orthopedic sequence of the graduate Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) program, delivering much of the upper and lower extremity musculoskeletal examination, evaluation, and treatment content, receiving awards for her instructional abilities. She also supervised the research projects of numerous groups of graduate students throughout her tenure as faculty, taught research methods courses, and served as a member and chairperson of the UMass Lowell’s Institutional Review Board (IRB) for human subjects research.

Dr. White is the co-author of the well-regarded textbook, Measurement of Joint Motion: A Guide to Goniometry, which is currently in its fifth edition and translated into five languages (Japanese, Portuguese, Spanish, Chinese, and Korean). She also authored the book chapter “Musculoskeletal Examination” for three editions of the textbook Physical Rehabilitation. Dr. White served as a research consultant on the development and training of outcome measurement methods related to joint function for clinical drug trials, and athletic and work environment injuries. She has authored numerous peer-reviewed publications and served as a manuscript reviewer for the Journal of Orthopedic and Sports Physical (JOSPT) and expert content reviewer for the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) “Hooked on Evidence” database.

In 1984, Dr. White was the recipient of the Dorothy Briggs Memorial Scientific Inquiry Award from the APTA, recognizing her contribution to the Physical Therapy Journal (PTJ). She was also the recipient of a Traineeship Award from the Foundation for Physical Therapy, and New Faculty Research Support from Boston University. Dr. White continues to be involved in scholarship and research, and is active with the Academy of Orthopaedic Physical Therapy, Academy of Physical Therapy Research, and the Academy of Hand & Upper Extremity Physical Therapy.

Selected Awards and Honors

  • Teaching Excellence Award -- Department of Physical Therapy (2005), Teaching - University of Massachusetts Lowell
  • Who's Who in Health Sciences Academia (2005), Leadership - Who's Who in Health Sciences Academia
  • Dorothy Briggs Memorial Scientific Inquiry Award (1984), Scholarship/Research - American Physical Therapy Association