David A. Brown, PT, PhD, FAPTA, FASAHP

Senior Vice President and Dean
School of Health Professions
University of Texas Medical Branch
Galveston, TX

Background and aspirations for ASAHP

ASAHP is a special organization that brings together a variety of academic institutions along with industry partnesrhips to strengthen the transition from student to parctitioner to leaders in health care professions. As a new Board member, I will advocate for diverse points of view, data driven decision making, and progressive approaches to engaging our membership to action. I have been singularly focused in my career on the three pillars of education, research, and service to health care by leading innovative educational programs, developing new assessment and intervention approaches to recovery of walking and balance after acquired brain injury, and serving disadvantaged members of the community.

I've sought leadership positions throughout my career. I am currently Senior Vice President and Dean, School of Health Professions (SHP), and also a Professor (tenure) in the Department of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Sciences. I received my Bachelor of Arts in Physics and Astronomy from University of Rochester (NY), a master’s degree in Physical Therapy from Duke University, and Doctor of Philosophy in Exercise Science from the University of Iowa. I've conducted research at Emory University, University of Iowa, Stanford University, Northwestern University and the University of Alabama at Birmingham, and at UTMB, in the study of the neural control and biomechanics of locomotion. I have received numerous honors throughout his career. I am a past recipient of the American Physical Therapy Association's (APTA) Marian Williams Award for Research in Physical Therapy and the APTA Margaret L. Moore Award for Outstanding New Academic Faculty Member, and am also a Catherine Worthingham Fellow of the American Physical Therapy Association, and Fellow of ASAHP.

ASAHP Activities

Activity I: Chair of Research, Discovery, and Innovation Committee (2022 - present)
Activity II: Leader of White Paper that explored new approaches to improving scholarshp in Health Professions (2023)
Activity III: Co-leader of presentation on "Finding Grants" session at ASAHP Annual Meeting (2022)
Activity IV: Co-sponsor of ASAHP Reginal Hub on Academic-Industry Partnership Workshps 2023-2024)
Activity V: Mentor ASAHP Leadership Program

Relevant Experience

Experience I: Fellow of APTA
Experience II: Program Director for UAB PhD in Rehabilitation Science (2012-2019)
Experience III: Co-Director of Center for UAB Disability Health and Rehabilitation Science (2016-2019)
Experience IV: Mentor ACRM Leadership Program (2024)
Experience V: President, Board of Directors, Galveston Symphony Orchestra (2023-4)