Newsroom > Publication > November E-Newsletter > Maria Fragala- Pinkham

FHC's Maria Fragala-Pinkham Receives Clinician of the Year Award 

The American Physical Therapy Association of Massachusetts recently honored Maria Fragala-Pinkham, a physical therapist at FHC, with the Outstanding Achievement in Clinical Practice award. The award gives public recognition to APTA of MA's Physical Therapists and Physical Therapist Assistants who are outstanding clinicians dedicated to their patients, their professions, and to sharing their knowledge with others.

Maria Fragala-Pinkham is a nationally recognized expert and speaker in the area of physical fitness for children with disabilities, lecturer at UMASS Boston and adjunct faculty at the Massachusetts General Hospital Institute of Health Professions (MGHIHP) and a candidate for a Doctor of Physical Therapy Degree at MGHIHP.

Maria was nominated by a colleague and her nomination was supported with letters from her supervisors as well as parents of patients who have been under her care.  Maria has worked at FHC for 11 years as a physical therapist providing outpatient physical therapy services and as a clinical researcher.  On the motivation behind her dedication and excellence, Maria says, "The best part about my job as a physical therapist is working with such great children and their families. I learn something new from every child that I work with."

Among her most recent research publications are:

Fragala-Pinkham MA, Dumas HM, Boyce M, Peters CY, Haley SM. Evaluation of an adaptive ice skating programme for children with disabilities. Developmental Neurorehabilitation. 2009 Oct-Dec;12(4):215-23.

Fragala-Pinkham MA, Dumas HM, Barlow CA, Pasternak A. An aquatic physical therapy program at a pediatric rehabilitation hospital: a case series. Pediatric Physical Therapy. 2009 Spring;21(1):68-78.

Fragala-Pinkham M, Haley SM, O'Neil ME. Group aquatic aerobic exercise for children with disabilities. Developmental Medicine & Child Neurology. 2008 Nov;50(11):822-7.

Click here for more on Maria Fragala- Pinkham's research publications.