Speaker and Consultant Bureau

VISN 8 Patient Safety Center of Inquiry, Tampa

Brian W. Schulz, Ph.D.

Professional Experience: Dr. Schulz is a biomechanist at the Tampa VA Patient Safety Center and an Adjunct Instructor for the Exercise Science program at the University of South Florida.  Dr. Schulz is a co-investigator on several funded research projects and is principal investigator on an upcoming proposal.

Educational Background: Dr. Schulz received his Ph.D. in bioengineering from the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, Michigan.  He also holds Masters degrees in both mechanical and biomedical engineering from the University of Michigan and completed his undergraduate education in mechanical engineering at the Georgia Institute of Technology.

Research Interests: Dr. Schulz has conducted a variety of research projects on the biomechanics volitional and compensatory stepping.  He is also involved with the biomechanical testing and evaluation of gait in persons with peripheral neuropathy and with the development of novel biomechanical data acquisition systems and techniques.  His research interests include the control of motion, posture, and balance in older adults at risk for falls.  He is involved with the biomechanical characterization of clinical tests, the ultimate goal of which is to improve the ability of clinicians to detect patients at risk of falls and to design targeted interventions to reduce these risks.

Selected Publications:

1. Schulz BW, Ashton-Miller JA, Alexander NB.  A Kinematic Analysis of the Rapid Step Test in Balance-Impaired and Unimpaired Older Women.  Gait & Posture (conditionally accepted and resubmitted with changes)
2. Schulz BW, Ashton-Miller JA, Alexander NB.  Can initial and additional compensatory steps be predicted in young, older, and balance-impaired older females in response to anterior and posterior waist pulls while standing?  Journal of Biomechanics (in press)
3. Schulz BW, Ashton-Miller JA, Alexander NB.  Compensatory stepping in response to waist pulls in balance-impaired and unimpaired women.  Gait & Posture (in press)

Areas of Expertise for Speaking / Consulting Engagements:

• Whole-body biomechanics
• Computational biomechanical modeling
• Compensatory mechanisms of fall prevention

If interested in retaining the services of Dr. Schulz, please contact him at 813-558-3944