Robert Zeid II, PT, DPT, PhD, assistant professor in the Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) program at PCOM Georgia, has a passion for understanding how the nervous system drives movement, especially in early intervention for children with developmental disabilities.
Recently, Zeid received the Outstanding Dissertation Award from Georgia State University's Department of Kinesiology and Health (KH) for his research in advancing the understanding of neural control of movement.
At PCOM Georgia, Zeid teaches Clinical Neuroscience I and II, as well as Neurorehabilitation I, inspiring his students with his enthusiasm for exploring the intricate connections between the brain and movement.
“I try to make neuroanatomy and neuroplasticity feel relevant beyond neuro rehab by connecting the disciplines to sports medicine and musculoskeletal practice,” he said.
His research focuses on the biomechanics and control of movement in children with Down syndrome, examining gait, obstacle crossing, and joint laxity to better understand how movement strategies emerge. Building on this work, he is interested in future studies exploring the neural control of movement and brain-behavior relationships. One potential direction includes the use of portable brain imaging technologies, such as functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS), to investigate brain activity during motor tasks in more natural, real world settings.
“Looking at improving motor skills early on may cascade into better cognitive, language, and functional development, ultimately enhancing independence and quality of life,” Zeid said.
While collaborating with his advisor, Dr. Jerry Wu, from Georgia State University, some of his early intervention projects include using treadmill programs that promote early walking in infants with Down syndrome, as well as to build better walking mechanics. Together, they used developmental assessments to investigate the relationship between the early interventions and their cognitive, language and developmental scores.
“It is a complex topic, but I'm looking forward to continuing to help students consider the multitude of ways that neuroscience plays a factor in movement, and why impairments present the way they do in physical therapy.”
PCOM Georgia has been serving students and the community for 20 years as a branch campus of Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine (PCOM), a private, not-for-profit, accredited institution of higher education established in 1899. Located in Suwanee (Gwinnett County), PCOM Georgia offers doctoral degrees in osteopathic medicine, pharmacy and physical therapy. Graduate degrees are offered in biomedical sciences, medical laboratory science and physician assistant studies. The campus joins PCOM South Georgia in Moultrie in helping to meet the healthcare needs of the state. Emphasizing "a whole person" approach to care, PCOM Georgia focuses on educational excellence, interprofessional education and service to the community. For more information, visit pcom.edu or call 678-225-7500. The campus is also home to the Georgia Osteopathic Care Center, an osteopathic manipulative medicine clinic, which is open to the public by appointment. For more information, visit pcomgeorgiahealth.org.
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