Dr. Maher joined the faculty of PCOM Georgia in July 2019 as a professor. Dr. Maher has been teaching physical therapy (PT) students for 20 years and practicing for 21 years in a variety of areas, including acute care, inpatient and outpatient rehabilitation settings, and private practice.
Dr. Maher is a board-certified clinical specialist in women’s health from the American Board of Physical Therapy Specialties and was awarded her second re-certification in 2019.
Her published research centers on assessment and validation of novel wearable neuromuscular stimulation devices in the treatment of pelvic floor dysfunction and the use of ultrasound imaging in physical therapy research and practice.
She has held positions with the American Board of Physical Therapy Specialties, women’s health council and several committees within the Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy. Prior to her life in academia, she owned and ran private practices in Dublin and the USA specializing in women’s health and chronic pain conditions.
She is also a consultant to a biomedical company in Ireland where she assists with the development and testing of novel wearable technologies using electrical stimulation. She holds a patent for a device she co-developed during her PhD studies in Ireland which recently received FDA approval for the treatment of stress urinary incontinence.
My parents left school in their early teens, did not complete secondary school education (the Irish equivalent of High School), and consequently did not attend college.
I was considerably older than most students in my classes and initially found learning challenging since I had been out of school for sixteen years. That said, I was doing something I loved: learning new things, which really motivated me to work hard. I also have to thank my husband, who supported me throughout my journey and gave me the space and support I needed to succeed.
I did not have an undergraduate degree when I arrived in the USA in my thirties and decided to invest some of my early retirement money in my personal growth. I soon learned how expensive college was and overloaded my coursework when I could and completed my bachelor's degree in 2.5 years at Georgia State University and later graduated from their master of physical therapy program in 2002. I worked hard, had good grades, and was offered a Graduate Research Assistant (GRA) position in my second semester. I couldn't believe the opportunities the US afforded me. My tuition was covered, and I received a stipend. I was debt-free when I graduated in 2002. I loved the challenge of learning so much that I enrolled in a transitional doctor of physical therapy program at Simmons University in 2004 while working as a physical therapist and then completed a PhD at University College Dublin in 2013. I am still learning and continue to challenge myself.
Not having the funds or any science coursework to attend university in Ireland straight out of secondary school (high school) severely curtailed my journey by sixteen years.
Research the graduate degree and career options to ensure it's what you want to pursue. Speak with currently enrolled students and find a mentor working in the field. Have good time management skills—and determine your learning style to maximize your learning. Learning is a challenge. I highly recommend finding a group to study with that challenges you. More importantly, don't be afraid to ask for help!
I graduated with my PhD from University College Dublin, which culminated in my inventing a medical device called INNOVO for treating stress urinary incontinence that was approved by the FDA in 2019.
The Office of Diversity and Community Relations celebrates the unique accomplishments of first generation students. This series features PCOM faculty, staff and students who were the first to attend college, graduate school or medical school within their families. We believe spotlighting our first generation community members will encourage our students to use their talents to shine during professional school and as future healthcare providers.
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