Ruth M. Maher, PT, PhD, DPT, WCS | PCOM Georgia Faculty
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RUTH M. MAHER, PT, PHD, DPT, WCS
Chair, Physical Therapy Program
Professor

Dr. Maher joined the faculty of PCOM Georgia in July 2019 as a professor. Dr. Maher has been teaching 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 academe 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.

Education

  • Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) - University College Dublin, Ireland 2013
  • Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) - Simmons College, Boston, 2004
  • Master of Physical Therapy (MPT) - Georgia State University, 2002
  • Bachelor of Science (BS) - Georgia State University, 1999

Courses

  • Principles of Evidence-Based Practice
  • Pharmacology & Diagnostics: Musculoskeletal
  • Components of Evidence-Based Practice: Design & Statistics
  • Evidence-Based Practice: Project – Parts 1, 2 & 3
  • Clinical Neuroscience I (Pain component)

Research

Her current research is focused on improving treatment interventions for women in the area of pelvic floor health in addition to the use of ultrasound imaging to facilitate student learning and enhance physical therapy practice.

Awards

  • Gold Edison Award with Atlantic Therapeutics for INNOVO an OTC medical device for the treatment of Stress Urinary Incontinence (2020)
  • Imaging Award - Academy of Orthopaedic Physical Therapy, imaging SIG for "The Piriformis - Effect of Hip position on its function and Hip Rotator strength" (2020)
  • Knowledge Transfer Ireland Impact Award for INNOVO with Atlantic Therapeutics and University College Dublin, Ireland (2019)
  • Irish Times Innovation of the year award – overall winner for INNOVO with Atlantic Therapeutics, (2019)
  • Irish Times Innovation award – Life science and Healthcare category for INNOVO with Atlantic Therapeutics (2019)
  • Medical device award - Georgia Bio Innovation Summit (2019)
  • Imaging award - Academy of Orthopedic Physical Therapy, Imaging SIG for "Concurrent Validity of Coccygeal Motion Palpation and Transabdominal Ultrasound Imaging in the Assessment of Pelvic Floor Function in Women." (2019)
  • United States Patent 8,494,658 - Method and apparatus for stimulating pelvic floor muscles (2013)
  • Physical Therapist of the Year Award - Physical Therapy Association of Georgia (2012)
  • World Wide Patent WO2010084391A1 - Method and apparatus for stimulating pelvic floor muscles (2011)

Memberships

  • American Physical Therapy Association
  • Academy of Orthopedic Physical Therapy
  • Academy of Pelvic Health Physical Therapy
  • Academy of Physical Therapy Education
  • American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine
  • International Continence Society
  • Irish Society of Chartered Physiotherapists
  • Physical Therapy Association of Georgia
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