Ferguson Lab Trainee Spotlight: Anna Bailes, DPT, PhD

Anna Bailes, DPT, PhD, recently completed the dual DPT/PhD program at the University of Pittsburgh’s School of Rehabilitation Sciences and the Swanson School of Engineering.

After graduating from Washington University in St. Louis with a Bachelor of Science in Bioengineering, Dr. Bailes joined the University of Pittsburgh’s combined Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) - PhD in Bioengineering (DPT/PhD) program. The program’s structure allowed her to integrate advanced clinical training with cutting-edge research, creating the foundation for her career at the intersection of clinical practice and biomechanics.

As a trainee in the Ferguson Laboratory for Orthopaedic and Spine Research, Dr. Bailes explored the interplay between chronic pain, psychology, and movement. She will soon begin a postdoctoral fellowship at Stanford University, focusing on pediatric chronic pain research.

In the days after successfully defending her doctoral dissertation and preparing to transition to Stanford, Dr. Bailes reflected on her experience in the program and her time in the Ferguson Lab.

“Take advantage of the interdisciplinary opportunities available. Engaging in both clinical practice and research can give you a unique perspective and open doors to innovative approaches in health care,” says Dr. Bailes.

Research Focus and Dissertation Work

Dr. Bailes’ research was conducted under the mentorship of Gwendolyn Sowa, MD, PhD, co-director of the Ferguson Lab and chair of the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, and Rakié Cham, PhD, professor of Bioengineering at the Swanson School for Engineering and principal investigator at the Human Movement and Balance Lab (HMBL).

Her work focused on how negative appraisals of pain affect movement in individuals with chronic low back pain. These negative appraisals of pain can be termed ‘pain-related psychological factors’ and include things like fear of pain and catastrophic thinking.

“I had the incredible opportunity to work in two different labs since I was co-advised for my PhD,” says Dr. Bailes. “In the Ferguson Lab, I worked with the LB₃P project, a large phenotyping study aimed at identifying subgroups of individuals with chronic low back pain to develop more targeted treatments. In the HMBL, we used motion tracking technology to study human movement. I focused on the impact of pain-related psychological factors on gait in people with chronic low back pain.”

Dr. Bailes’s doctoral dissertation utilized advanced motion tracking technologies, including accelerometers and optoelectronic motion capture systems to quantify movement patterns. She also examined the relationship between attention, a cognitive resource, and movement in people with chronic low back pain. Her findings provided new insights into how psychological and cognitive factors contribute to altered gait and rehabilitation challenges.

“Gait requires higher-level cognitive resources, such as attention. In chronic pain, these processes can be disrupted. For my dissertation, I studied whether attentional disruptions played a role in altered movement patterns,” says Dr. Bailes.

Experience in the Ferguson Lab

Dr. Bailes highlighted her time in the Ferguson Lab as a transformative period during her studies. The collaborative and multidisciplinary environment fostered her growth as both a researcher and physical therapist.

“The Ferguson Lab fosters a sense of community and collaboration. I was fortunate to work under mentors like Dr. Sowa, who has been an incredible advocate and guide throughout my training,” says Dr. Bailes.

The opportunity to collaborate with a diverse group of trainees, including undergraduates, medical students, and engineers, enriched her experience and broadened her perspective on the nature of interdisciplinary research and what it can accomplish in terms of transforming and creating new modes of care of patients.

Moving Forward: A New Chapter at Stanford

Dr. Bailes will soon begin a postdoctoral fellowship in the Department of Anesthesiology at Stanford University, focusing on pediatric chronic pain. Her research will examine conditions including amplified musculoskeletal pain syndrome and complex regional pain syndrome, aiming to better understand the mechanisms underlying these chronic pain conditions and develop improved treatment approaches.

“Chronic pain in children is an underexplored area, and I am excited to contribute to improving our understanding and management of these conditions,” says Dr. Bailes. “When a person is dealing with chronic pain, it can disrupt every facet of their lives and lead to reduced quality of life. I want to change that reality for the better.”

In addition to her focus on research, Dr. Bailes will maintain a clinical role, working as a physical therapist in Stanford’s pediatric outpatient clinic. She plans to continue integrating her clinical expertise with her research to develop interventions that address the multifaceted needs of patients with chronic pain.

“UPMC, the University of Pittsburgh, and the Ferguson Lab provided a dynamic and supportive environment where I developed technical skills and built lifelong connections with mentors and peers,” says Dr. Bailes. “Pittsburgh and the lab will always hold a special place in my career journey.”