Education
Fellowship Infant Mental Health University of Wisconsin-Madison 2013
Postdoctoral Scholar Motor Development University of Michigan 2003
Ph D Motor Behavior and Control University of Wisconsin-Madison 2002
MS Therapeutic Sciences University of Wisconsin-Madison 1994
BS Physical Therapy Northwestern University Medical School 1987
BA Biopsychology Lawrence University 1986
Speaker Topics
- Motor Development and Developmental Motor Control
- Pediatric Physical Therapy Curricula
- Treadmill Use With Children
- Evidence-based Practice
- Motor Development and Ventilation
Interests & Expertise
Victoria Moerchen’s research has both a basic science and a translational trajectory, where each intentionally informs the other. The basic science component of her work is aimed at understanding developmental transitions and emergent motor control during infancy and toddler development. She is particularly interested in early sensorimotor integration and socio-motor interaction with the environment.
The translational component of Moerchen’s research is aimed at enhancing social interaction and physical activity in infants with neuromotor delays, with a particular interest in clinical populations with global developmental delays, including spina bifida, Down syndrome and autism.
Moerchen’s scholarship marries developmental and motor control theory with clinical reality, and the ecological slant to her work is increasingly shaped by family-systems perspectives. Having worked as a clinician for 15 years in early intervention prior to her research career, she is interested in addressing not only the issues of how to get infants more active and walking earlier, but also how best to deliver this intervention in a way that is both efficient and ecologically relevant to the natural course of early development. At present, Moerchen utilizes an infant treadmill paradigm to examine basic science and clinical questions.
Current research collaborators include Rachel Schiffman (Nursing, UWM) and Paula Rhyner (Communications Sciences and Disorders, UWM).
Selected Publications
Handler, A., Greenleaf, R., Bozlak, C., Moerchen, V. A., Pizur-Barnekow, K., San Miguel, C., Sappenfeld, O., & Masini, G. (2021).
Learning from Graduate and Undergraduate Public Health Virtual Internship Experiences with State Title V Agencies During COVID‑19, Summer 2020. Maternal and Child Health Journal.
Moerchen, V. A., Williams-York, B., Ross, L. J., Wise, D., Dominguez, J., Kapasi, Z., & Brooks, S. (2018).
Purposeful Recruitment Strategies to Increase Diversity in Physical Therapist Education. Journal of Physical Therapy Education,
32(3), 209-217.
Wise, D., Dominquez, J., Kapasi, Z., Williams-York, B., Moerchen, V. A., Brooks, S., & Ross, L. (2017). Defining under-represented minorities and promoting holistic review admissions strategies in physical therapy education. Journal of Physical Therapy Education, 31(4), 8-13.
Polfuss, M., Simpson, P., Stolzman, S., Moerchen, V. A., Hovis, S., Zhang, L., Miranda, H., & Sawin, K. (2016, May).
The measurement of body composition in children with spina bifida: Feasibility and preliminary findings. Journal of Pediatric Rehabilitation Medicine,
9(2), 143-153.
Schreiber, J., Moerchen, V. A., Rapport, M. J., Martin, K., Furze, J., Lundeen, H., & Pelletier, E. (2015). Experiential learning with children: An essential component of professional physical therapy education. Pediatric Physical Therapy, 27(4), 356-367.
Rapport, M. J., Furze, J., Martin, K., Schreiber, J., Dannemiller, L. A., Dibiasio, P., & Moerchen, V. A. (2014).
Essential competencies in entry-level pediatric physical therapy education. Pediatric Physical Therapy,
26(1), 7-18.
Massery, M., Hagins, M., Stafford, R., Moerchen, V. A., & Hodges, P. W. (2013).
Effect of airway control by glottal structures on postural stability. Journal of Applied Physiology,
115(4), 483-490.
Saeed, T. E., & Moerchen, V. A. (2013). Measuring hope among parents of children with autism and Down syndrome. Pediatric Physical Therapy, 25(1), 121.
Sansom, J. K., Teulier, C., Smith, B. A., Muraszko, K., Moerchen, V. A., & Ulrich, B. D. (2013).
Muscle activation patterns in infants with myelomeningocele stepping on a treadmill. Pediatric Physical Therapy,
25(3), 278-289.
Moerchen, V. A., Perez, Z., Riordan, M. J., & Kolar, K. L. (2013). When might directional variability in treadmill stepping with infants be introduced? Pediatric Physical Therapy, 25(1), 116.
Presentations
Eble, C., Durham, A., Arvizu Calzada, E., & Moerchen, V. A. (February 2022). Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in DPT Education: Student Perspective. Combined Sections Meeting, San Antonio, TX.
Moerchen, V. A., Handler, A., Masini, G., Greenleaf, R., Pizur-Barnekow, K., & Bozlak, C. (September 2021). Supporting MCH Public Health Career Pathways for Historically Underrepresented Racial and Ethnic Groups: Title V MCH Internship Program. , .
Moerchen, V. A., Miller, T., & Schaefer, C. (November 2020). A Parent's Hope: Critiquing the Psychometrics of Scales to Measure Hope in Parents of Children with Disabilities. Academy of Pediatric Physical Therapy Annual Conference, .
Moerchen, V. A., Kanetzke, N., Westerdahl, J., & Durham, A. (November 2020). Achieving a Path to Standardized Endurance Testing with Young Children: Reconceptualizing the 2 Minute Walk Test. Academy of Pediatric Physical Therapy Annual Conference, .
Mielke, E., Moerchen, V. A., Silverman, M. K., & Smith, R. O. (November 2020). Addressing the Assistive Technology Deficiency in Pediatric Physical Therapy Education: What can be learned from an interdisciplinary technology instruction program to help bridge this gap?. Academy of Pediatric Physical Therapy Annual Conference, .
Kanetzke, N., Durham, A., Westerdahl, J., & Moerchen, V. A. (November 2020). Less is More: A Path to Young Children's Reliable Performance of the 2-Minute Walk Test. Academy of Pediatric Physical Therapy Annual Conference, .
Westerrdahl, J., Moerchen, V. A., & Schiffman, R. (November 2020). Maternal Responsiveness Supports Infant Motor Performance: Implications for Intervention. Academy of Pediatric Physical Therapy Annual Conference, .
Noble, C., Vamos, C., Belcher, H., Kuo, A., Moerchen, V. A., Olaleye, O., Waters, C., & Reddy, M. (November 2019). MCH Pipeline Training Program: A novel approach to achieving consensus in competency development while balancing academic and practical considerations. APHA Annual Meeting and Expo, Philadelphia, PA.
Olaleye, O., Salihu, H., Moerchen, V. A., Belcher, H., Kuo, A., Noble, C., Vamos, C., Waters, C., & Reddy, M. (November 2019). MCH Pipeline Training Program: Advancing the MCH pipeline and workforce through research collaborations. APHA Annual Meeting and Expo 2019, Philadelphia, PA.
Kuo, A., Fernandes, P., Belcher, H., Moerchen, V. A., Charlotte, N., Olaleye, O., Vamos, C., Waters, C., & Reddy, M. (November 2019). MCH Pipeline Training Program: Supporting the next generation of MCH Leaders. APHA Annual Meeting and Expo 2019, Philadelphia, PA.
Belcher, H., Copeland-Linder, N., Kuo, A., Olaleye, O., Moerchen, V. A., Stone, J., Vamos, C., Waters, C., & Reddy, M. (November 2019). MCH Pipeline Training Program: Connecting with academia to build capacity through mentoring. APHA Anual Meeting and Expo 2019, Philadelphia, PA.
Silverman, M. K., Jozwik, S., Lund, S. K., Moerchen, V. A., & Smith, R. O. (June 2019). ITIP2: Interdisciplinary technology instruction program for individualized technology implementation planning. 2019 RESNA/RehabWeek Conference, Toronto, Canada.
Allen, C., Fangman, M., Holmes, L., Dietrich, A., Kavanaugh, M., Miller, T., Moerchen, V., & (May 2019). An Interprofessional Educational Experience in a Doctor of Physical Therapy Program: A Mixed Methods Analysis. 2019 UWM Health Research Symposium, Milwaukee, WI.
Moerchen, V. A., Westerdahl, J., & Schiffman, R. F. (March 2019). Exploring the relational environment as the context for infant motor skill performance. Society for Research in Child Development, Baltimore, MD.
Schiffman, R., & Moerchen, V. A. (May 2018). Infant Motor Performance Enhanced by Responsive Parent-Child Interaction. 16th World Congress, Rome, Italy.
Recent Funded Grants
The UW-Milwaukee Pipeline Training Initiative
$814,984, 06/2016 – 05/2021
CFDA #93.110 HRSA 06-077. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Health Resources and Services Administration, Maternal and Child Health Bureau.
Director: Moerchen
Targeting parent-child interaction to promote the healthy development of infants in the motor domain
$24,951.00, Funding period: 7-2014 thru 12-2015 (extended to 6-2016).
College of Health Sciences, Stimulus Program to Accelerate Research Clusters (SPARC Award).
Principal Investigator: V. Moerchen, PT, PhD
Co-PI: Rachel Schiffman, PhD, RN
Co-Investigators: K. Barnekow, PhD, OTR; P. Rhyner, PhD, CCP-SLP
Impact of motor task on treadmill stepping
$10,000, 01/2010 – 08/2011
College of Health Sciences, UWM, Stimulus for Extramural Enhancement & Development Program.
Principal Investigator: Moerchen
Co-Investigator: P. Rhyner
Pre-Professional Clinician-scholars: Introducing undergraduates to both sides of translational research in maternal and child health
$10,000, 10/2009 – 6/2012
Office of Undergraduate Research UWM
Director: V. Moerchen
Co-directors: P. Rhyner and S. Lund.
Sensorimotor development: Infants born with spina bifida
$1,303, 557 (total costs), 04/2006 – 02/2011.
National Institutes of Health – NICHD, R01-HD047567
Principal Investigator: Beverly Ulrich;
Co-Investigators: V. Moerchen & B. Martin.
Honors & Awards
Stanford Award (2018) Journal of Physical Therapy Education.
UWM CHS Dean's Award for Outstanding Service (2018, May 11) UWM College of Health Sciences.
Dianne Cherry Educator's Lectureship (2017) Academy of Pediatric Physical Therapy.
Conference Abstract and Poster Award, “Exertion during infant treadmill stepping.” Moerchen, VA and Engel, JE (2016) Section on Pediatrics, American Physical Therapy Association.
Clinical Research Scholar (2011) Clinical and Translational Science Institute, Medical College of Wisconsin, NIH-K30 Program.
Fellow (2011) Summer Research Training Institute on Single-Case Intervention Research Design and Analysis, Institute on Education Sciences, National Center for Special Education Research.
Award for Outstanding Abstract and Presentation “Enhancing the treadmill context: Implications for practice with infants with myelomeningocele.” (2011, June) International Organisation of Physical Therapists in Paediatrics World Confederation of Physical Therapy, World Congress, Amsterdam, Netherlands.
Mentor of the Year, 2009 (2010, April) Wisconsin Physical Therapy Association.
Invited Participant at the Second Annual Pediatric Research Summit (2007) APTA and NIH.
NIH Junior Faculty Scholarship (2005, July) National Institutes of Health (NIH).
Virginia Horne Henry Wisconsin Distinguished Graduate Fellow (2002) Graduate School, University of Wisconsin-Madison.
Marie L. Carns Fellowship (1997) Department of Kinesiology, University of Wisconsin-Madison.
Genevieve Brown Wright Graduate Scholarship (1996) Department of Kinesiology, University of Wisconsin-Madison.
Gordon Diewart Scholarship (1995) Department of Kinesiology, University of Wisconsin-Madison.
Maja Schade (1995) Department of Kinesiology, University of Wisconsin-Madison.
Scientific Activities
- Ad hoc manuscript reviewer for 6 peer-reviewed journals: Pediatric Physical Therapy; Child Development; Journal of Neurophysiology; Journal of Motor Behavior; Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation; Journal of Physical Education, Recreation, and Dance.
- Ad hoc grant reviewer for NIDRR, field initiated grant proposals, 2010-2011.
- Research Chair, Wisconsin Physical Therapy Association, 2009-2015.
- Invited comment on the NIH, NICHD Research Plan for Down syndrome, 2007.
