Erica Pitsch
Erica A. Pitsch is currently pursuing a post-professional Doctorate in Physical Therapy at the USC Division of Biokinesiology and Physical Therapy, with an emphasis on motor behavior and neurorehabilitation. Her goal is to develop more effective physical therapy interventions and to educate the next generation of physical therapists. Erica earned her Master of Physical Therapy from University of California San Francisco/ San Francisco State University Graduate Program in Physical Therapy in 1995 and her B.S. in Human Performance from San Jose State University in 1993.
Throughout her career thus far as a physical therapist, she has specialized in rehabilitation for persons with brain damage including stroke and Parkinson’s Disease. She as also participated in a clinical research project designed to enhance motor recovery for persons post-stroke.
The emphasis of her doctoral education has been on integrating motor learning research with neurophysiologic evidence to enhance learning-dependent neuroplasticity in injured and non-injured populations. She has developed her skills in a brain imaging technique, Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation, and has assisted in a training course on the topic for the past three years. In addition, she has worked as a TA in the physical therapy program at USC.