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David L. Somers, Ph.D., PT
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Education:
Ph.D., PT, Medical University of South Carolina
Courses Taught:
PHYTH 530, Topics in Research
PHYTH 630, Grand Rounds
HLTSC 403, Neuroscience
Areas of Academic Specialty:
Neuroscience, Research
Research Area:
Chronic pain
Health science education
Grants:
(most recent 5)
Improving transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation as a treatment for painful peripheral sensory neuropathy: an efficacy and mechanistic study, Principal Investigator, Medical Assistance and Research Grant, Pittsburgh Foundation, Awarded August 2006-2009
Improving high-frequencynerve stimulation as a treatment for neurogenic pain: Principal investigatorAgency: State Health Formula Research Fund Grants; Awarded, May 2004-2006
The Mechanism of Neurogenic Pain Relief by TENS. Role: Co-principal investigator Agency: Faculty Practice Plan Research Fund, RSHS, Duquesne University Status: Awarded, 2003-2004
Peripheral Electrical Nerve Stimulation for Treatment of Complex Regional Pain Syndrome Type II Role: Principal investigator Agency: Hunkle Foundation, Dreaded Disease Grant Status: Awarded, 2000-2001.
Sensory Nerve Stimulation for the Treatment of Causalgia. Role: Principal investigator Agency: National Institutes of Health, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, Grant # 1 R15 NS/OD363 15-01 Status: Awarded, 1997-2000.
Publications:
(most recent 5)
Provenzano, A., Lassila, H.C. and Somers, D.L., The effect of fluid injection on lesion size during radiofrequency treatment period. Regional Anesthesia and Pain Medicine, 35: 338-342, 2010.
Somers, D.L. and Clemente, F.R., Contralateral high or a combination of high and low frequency transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation reduces mechanical allodynia and alters dorsal horn neurotransmitter content in neuropathic rats. Journal of Pain, 10:221-229, 2009.
Somers, D.L. and Clemente, F.R., Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation for the treatment of neuropathic pain: the impact of frequency and electrode position on prevention of allodynia in a rat model of complex regional pain syndrome type II. Physical Therapy, 86:698-709, May, 2006.
Somers, D.L. and Clemente, F.R., The relationship between dorsal horn neurotransmitter content and allodynia in neuropathic rats treated with high frequency transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation, Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, 84:1575-1583, 2003.
Somers, D.L. and Clemente, F.R., Dorsal horn synaptosomal content of aspartate, glutamate, glycine and gaba are differentially altered following chronic constriction injury to the rat sciatic nerve, Neuroscience Letters 323: 171-174, 2002.
Professional Presentations:
(most recent 5)
Provenzano, D., Lutton E., Liebert, M. and Somers, D.L., Increasing Pre-injected Fluid Volume Differentially Alters Lesion Size Parameters Depending on Composition of the Fluid Injected, American Society of Regional Anesthesia and Pain Medicine, November 2011
Somers, D.L., Clemente, F. Richard., Altering the timing of high (HFS) and low frequency (LFS) transcutaneous electric nerve stimulation to skin located contralateral to a nerve injury differentially alters allodynia and dorsal horn neurotransmitter content in rats, Combined Sections Meeting of the American Physical Therapy Association, February, 2010.
Zeyzus, B.A., Pollock, J.A., Somers D.L., Kruth, C. D. and Andersen, K.A., Differential expression of TRP genes and isoforms and their role in nociception using a rat neuropathic pain model. Society for Neuroscience, November 2008.
Somers, David L., Clemente, F. Richard, Cipriani, Brad, Graves , Kristen, Lane, Nicholas, and Zeiler, Adrienne., Application of high (HFS) and low frequency (LFS) transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation to skin located contralateral to a nerve injury alters allodynia and dorsal horn neurotransmitter content and rats. Combined Sections Meeting of the American Physical Therapy Association, February, 2008.
Somers, D.L., Clemente, F. R., Cipriani, B., Graves, K., Lane, N., Ross, N. and Zeiler, A., Treatment of Neuropathic Rats with Contralateral, Combined Low and High Frequency Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS)Prevents Mechanical, but not Thermal Allodynia, Combined Sections Meeting of the American Physical Therapy Association, February, 2007.
Awards and Accomplishments:
Omicron Delta Kappa, The National Leadership Honor Society, Duquesne University Teacher of the Year, 2006-2007
John G. Rangos, Sr. School of Health Science Dean's Award for Excellence in Service, 2007
Duquesne University, President's Award for faculty Excellence in Teaching, 2004
John G. Rangos, Sr. School of Health Sceinces Dean's Award for Faculty Excellence in Teaching, 2004
Mercy Hospital, Physicial Medicine and Rehabilitation Residency Program, 2004 Outstanding Didactic Faculty Award.
College of Health-Related Professions Distinguished Alumnus Award, Medical University of South Carolina, 2001.
John G. Rangos, Sr. School of Health Science President's Award for Faculty Excellence in Scholarship, 1999-2000.
Professional Narrative:
Dr. Somers received a Ph.D. in Anatomy and Cell Biology from the Medical University of South Carolina in 1991. He also received an M.S. in Health Sciences, a B.S. in Physical Therapy and completed his postdoctoral training at the Medical University of South Carolina. He is currently working on research projects investigating radioablation for the treatment of chronic neuropathic pain. He is also a participant in of the Hazelwood Partnership, a group collaboratively working to discern strategies for promoting community revitalization in Hazelwood and the accomplishment of Duquesne University's mission. Dr. Somers is a licensed physical therapist in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
