Michelle M. Ramirez, PT, DPT, OCS, is a Ph.D. candidate at Duke University School of Medicine in Population Health Sciences with a concentration in musculoskeletal epidemiology, health services research and patient-reported outcomes. She is a residency trained physical therapist and a Board Certified Orthopaedic Clinical Specialist with over 12 years of clinical experience as a physical therapist and health system leader.
Her research utilizes epidemiologic and machine learning methods to study knee injuries, knee osteoarthritis, and total joint arthroplasty, aiming to facilitate precision-based care and optimize post-operative outcomes. Her graduate research assistantship is funded by the Duke University Total Joint Arthroplasty Learning Health Unit in Duke's Department of Orthopedic Surgery. Her research has been recognized and supported through awards from the American Physical Therapy Association, Foundation for Physical Therapy Research, AcademyHealth, and the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities. She is also a T37 trainee at Weill Cornell Medicine receiving advanced training in clinical epidemiology, health services research and health equity.
She is a published author with work featured in top-tier journals such as Arthritis Care & Research and the Journal of Arthroplasty. Beyond her scientific work, she is dedicated to non-profit work aimed at increasing access to healthcare and primary education for underprivileged communities by organizing medical clinics and constructing schools in rural villages of developing countries.