Our team

Ingrid Pretzer-Aboff, Ph.D., RN, FGSA

Associate Professor
Senior Nurse Researcher
Department of Adult Health and Nursing Systems; Department of Neurology

TEACHING:

I have taught in nursing undergraduate and Ph.D. programs. I enjoy teaching health assessment, research, neurology and med/surg topics in adult health. I also enjoy mentoring students on their research projects in the undergraduate and graduate programs. I have served as doctoral student advisor and dissertation chairperson on nursing and interdisciplinary teams.

RESEARCH:

My research focuses on the development of interventions that improve function and optimize the independence of people with Parkinson’s disease.  I have developed and tested community exercise programs and efficacy-based function focused care programs for people with Parkinson’s disease and their families. My recent research centers on the development of devices that deliver stimulation to the nervous system reducing motor symptoms of Parkinson’s disease. This effort incorporates faculty and students across disciplines, schools, universities, and industry. I work closely with colleagues in the VCU Department of Neurology on research efforts involving movement disorders. 

SERVICE:

I am an Affiliate Scholar of the Langston Center for Innovation in Quality & Safety and a Fellow in the Gerontological Society of America (GSA). I Co-Direct the Graduate Health Care Innovation Certificate, am a member of the Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi, the Movement Disorder Society, Gerontological Society of America, American Geriatric Society, Sigma Theta Tau, and the Virginia Nurses Association. I work closely with the Parkinson’s disease community and enjoy sharing my research results with students, health care professionals, and support groups.

EDUCATION:

• BSN - New York University, NY – SON
• MA - New York University, NY -  SON
• CNS - University of Delaware, DE – Post Masters Certificate in Cardiopulmonary Clinical Nurse Specialist, SON
• Ph.D. – Doctorate of Philosophy, University of Maryland, MD – SON

AWARDS/HONORS:

• 2022 - Fellow of the American Academy of Nurses
• 2020 - Featured in “Faculty Spotlight” NEXT Magazine
• 2019 - Langston Center for Innovation in Quality & Safety
  • Affiliate Scholar
• 2018 - Gerontological Society of America 
  • Selected Fellow
• 2016 - UD College of Health Sciences
• Excellence in Service Award (nomination)
• 2015 - National Hartford Center of Gerontological Nursing Excellence.
• Innovation Award – Development of an Interdisciplinary Telehealth Clinic for People Living with Parkinson’s Disease. 

 

RESEARCH FUNDING:

• Life-Space and Activity Digital Markers for Detection of Cognitive Decline in Community-Dwelling Older Adults: The RAMS Study. Funded by ASG - 1 R01, AG082251-01.
• 2022-2023: “PERCEPTion of FoG,”. Funded by 2022-2023 Virginia Commonwealth University’s Parkinson’s and Movement Disorders Center Pilot Grants Program.
• 2022-2023: WiFi sensing-based device-free daily activity and mobility recognition for older adults. Funded by Intramural Grant Program, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Nursing.
• 2021-2024: Diversity Supplement: SCH: Context-aware Freezing of Gait mitigation in real-world setting. Funded by NIH/NINDS 1R01NS120560-01S1
  
• 2020-2024: SCH: Context-aware Freezing of Gait mitigation in real-world setting. Funded by NIH/NIND1R01NS120560-01
• 2019-2020: The PDSock. R&D. Funded by VCU, SON, Innovations grant.
• 2019-2021:  Optimizing Vibration Therapy to Improve Gait and Balance. Funded by Michael J. Fox (MJFF)
• 2018 -2020:  Vibration Tremor Pilot. Funded by Resonate Forward (RF). 
• 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017: PI/PD, The Nurse Managed Parkinson’s Telehealth Clinic. Funded by The Parkinson Council. 

SELECTED PUBLICATIONS:

• Shah, L., Chung, J., Diallo, A., Mohanraj, L., Sargent, L., Ameringer, S., Brown, L., Jally, N., Pretzer-Aboff, I., Robins, R.k, Swift-Scanlan, T., Jones, T., Parsons, P., Salisbury, A., Kinser, P. (submitted Sept 2022). Challenges and Opportunities Faced by Nurse Scientists in Integrating Data and Technology in Research to Promote Health. Nursing Outlook. Submitted Sept 2022.
• McCormick, M., Pretzer-Aboff, I., Hood, D., and Vernon, G. (Dec. 2021) Providing authentic learning experiences about Parkinson's disease: Bringing humanity into the classroom. International Journal for Human Caring, 25(4), 266 – 276. [Accepted October 6, 2020; published online Dec. 2021. [R,D]
  
  
• Chung, J., Boyle, J., Pretzer-Aboff, I., Knoefel, J., Young, H.M., Wheeler, D.C. (Oct. 2021). Using a GPS Watch to Characterize Life-Space Mobility in Dementia: A Dyadic Case Study. J Gerontol Nursing, 47(10):15-22. Doi: 10.3928/00989134-20210908-03. Epub 2021 Oct 1. PMID: 34590977
  
  
• Sun, M., Watson, A., Blackwell, G., Woosub, J., Wang, S., Koltermann L., Helm, N., Zhou, G., Cloud, L., and Pretzer-Aboff, I. (Sept 2021). Tremor Sense: Tremor Detection for Parkinson’s Disease Using Convolutional Neural Network. IEEE/ACM Transactions on Computing for Healthcare. DOI 10.1109/CHASE52844.2021.00009. [Accepted Sept 2021, published online ahead of print][R,D]
  
  
• Sargent, L., Slattum, P., Brooks, M., Gendron, T., Mackiewicz, M., Diallo, A., Waters, L., Winship, J., Battle, K., Ford, G., Falls, K., Chung, J., Zanjani, F., Pretzer-Aboff, I., Price, E.T., Prom- Worley, E., Parsons, P.; iCubed Health and Wellness in Aging Transdisciplinary Core (Dec. 22, 2020). Bringing Transdisciplinary Aging Research from Theory to Practice. Gerontologist. doi: 10.1093/geront/gnaa214. Online ahead of print. PMID: 33349850
  
  
• Sun, M., Watson, A., Blackwell, G., et al., Pretzer-Aboff, I. (submitted October 7, 2020). Tremor Sense: Tremor Detection for Parkinson’s Disease Using Convolutional Neural Network. ACM Transactions on Computing for Healthcare. [R,D]

• Sargent, Lana; Slattum, Patricia; Brooks, Edward; Gendron, Tracey; Mackiewicz, Marissa; Diallo, Ana; Waters, Bert; Winship, Jodi; Battle, Kimberly; Ford, Gregory; Falls, Katherine; Chung, Jane; Zanjani, Faika; Pretzer-Aboff, Ingrid; Price, Elvin; Prom-Wormley, Elizabeth; Parsons, Pamela. Bringing Transdisciplinary Aging Research from Theory to Practice (TG-2020-0723). The Gerontologist. In Press.

• McCormick, M., Pretzer-Aboff, I., Hood, D., and Vernon, G. Providing authentic learning experiences about Parkinson's disease: Bringing humanity into the classroom. International Journal for Human Caring. [Accepted October 6, 2020; will be published online: 25(4) 2021. [R,D]
• Aggarwal, R., Pretzer-Aboff, I., Winfree, K.N⁺., Agrawal, S.K., & Behari, M. (2019). Clinical outcomes of step-synchronized vibration training in Parkinson's disease patients with freezing of gait. Annals of Movement Disorders. Submitted Nov. 8, 2018 for review, accepted Feb. 2019.
• Morris, C., Pretzer-Aboff, I., & Gallucci, G. (2017 July). Delaware’s Journey in Adopting Telehealth. Delaware Medical Journey, 89(7), 204 – 208.
• Pretzer-Aboff, I., Bunting-Perry, L., & Spindler, M. (September-October, 2016). The implications of Parkinson’s disease for women's health. Journal of Obstetric, Gynecologic, & Neonatal Nursing, 45 (5), 723-736. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jogn.2016.02.015
• Pretzer-Aboff, I., & Prettyman, A. (2015). Implementation of an Integrative Holistic Healthcare Model for People with Parkinson’s. The Gerontologist, 55 (S1), S146-153. DOI: 10.1093/geront/gnv004.
• Uygur, M⁺. Bellumori, M⁺., LeNoir, K⁺., Poole, K.⁺, Pretzer-Aboff, I., & Knight, C.A. (2015). Immediate effects of high speed cycling intervals on bradykinesia in Parkinson’s disease. Physiotherapy Theory & Practice, 31(2):77-82. PMID: 25347790.
• Shin, J.Y., Habermann, B., & Pretzer-Aboff, I. (2015). Challenges and strategies of medication adherence in Parkinson’s disease: A qualitative study. Geriatric Nursing, 36,192-196. PMID: 25728485.
• Winfree, K.N.⁺, Pretzer-Aboff, I., & Agrawal, S. (2015, Nov.). Robust automated step extraction from time-series contact force data using the PDShoe. IEEE Transactions on Neural Systems and Rehabilitation Engineering. DOI: 10.1109/TNSRE.2014.2382641. PMID: 25532188.

 

SELECTED PRESENTATIONS:

International

• Jung, W., Koltermann, K., Helm, N., Blackwell, G., Pretzer-Aboff, I., Cloud, L.,& Zhou, G. (Nov. 7, 2022). Demo/Abstract: IMU Sensing Data-based Kinetic Tremor Detection in Parkinson’s Disease Patients. Demonstration and poster presented at the ACM SenSys 2022 conference, Boston, MA.
• Jung, W., Koltermann, K., Helm, N., Blackwell, G., Pretzer Aboff, I., Cloud, L.,& Zhou, G. (November 2022). Kinetic Tremor Measurement via IMU Sensing Data Analysis. [ID: Demonstration-poster- 6]. 2022 IEEE/ACM at the International Conference on Connected Health: Applications, Systems and Engineering Technologies (CHASE).
• Pretzer-Aboff, I., Elswick, R.K., Watson, A.A., Minglong, S., Jung, W., Koltermann, K.., Zhou, G., & Cloud, L. (Nov. 2022). Impact of Vibration on Tremor in Older Adults with Parkinson’s disease. Poster presented at the Gerontological Society of America, Annual Scientific Meeting, Illinois, USA.

Regional

• McCormick, M., Pretzer-Aboff, I., Hood, D., Vernon, G. (2022, April 12 & 19). Providing Authentic Learning Experiences about Parkinson’s disease: Bringing Humanity into the Classroom: Phase I and II. International Association for Human Caring Journal Club, online. [All authors co-presented]
• Pretzer-Aboff, I. (2016, November 3). Barriers and facilitators to function in Parkinson’s disease. Presented at the John’s Hopkins, Beebe Healthcare Parkinson’s Disease: Management Strategies Education Program for Healthcare Providers, Rehoboth, DE.
• Pretzer-Aboff, I. (2016, March 19). Community-Based Function-Focused Care for Persons Living with Parkinson’s disease. Presented at the Movement Disorders: Translating Research Into Practice Conference. Hosted by the University of Maryland Rehabitation Network in Baltimore, MD.

 

Local / State

• Pretzer-Aboff, I. (May 1, 2023). Invited speaker on an interdisciplinary panel reviewing a case study of a Parkinson’s patient. Presented to VCU School of Physical Therapy, DPT class.
• Pretzer-Aboff, I. (August 3, 2022). Invited speaker to August 3 Research Event Registration. Michael J. Fox results – Optimizing Vibration for treatment of PD gait and balance. – VCU SON Development Office and Donors.
• Pretzer-Aboff, I. (April 2022). Invited speaker on an interdisciplinary panel reviewing a case study of a Parkinson’s patient. Presented to VCU School of Physical Therapy, DPT class.
• Pretzer-Aboff, I. (2018, May 22).  Nursing’s role in the care of people with Parkinson’s disease. Presented at the Edmond J. Safra Foundation for the Visiting Nurses Faculty Program at the Parkinson’s Foundation. Johns Hopkins University. Baltimore, MD.
• Pretzer-Aboff, I., (2018, February 27). Vibration for treatment of Freezing of Gait, does it work? Presented to faculty at the Veteran’s Affairs PD Center, PADRECC,  Southeast Richmond, VA.
• Pretzer-Aboff, I., (2018, January 30). Vibration for treatment of Freezing of Gait in people with Parkinson’s disease. Presented to the Movers and Shakers education meeting, SOM, VCU SON building, Richmond, VA.
• Pretzer-Aboff, I., (2018, January 19). Vibration for treatment of Freezing of Gait. Presented at the Movers and Shakers Committee meeting in the VCU NOW Center, Richmond, VA.
• Pretzer-Aboff, I. (2016, Nov. 11). Nursing Research in Parkinson’s disease. Presented at the Edmond J. Safra Foundation for the visiting Nurse Faculty Program. University of Pennsylvania. Philadelphia, PA.
• Pretzer-Aboff, I., (2016, Nov. 7). “Starting a Parkinson’s disease Telehealth Clinic: Successes and Lessons Learned. Invited speaker to the UD Telehealth certification course. Newark, Delaware.
• Pretzer-Aboff, I., (2016, March 24). “Parkinson’s disease – what is it and does vibration really work” Invited speaker to the UD Medical Diagnostics Pre-PA & Pre-Med Program Capstone course. Newark, Delaware.
• Pretzer-Aboff, I. (2015, October). “Perspectives on Telehealth: Opportunities and Challenges for Delaware.”   Invited panel speaker at the Telehealth in Delaware Conference. Newark, DE.
• Pretzer-Aboff, I. (2015, October). “Starting a Chronic Disease Telehealth Clinic: Successes and Challenges.” Invited podium speaker at the Telehealth in Delaware Conference. Newark, Delaware.
• Pretzer-Aboff, I. (2015, June 10). Parkinson’s - Optimizing function, tricks of the trade, a qualitative study. Presented at the Smyrna Parkinson’s Support group. Christiana Care Rehabilitative Services, Smyrna, DE.
• Pretzer-Aboff, I. (2015, May 29). Nursing Research in Parkinson’s disease. Presented at the Edmond J. Safra Foundation for the visiting Nurse Faculty Program. University of Pennsylvania. Philadelphia, PA.
• Pretzer-Aboff, I. (2015, May 28). Nursing in Parkinson’s disease and nursing care concepts. Presented at the Edmond J. Safra Foundation for the Visiting Nurse Faculty Program. Johns Hopkins University Movement Disorder Center, Baltimore, MD.

 

Invited talks

• Pretzer-Aboff, I., (October, 2022), Treatment Fidelity. Presented as an online lecture to VCU SON doctoral students (NURS 712 – Conducting Rigorous Health-Related Intervention Research).
• Pretzer-Aboff, I (2018, October 13). Parkinson’s medication – what you need to know. Invited speaker for PD Sussex County Education Program. Rehoboth, DE.
• Pretzer-Aboff, I (2018, October 8). Self-Efficacy. Invited speaker for PD Self program. Richmond, VA.
• Pretzer-Aboff, I. (2018, January 24). Conflict of Interest Pathway – my journey. Invited speaker for VCU Research Council. Richmond, VA