For more than three decades, Dr. Jill Whitall has quietly and consistently shaped the fields of motor development and rehabilitation science through bold research, dedicated mentorship, and an unwavering belief in movement as a tool for healing and human potential.

 

As Professor Emeritus in the Department of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Science at the University of Maryland School of Medicine, Dr. Whitall’s career has been rooted in deep questions: How do we optimize movement for those recovering from stroke? How do we better understand coordination disorders in children? How do we bring research from the lab into the homes and lives of patients?

 

Her work spans funded studies on bimanual coordination, gait rehabilitation, and interventions for individuals with developmental coordination disorder (DCD), blending theory with practical application. A standout among her projects is her NIH-funded exploration of bilateral versus unilateral arm training post-stroke, one of the first studies to show that bilateral training is not only effective but engages different neurological mechanisms, offering patients a meaningful pathway to improved daily function.

 

Dr. Whitall’s impact reaches beyond her own research. She is a builder of bridges, between countries, disciplines, and generations. Collaborating internationally, including with colleagues in Southampton, UK, she has developed home-based rehabilitation tools, ensuring access to care beyond clinical settings. At home, she has mentored countless graduate and doctoral students, served in leadership roles across professional societies, and remained an active voice in shaping academic and research priorities.

 

Alongside her research achievements, Dr. Whitall and Dr. Jane Clark, have invested deeply in the future of kinesiology and rehabilitation science through the creation of the Whitlark scholarship and fellowship programs at the University of Maryland, College Park. These initiatives, combining their names and their shared mission, support undergraduates, graduate researchers, and junior faculty, providing life-changing access to education, travel, and mentorship.

 

A proud graduate of the University of Maryland herself, Dr. Whitall has come full circle, supporting the very institution that launched her storied career. Her belief in equitable opportunity, community-driven research, and evidence-based intervention has left a legacy not only in publications and grants, but in lives touched and futures shaped.

 

We are honored to spotlight Dr. Jill Whitall as a trailblazer in motor development and rehabilitation, whose career exemplifies the very mission of the I-MDRC: to advance movement science in service of human potential.