Narrative:
Dr. Mandich joined WVU in 1980 and has been functioning as chairperson of the program since 1995. Her major area of clinical interest is pediatrics, especially neonatal care and follow-up. She has published articles on premature, high risk infants and developmental care, as well as outcome. She is on the editorial board of Physical & Occupational Therapy in Pediatrics, and reviews for both Physical Therapy and Pediatric Physical Therapy journals.

Education & Credentials:

• PhD - Developmental Psychology, West Virginia University, 1985 (Kathleen McCluskey, PhD) major: infancy; minor: developmental neurobiology
• MS - Physical Therapy, Medical College of Virginia, 1979, certification in therapeutic exercise curriculum
• BS - Physical Therapy, Medical College of Virginia, 1976, summa cum laude, Adolph D. Willaims Scholar
• Certified in NDT (Neurodevelopmental Therapy) from Bobath Centre, London, England, 1986

Research:
Dr. Mandich’s work revolves around 2 primary questions:

1. How the NICU (Neonatal Intensive Care Unit) environment impacts the development of premature, high risk infants
2. Interventions that can minimize negative sequelae of high risk infants

Dr. Mandich is interested in how developmentally appropriate care can impact the development of high risk neonates.

Representative Scholarship:

• Mandich, MB, Ritchie, SK, Adkins-Bailey, R, Casto, T, Kitney, K, Long, J, Meadows, K, and Lynch, SK. The Effect of Physiologic Flexion on Status of High Risk Infants. (presented at American Physical Therapy Association Annual Conference, Washington, DC, June, 1999)Physical Therapy 1999;79(5):s38.
• Mandich, MB, Ritchie, SK and Lynch, S. Behavioral and Physiologic Effects of Swaddling Premature Infants. (presented at International Conference on Infant Studies, Brighton, England, July, 2000)Blow, JL: Passive extensibility of skeletal muscle: a review. Clinical Biomechanics. 16(2):87-109, 2000.
• Simons CJR, Mandich MB, Ritchie SK, & Mullett M. The Assessment of Motor Development in Low Birthweight, Premature Infants. Journal of Perinatology 2000;3:172-175.

Teaching:
PT 303 - Functional Movement Across the Lifespan (co-coordinator)
PT 503 - Pediatric Physical Therapy (coordinator)
PT 321 - Developmental Life Tasks (co-coordinator)
PT 300 - Essentials of Clinical Anatomy (lecturer-embryology)
PT 506 - Neurologic Physical Therapy (lecturer- cerebral palsy)
PT 307 - Neurobiologic Foundations (lecturer - sensory-motor systems)

Clinical:
Currently works in Neonatal Follow-Up Clinic 4 hours/week.
Currently in developmental clinic (Birth-3) two times/month · Consultant to Feeding & LEAD clinics.
Maintains small private practice in Pediatrics.

Service:

• Member, WVU Faculty Senate, 1998-2001
• Assessment Council, WVU
• Member, Pediatrics, Neurology, Education, Research & OB-Gyn Sections of APTA
• Past Secretary & Education Committee chairperson of the West Virginia Physical Therapy Association