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Doctor of Physical Therapy, University of Wisconsin - Madison
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Barbara Morgan, PT, PhD

Photograph of Barbara Morgan, PT, PhD

Professor, Division of Physical Therapy

5110 Medical Sciences Center
1300 University Avenue
Madison, WI 53706-1532

Office: (608) 262-0013

Lab: (608) 265-9444

Fax: (608) 262-7809

Send an email to Barbara Morgan, PT, PhD morgan@pt.wisc.edu

Why I Teach Physical Therapy

Physical therapy students at UW-Madison are exceptionally bright, creative individuals who are dedicated to improving the lives of the clients they serve. It is a pleasure to interact with them in the classroom! One course I teach (PT 627) deals with Cardiovascular and Pulmonary System Physiology. The other courses I am involved with (PT 640, 641, and 642) are designed to foster critical thinking and to help the students become intelligent consumers of the research and clinical literature. It is very exciting to observe the development of these skills in our students over the course of the didactic portion of the curriculum. I am confident that these future clinicians and researchers will contribute to the continued advancement of the physical therapy profession.

Education

  • BS, Physical Therapy, University of Kentucky
  • MEd, Exercise Science, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO
  • PhD, Exercise Physiology, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI
  • Postdoctoral Fellowship, Cardiovascular Physiology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical School

Courses Taught

  • PT 640: Scientific Inquiry in Physical Therapy
  • PT 641: Current Issues in Rehabilitation Research

Professional Activities

Honors and Awards

  • 2002: Elected Fellow, American Heart Association and Council for High Blood Pressure Research
  • 1997: Mentor Award, Wisconsin Physical Therapy Association
  • 1993-1996: Parker B. Francis Fellowship in Pulmonary Research
  • 1989-1991: Individual National Research Service Award, NHLBI
  • 1988-1989: Institutional National Research Service Award, NHLBI
  • 1986-1988: Predoctoral Research Fellowship, American Heart Association-Wisconsin Affiliate
  • 1980: Phi Kappa Phi, Colorado State University

Research Interests

The primary interest of the Morgan laboratory is cardiovascular regulation with special emphasis on respiratory-cardiovascular interactions. Most current studies are aimed at understanding how changes in respiratory activity (e.g. apneas and other chemoreflex perturbations, alterations in airway resistance, central respiratory drive and work of breathing) affect the cardiovascular system. Using an integrative physiology approach, the effects of breathing on sympathetic activity, limb blood flow, and cerebral blood flow are studied in human subjects. A rat model is used to study the effects of hypoxia and sleep disorder breathing on arterial structure and function.

Publications of Note

Peer-reviewed journal articles:

Bangash, M.F, A. Xie, J.B. Skatrud, K.J. Reichmuth, S.R. Barczi, and B.J. Morgan. Cerebrovascular response to arousal from NREM and REM sleep. Sleep 31:321-327, 2008.

Stickland, M.K., B.J. Morgan, and J.A. Dempsey. Carotid chemoreceptor modulation of sympathetic vasoconstrictor outflow during exercise in healthy humans. Journal of Physiology 586:1743-1754, 2008.

Morgan, B.J. Vascular consequences of intermittent hypoxia. Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology 618:69-84, 2007.

Tzou, W.S., C.E. Korcarcz, S.E. Aeschlimann, B.J. Morgan, J.B. Skatrud, and J.H. Stein. Coronary flow velocity changes in response to hypercapnia: assesment by transthoracic doppler echocardiography. Journal of the American Society for Echocardiography 20:421-426, 2007.

Dopp JM, Reichmuth KJ, Morgan BJ. Obstructive sleep apnea and hypertension: mechanisms, evaluation, and management. Current Hypertension Reports 9:529-534, 2007.

Ainslie, PN, JC Ashmead, K Ide, BJ Morgan, and MJ Poulin. Differential responses to CO and sympathetic stimulation in the cerebral and femoral circulations in humans. J Physiol 566:613-624, 2005.

Khayat, RN, T Przybylowski, KC Meyer, JB Skatrud, and BJ Morgan. Role of sensory input from the lungs in control of muscle sympathetic nerve activity during and after apnea in humans. J Appl Physiol 97:635-640, 2004.

Phillips SA, EB Olson, BJ Morgan, and JH Lombard. Chronic intermittent hypoxia impairs endothelium-dependent dilation in cerebral and skeletal muscle resistance arteries. Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol 286:H388-H393, 2004.

LeMarbre G, S Stauber, RN Khayat, DS Puleo, JB Skatud, and BJ Morgan. Baroreflex-induced sympathetic activation does not alter cerebrovascular CO2 responsiveness in humans. J Physiol 551:609-616, 2003.

Sheel AW, PA Derchak, BJ Morgan, DF Pegelow, AJ Jacques, and JA Dempsey. Fatiguing inspiratory muscle work causes reflex reduction in resting leg blood flow. J Physiol 2001; 537:277-289.

Xie A, JB Skatrud, DS Puleo, and BJ Morgan. Exposure to hypoxia produces long-lasting sympathetic activation in humans. J Appl Physiol 2001; 91:1555-1562.

Sherry JE, KM Oehrlein, KS Hegge, and BJ Morgan. Effects of burst mode transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation on peripheral vascular resistance. Phys Ther 2001; 81:1183-1191.

St. Croix CM, BJ Morgan, TJ Wetter, and JA Dempsey. Fatiguing respiratory muscle work causes reflex sympathetic activation in humans. J Physiol 2000; 529:493-504.

Miller BF, Gruben KG, and BJ Morgan. Circulatory responses to voluntary and electrically induced muscle contractions in humans. Phys Ther 2000; 80:53-59.

St. Croix CM, M Satoh, BJ Morgan, JB Skatrud, and JA Dempsey. Role of respiratory motor output in within-breath modulation of muscle sympathetic nerve activity in humans. Circ Res 1999; 85:457-469.

Hollman JE and BJ Morgan. Effect of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation on the pressor response to static handgrip exercise. Phys Ther 1997; 77:28-36.

Morgan BJ, T Denahan, and TJ Ebert. Neurocirculatory consequences of negative intrathoracic pressure vs. asphyxia during voluntary apnea. J Appl Physiol 1993; 74:2969-2975.

Textbook chapters:

Morgan, B.J.: Pathophysiology of Sleep Apnea In: Izzo J.L., D.A. Sica, and H.R. Black (eds.), Hypertension Primer, Dallas, TX, American Heart Association, 2008, pp. 174-176.

Morgan BJ, CM St. Croix, and JB Skatrud. Influence of Respiration on Autonomic Control of Heart Rate and Blood Pressure In: Bradley TD, and J.S. Floras (eds.), Sleep Disorders and Cardiovascular and Cerebrovascular Disease, New York, Marcel Dekker, Inc., 2000, pp. 1-31.

Morgan BJ and JA Dempsey. Physiology of the Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Systems, In: DeTurk W, and L. Cahalin (eds.), Cardiopulmonary Physical Therapy, New York: McGraw-Hill 2004.

Perform a customized PubMed literature search for Dr. Morgan.

Grant Funding

Sleep Disordered Breathing and Vasomotor Regulation (B Morgan, PI)
Funding agency: NIH/NHLBI, Dates: 04/01/04 to 03/31/09

SDB, Metabolic Syndrome, and Vascular Function (J Nieto, PI)
Funding agency: NIH/NHLBI, Dates: 12/01/03 to 11/30/07

Pulmonary Physiology and Pathophysiology (G Mitchell, PI)
Funding agency: NIH/NHLBI, Dates: 07/01/07 to 06/30/12

 

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Physical Therapy - University of Wisconsin Department of Orthopedics & Rehabilitation
First published: 01/01/04 Last updated: 11/07/09 webmaster@pt.wisc.edu
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