Dr. Nicole Hodges with her ACSM poster presentation in Atlanta, Georgia.
Bridging the Gap in Pelvic Health Research
Dr. Hodges’ dissertation grew from her passion for pelvic health physical therapy and her drive to fill critical gaps in evidence-based care for patients with chronic pain.
“When evaluating the research, I found tremendous gaps in our literature for the assessment and intervention strategies for those suffering with chronic pelvic pain and wanted to be part of the solution,” she explains.
This experience led her to investigate quantitative sensory discrimination in individuals with Vulvodynia, a chronic pain condition. Her research established a protocol for assessing sensory discrimination of the proximal thigh, defined normative values, and allowed for comparison to data from a chronic pain population.
“I’m absolutely still passionate about this work,” Dr. Hodges notes. “Within the next year, I plan to conduct a multi-center study to obtain a larger sample size and then plan on conducting a multi-center RCT interventional study.”
Balancing Full-Time Faculty Work with a PhD
For working professionals, balancing career, family, and education requires a highly adaptable program. CSP Global’s flexible online structure, featuring eight-week mini-mesters and a generous transfer credit policy, enabled Dr. Hodges to earn her PhD in Kinesiology without relocating or stepping down from her full-time faculty position.
“The program at CSP was perfect. It allowed me to continue at my institution but gain the necessary skills for research that I was lacking,” she says.
She also acknowledges the generous transfer credit policy that shortened her overall program timeline.
“When determining which platform worked best, I was highly motivated to [choose] CSP due to the course outline, timeline presenting, eight week mini-mesters, and opportunity to push hard one course at a time,” Dr. Hodges explains. “The closest PhD program in my interest area was two hours away, which would have hindered my ability to maintain my current position at MU and my familial requirements.”
Expanding Global Impact and Mentorship
Dr. Nicole Hodges (right) with a Quechuan patient (center) and interpreter Ivme Ortiz (left) in Caicay, Peru.
Since completing her PhD coursework, Dr. Hodges continues to expand her impact both locally and globally. Recently, she returned from a medical mission trip to Cusco, Peru, where she served surrounding communities as a physical therapist. Back home, she continues to teach at Methodist University and has been busy preparing her dissertation research for publication.
In the last year, her proudest achievement is presenting her research at the state (NCAPTA), national (ACSM), and international (International Pelvic Pain Society and International Continence Society) levels. She has also mentored early-career researchers, guiding them through project design and statistical analysis, and she now contributes to research oversight as a member of her university’s Institutional Review Board (IRB). Looking ahead, she is preparing her dissertation for journal submission and setting her sights on tenure and promotion at Methodist University.
Advice for Future Kinesiology Scholars
Reflecting on her academic journey, Dr. Hodges offers meaningful advice for new doctoral students who are pursuing this path:
“Have a support system: a person who will encourage you to keep going when it gets hard, a person who will tell you the truth, and a person who supports you (even when you are wrong). Amazing if it is the same person but it can be a tribe of people too. Be vulnerable, tell your support system when you are struggling. Know that your chair is shaping you into the better version of yourself and they see who you can become. Even though they may not understand the content, tell your family what you are doing and connect them to your journey.”
Explore Your Future
Are you ready to elevate your clinical practice, expand your research capabilities, and open new doors in higher education? Discover how the flexible, online Doctorate in Kinesiology at CSP Global can help you achieve your professional goals without putting your career on hold.