Ross Arena
Department head and professor of physical therapy
Biography
Ross Arena (Photo: Jenny Fontaine)
Ross Arena researches cardiopulmonary physical therapy and exercise science. As lead author on a 2015 American Heart Association policy statement, he advocates change in the prevention and treatment of noncommunicable disease, urging stakeholders to collaborate in non-hierarchical ways to reduce lifestyle-based diseases.
Arena also advocates a shift from physician-dominated care to a model that encourages a healthy lifestyle through a team of doctors, nurses, exercise physiologists, nutritionists, dietitians, behavioral counselors, and physical and occupational therapists — all collaborating to prevent non-communicable or lifestyle-related diseases.
Arena is a fellow of the American Heart Association, the American College of Sports Medicine, the American Association of Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Rehabilitation, and the European Society of Cardiology. He is an adjunct professor at Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine and has employment relationships at the University of Milano School of Medicine, University of Brasilia, Cardiac Wellness Institute of Calgary and Hong Kong Polytechnic University.
Arena earned his master’s degree in physical therapy and Ph.D. in physiology/physical therapy from the Medical College of Virginia/Virginia Commonwealth University.
