Stephen J. Thomas, PhD, ATC, FNATA, FASSET

NATA BOC Certified Athletic Trainer
American Red Cross Association CPR/AED for the Professional Rescuer

• Listed as Top 1% World Expert, Expertscape - Categories: tendon injuries, shoulder joint, baseball, sports, range of motion, rotation, and research design
• Paul R, Tate AR, Sarver J, DiPaola, Yim J, Thomas SJ. (2019) Changes in Clinical Measures and Tissue Adaptations in Collegiate Swimmers Across a Competitive Season.  American Society of Biomechanics Northeast Regional Meeting Podium Presentation, Reading, Pennsylvania:  Qualysis Best Undergraduate Podium Presentation
• Paul R, Tate AR, Sarver J, DiPaola, Yim J, Thomas SJ. (2019) Changes in Clinical Measures and Tissue Adaptations in Collegiate Swimmers Across a Competitive Season.  Temple University College of Public Health Research Day, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania:  Meritorious Research Poster Award
• Nominated for the Young Professionals Committee National Distinction Award. (2016) National Athletic Trainers’ Young Professional Committee.  Designed to acknowledge one athletic trainer that has made an immediate and definitive impact on the athletic training profession at the national, district or state level
• Nominated for the Freddie Fu Young Investigator Award. (2016) National Athletic Trainers’ Association Research and Education Foundation.
• Nominated for the Neumann University Growth & Scholarship Award. (2015)  Neumann University.  Designed to acknowledge the professor that has demonstrated the most scholarly growth over the past 5 years.
• Nominated for the Young Professionals Committee National Distinction Award. (2015)  National Athletic Trainers’ Young Professional Committee.  Designed to acknowledge one athletic trainer that has made an immediate and definitive impact on the athletic training profession at the national, district or state level
• Nominated for the Freddie Fu Young Investigator Award. (2015) National Athletic Trainers’ Association Research and Education Foundation.
• Riggin CN, Sarver JJ, Freedman BR, Thomas SJ, and Soslowsky LJ. (2014)  Analysis of Collagen Fiber Organization in Mouse Achilles Tendon using High-Frequency Ultrasound Imaging.  Journal of Biomechanical Engineering Editors' Choice papers for 2014 (9/187).
• Riggin CN, Sarver JJ, Freedman BR, Thomas SJ, and Soslowsky LJ. (2013)  Analysis of Collagen Fiber Organization in Mouse Achilles Tendon using High-Frequency Ultrasound Imaging.  ASME Summer Bioengineering Conference Poster Presentation, Sunriver, Oregon:  2^nd Prize Summer Bioengineering Conference Masters Competition
• Nominated for the David H. Perrin Doctoral Dissertation Award. (2012) National Athletic Trainers’ Association Research and Education Foundation.
• Honorary Membership Temple University Beta Xi Chapter of the Iota Tau Alpha Honor Society (2011)
• Reuther KE, Sarver JJ, Thomas SJ, Lee CS, Gray CF, Tucker JJ, Glaser DL, Soslowsky LJ.  (2012)  Effect of Return to Overuse Activity Following an Isolated Supraspinatus Tendon Tear On Adjacent Intact Tendons and Glenoid Cartilage in a Rat Model.  ORS Annual Meeting Poster Presentation, San Francisco, California:  Best Shoulder/Elbow Poster Presentation
• Miller KS, Thomas SJ, Trasolini NA, Soslowsky LJ.  (2011)  The Upper Band of the Subscapularis Tendon in the Rat has Inferior Mechanical Properties.  Penn Center for Musculoskeletal Disorders 8^th Annual Scientific Symposium:  3^rd Prize Biomechanics Poster Presentation
• Spencer BA, Dolinskas CA, Seymour PA, Thomas SJ, Abboud JA.  (2011) Glenohumeral Articular Cartilage Lesions: Prospective Comparison of Non-Contrast MRI and Findings at Arthroscopy.
• Fellow research competition, Philadelphia Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine:  1^st Prize Oral Presentation
• Kim AS, Swanik CB, Higginson C, Thomas SJ, Kaminski TW.  (2010)  Reactive Knee Stiffening is Diminished Under Cognitive Loads.  NATA Annual Meeting Oral Presentation, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania:  1^st Place Masters Student Oral Presentation Award
• Hinsey ML, Swanik CB, Thomas SJ, Rudolph KS, Kaminski KS, Chang B.  (2010)  Comparison of Reactive Knee Stiffening Strategies Between Sexes.  NATA Annual Meeting Poster Presentation, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania:  Finalist Masters Student Poster Presentation Award
• Needle AR, Swanik CB, Farquhar WB, Thomas SJ, Kaminski TW.  (2010)  Microneurographic Evaluation of Afferent Deficits in the Unstable Ankle during Anterior Loading and Inversion Stress.  NATA Annual Meeting Oral Presentation, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania:  Finalist Masters Student Oral Presentation Award
• Needle AR, Swanik CB, Farquhar WB, Thomas SJ, Kaminski TW.  (2010)  Microneurographic Evaluation of Afferent Deficits in the Unstable Ankle during Anterior Loading and Inversion Stress.  EATA Annual Meeting Oral Presentation, Boston, Massachusetts:  1^st Place Graduate Student Oral Presentation Award
• Rosen AB, Swanik CB, Kaminski TW, Thomas SJ, Knight CK.  (2009) Differences in lateral drop-jumps from unknown heights among individuals with ankle instability.  NATA Annual Meeting Oral & Thematic Presentation, San Antonio, Texas:  Finalist Masters Student Oral Presentation Award
• Thomas SJ, Swanik KA, Swanik CB, Kelly JD.  (2008)  The Effect of GIRD on Scapular Upward Rotation and Protraction in Competitive Baseball Players.  University of Delaware 5^th Annual CBER Day Poster Presentation, Newark, DE:  Student Research Travel Fund Award Winner
• Fath PL, Swanik KA, Thomas SJ, Huxel KC, Tierney RT.  (2007) The Effects of Scapular Fatigue on Glenohumeral and Elbow Kinematics During Overhead Throwing in Collegiate Baseball Players.  NATA Annual Meeting Anaheim, CA:  1^st Place Masters Student Oral Presentation Award
• Yucha DT, Chao S, Thomas SJ, Kelly JD, Driban J, Swanik KA.  (2006) An Electromyographic Assessment of the Bear Hug Test for Subscapularis Tears.  Resident research competition, Philadelphia Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine:  1^st Prize Oral Presentation
• Yucha DT, Chao S, Thomas SJ, Kelly JD, Driban J, Swanik KA.  (2006) An Electromyographic Assessment of the Bear Hug Test for Subscapularis Tears.  2^nd Annual John Lachman’s Society Research Day:  1^st Prize Oral Presentation

His training in both basic science and applied research methods allows him to address clinically relevant questions with translation approaches thereby bridging the gap between bench and bedside. His initial work has contributed to the understanding of tissue adaptations in throwing athletes and how they relate to overuse shoulder injuries using novel diagnostic ultrasound methods. In addition, his basic science work studying the tissue and biologic adaptations to chronic rotator cuff tears and the effects of type II diabetes has also helped progress the current field. His current research agenda is two-fold and includes integration of translational research to investigate 1) the structural and biologic mechanisms governing soft tissue adaptation caused by the repetitive stress of throwing and the association with throwing biomechanics and 2) the structural, neuromuscular, and biologic adaptations occurring due to chronic rotator cuff tears and repairs.