Cathi-Ann A. Thomas, MS
Assistant Professor, Neurology
Biography
Cathi Thomas, MS earned a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Boston State College in 1979 and a Master of Science in Nursing from Boston University School of Nursing in 1987 as a Clinical Nurse Specialist in Neurology and Rehabilitation Nursing. She is ABNN certified in Neuroscience Nursing. She joined the Chobanian and Avedisian School of Medicine Department of Neurology in 1984. She has worked extensively with individuals with Parkinson’s disease and their families. As a Clinical Nurse Specialist, she has developed programs to assess the impact of Parkinson’s disease on patient’s and families. Her research activities have included participation in over fifty research studies and she is an active member of the Parkinson Study Group (PSG). She was a co-investigator in a NIH-NIA study “Self-Management in Parkinson’s Disease.” This work examined the role of exercise and education on quality of life. Positive results of this study have led to the ongoing development of “Wellness Exercise Programs” in Massachusetts. She was a co-investigator in the NIH study “Social Self-Management in Parkinson’s.” Cathi Thomas has published numerous educational materials for patients and families. She has co-authored Parkinson’s Disease A Guide to Patient Care. She is an author in over twenty peer-reviewed publications. As Coordinator of the American Parkinson Disease Association Information and Referral Center, she has participated in over 250 presentations to professional and lay groups. She regularly speaks to support groups and educates health care professionals about PD. She has facilitated local and national conferences for the APDA and American Association of Neuroscience Nurses. She is the Site-Director of the PF Edmond J. Safra Visiting Nurse Faculty Program and is a member of the American Association of Neuroscience Nurses, Movement Disorders Society, and Sigma Theta Tau International Nursing Honor Society and is the recipient of the Mary Ann Garrigan Contemporary Nurse Leader Award from Sigma Theta Tau Nursing Honor Society and the American Parkinson Disease Association National Service Award.
Other Positions
- Boston Medical Center
Education
- Boston University, MS
- Boston State College, BSN
Publications
- Published on 4/4/2023
Girnis JL, Cavanaugh JT, Baker TC, Duncan RP, Fulford D, LaValley MP, Lawrence M, Nordahl T, Porciuncula F, Rawson KS, Saint-Hilaire M, Thomas CA, Zajac JA, Earhart GM, Ellis TD. Natural Walking Intensity in Persons With Parkinson Disease. J Neurol Phys Ther. 2023 Jul 01; 47(3):146-154. PMID: 37016469.
Read at: PubMed - Published on 2/28/2023
Saint-Hilaire MH, Thomas CA. Delivering a Diagnosis of Parkinson's Disease and Parkinsonism with Wisdom and Sensitivity. Semin Neurol. 2023 Feb; 43(1):178-184. PMID: 36854395.
Read at: PubMed - Published on 11/15/2022
Zajac JA, Cavanaugh JT, Baker T, Duncan RP, Fulford D, Girnis J, LaValley M, Nordahl T, Porciuncula F, Rawson KS, Saint-Hilaire M, Thomas CA, Earhart GM, Ellis TD. Does clinically measured walking capacity contribute to real-world walking performance in Parkinson's disease? Parkinsonism Relat Disord. 2022 Dec; 105:123-127. PMID: 36423521.
Read at: PubMed - Published on 10/1/2021
Zajac JA, Cavanaugh JT, Baker T, Colón-Semenza C, DeAngelis TR, Duncan RP, Fulford D, LaValley M, Nordahl T, Rawson KS, Saint-Hilaire M, Thomas CA, Earhart GM, Ellis TD. Are Mobile Persons With Parkinson Disease Necessarily More Active? J Neurol Phys Ther. 2021 10 01; 45(4):259-265. PMID: 34091569.
Read at: PubMed - Published on 3/19/2021
Ellis TD, Colón-Semenza C, DeAngelis TR, Thomas CA, Hilaire MS, Earhart GM, Dibble LE. Evidence for Early and Regular Physical Therapy and Exercise in Parkinson's Disease. Semin Neurol. 2021 04; 41(2):189-205. PMID: 33742432.
Read at: PubMed - Published on 4/20/2020
Rawson KS, Cavanaugh JT, Colon-Semenza C, DeAngelis T, Duncan RP, Fulford D, LaValley MP, Mazzoni P, Nordahl T, Quintiliani LM, Saint-Hilaire M, Thomas CA, Earhart GM, Ellis TD. Design of the WHIP-PD study: a phase II, twelve-month, dual-site, randomized controlled trial evaluating the effects of a cognitive-behavioral approach for promoting enhanced walking activity using mobile health technology in people with Parkinson-disease. BMC Neurol. 2020 Apr 20; 20(1):146. PMID: 32312243.
Read at: PubMed - Published on 4/1/2020
Tickle-Degnen L, Stevenson MT, Gunnery SD, Saint-Hilaire M, Thomas CA, Sprague Martinez L, Habermann B, Naumova EN. Profile of social self-management practices in daily life with Parkinson's disease is associated with symptom severity and health quality of life. Disabil Rehabil. 2021 11; 43(22):3212-3224. PMID: 32233702.
Read at: PubMed - Published on 3/31/2019
Reynolds GO, Saint-Hilaire M, Thomas CA, Barlow DH, Cronin-Golomb A. Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy for Anxiety in Parkinson's Disease. Behav Modif. 2020 07; 44(4):552-579. PMID: 30931594.
Read at: PubMed - Published on 2/1/2019
Ellis TD, Cavanaugh JT, DeAngelis T, Hendron K, Thomas CA, Saint-Hilaire M, Pencina K, Latham NK. Comparative Effectiveness of mHealth-Supported Exercise Compared With Exercise Alone for People With Parkinson Disease: Randomized Controlled Pilot Study. Phys Ther. 2019 02 01; 99(2):203-216. PMID: 30715489.
Read at: PubMed - Published on 1/1/2019
Ma HI, Gunnery SD, Stevenson MT, Saint-Hilaire M, Thomas CA, Tickle-Degnen L. Experienced facial masking indirectly compromises quality of life through stigmatization of women and men with Parkinson's disease. Stigma Health. 2019; 4(4):462-472. PMID: 33225063.
Read at: PubMed
View 25 more publications: View full profile at BUMC