Brittany DeCroes Hornby, PT, DPT, is a board-certified pediatric physical therapist specializing in mitochondrial disorders, with a focus on Barth syndrome. She collaborates with the Barth Syndrome Clinic at Kennedy Krieger Institute and has a background in pediatric physical therapy research and clinical care.
Q: What made you want to become a physical therapist and researcher?
I have always been interested in science, anatomy, physical activity and helping people, so this drove me to major in Biology and do the Pre Physical Therapy Concentration at James Madison University during my undergraduate studies. During physical therapy school, I loved our research projects and reading available evidence. Once I started working at Kennedy Krieger Institute when I graduated physical therapy school, I was so lucky to start in the Barth Syndrome clinic with Dr. Hilary Vernon and was so inspired by the work that she does that I wanted to contribute. Given that my training emphasized the importance of systematic data collection, I am passionate about practice-based evidence (using evidence generated during clinical practice to create research) because it can be a lovely supplement to clinical trials.
Q: What do you currently study/what are your research interests?
I continue to collaborate with the Kennedy Krieger Institute Barth Syndrome Clinic with Dr. Vernon and the new amazing physical therapist, Anne Brockmeyer, regarding strength, quality of life and functional exercise capacity in individuals with Barth Syndrome. With my new role in the school system, I am interested in how physical activity impacts learning and ways to support physical activity throughout the school day.
Q: How did you come to study Barth syndrome?
Back story, while in physical therapy school, my favorite courses were cardiopulmonary and pediatrics. During my first 3 months post-graduation from physical therapy school at Kennedy Krieger, I had an international patient placed on my caseload with Barth Syndrome who I saw 3x per week for a couple months before he returned home. I really enjoyed collaborating with Dr. Kelley regarding this patient and learning more about Barth Syndrome as it was an amazing blend of my two favorite subjects from physical therapy school. Approximately 1 year after that, my boss told me that Dr. Kelley and Dr. Vernon were starting a Barth Syndrome Clinic at KKI and were looking for a physical therapist and thought I would be a great fit since I was our department "expert" on Barth Syndrome as I had seen 1 patient with Barth Syndrome.
Q: What's your favorite part about your role?
In my current role with Loudoun County Public Schools, I love the opportunity to see children and young adults in the schools while being able to collaborate with educators, families and medical providers.
During my time at Kennedy Krieger Institute, I really enjoyed the opportunity to collaborate with the Barth Syndrome community in so multiple capacities including research and clinical care.
