Lisa Hodge, PhD

Personal Biography

Lisa Hodge, Ph.D., is an Associate Professor in the Department of Physiology and Anatomy, the Assistant Dean of the Specialized Master’s Programs in the College of Biomedical and Translational Sciences (GSBS), the Directors of the Masters in Medical Sciences Program and the Basic Science Chair of the Osteopathic Research Center at UNT Health Fort Worth. In addition, Dr. Hodge serves as a course director and/or lecturer in the CBTS, the Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine, and the UNT System College of Pharmacy. She also a member of the TCOM Academy of Medical Educators. Dr. Hodge’s training is in microbiology and immunology, with an emphasis on the lymphatic system and mucosal immunity.

Research

In 2005 Dr. Hodge began studying the role of osteopathic manual medicine treatments (OMT) on the lymphatic and immune systems. Her lab discovered that OMT enhanced lymphatic flow, released immune cells and inflammatory mediators into circulation, and protected against certain diseases in animal models. Dr. Hodge’s research has been funded by the National institutes of Health, the American Osteopathic Association, the American Academy of Osteopathy, and the Osteopathic Heritage Foundation. Her research has been recognized both nationally and internationally by basic science researchers, clinicians, and researchers in the field of osteopathic medicine. She is a peer reviewer for several research journals and a member of the Editorial Board for the Journal of the American Osteopathic Association. She has also served as a peer reviewer for funding agencies such as the National Institutes of Health, the American Osteopathic Association, and the American Academy of Osteopathy.

Research Keywords

lymphatic, osteopathic, inflammation, infection, pneumonia, sepsis, manual therapy

Current Projects

1. The Effects of Lymphatic Pump Treatment on the Immune Response During Acute Pneumonia
2. Define the Role of the Lymphatic System during Sepsis
3. A Pig Model to Study Impact of Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment on Cerebrospinal Dynamics
4. A Pig Model to Study Impact of Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment on Lymphatic Fluid Dynamics

Current Funding

• AOA-2071811724. Primary Investigator: “The Effects of Lymphatic Pump Treatment on the Immune Response During Acute Pneumonia”. American Osteopathic Association The goal of this project is to demonstrate that the lymph mobilized during lymphatic pump treatment enhances innate the immune response against Streptococcus pneumoniae.
• Primary Investigator.” Define the Role of the Lymphatic System during Sepsis“. University of North Texas Health Science Center intramural grant. The goal of this study is to define the contribution of the lymphatic system to the pathophysiology of sepsis.
• Primary-Investigator: “A Pig Model to Study Impact of Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment on Cerebrospinal Dynamics.” University of North Texas Health Science Center intramural grant. The purpose of this project is to develop a pig model to study the effect of OMT on intracranial pressure.
•  Primary-Investigator: “A Pig Model to Study Impact of Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment on Lymphatic Fluid Dynamics.” University of North Texas Health Science Center intramural grant. The purpose of this project is to develop a pig model to study the effect of OMT on the lymphatic system.

Publications

 

Teaching

 Dr. Hodge is passionate about teaching and has continuously delivered high quality teaching throughout her time at UNTHSC, earning her the UNTHSC President's Awards for Educational Excellence in 2011 and 2013.  Over the last 15 years she taught in the 1) traditional CTBS core, 2) CBTS advanced course, 3) CBTS Masters in Medical Sciences Program, 4) TCOM, and 5) School of Pharmacy. She has served on numerous UNTHSC committees over the last 15 years, most notably the MS Medical Sciences Program, which began in 2011. In September of 2019, she was appointed as the Co-Director of the MS Medical Sciences Program and in March 2020 was named the Assistant Dean of the Specialized Masters Programs.

Teaching Interests

• Immunology
• Microbiology

 

Service

UNT Health Committees and Service

• 2020-current President’s Campus Re-Opening Planning Team
• 2020-current CBTS Dean’s Council
• 2019-current Committee Member, CBTS Graduate Council
• 2019-20 Chair, Faculty Grievance and Appeal Committee
• 2018-current Faculty Grievance Committee. University of North Texas Health Science Center
• 2016-current Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine’s Academy of Medical Science Educators, UNT Health Fort Worth

National/International Committees and services

• 2020-21 Ad hoc reviewer, ZAT1 JM (07) A, NIH-NCCIH Training and Education Review Panel (CT)
• 2020 Peer Reviewer PLOS ONE
• 2019 Ad hoc reviewer, ZAT1 JM (04) A, NIH-NCCIH Training and Education Review Panel (CT)
• 2019 Ad hoc reviewer, Experimental Biology and Medicine
• 2018 Peer reviewer, Seffinger, M.A. Foundations of Osteopathic Medicine. 4th Ed. East Lansing: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins; 2018.
• 2018 Preconference Workshop Organizing Committee Member.
• 2018 Peer reviewer for research abstracts, The 5th International Fascia Research Congress
• 2018 Peer reviewer for research and case studyabstracts, American Academy of Osteopathy 2018 Convocation
• 2017-18 Scientific Advisory Committee Member, 5th International Fascia Research Congress
• 2017 Session Chair, The 11th International Conference on Advances in Osteopathic Research. Serrano, Italy. April 2017
• 2017 Peer reviewer, 2016-17 grant review cycle. American Osteopathic Association
• 2016-17 Curriculum Vision Committee Member, Texas Christian University/University of North Texas Health Science Center-School of Medicine
• 2016 RFA-Osteopathic Philosophy Task Force Member, American Osteopathic Association
• 2016 Peer reviewer, Commonwealth of Virginia’s Alzheimer’s and Related Diseases Research Award Fund.
• 2015 RFA-Osteopathic Research Task ForceMember, American Osteopathic Association, RFA-Osteopathic Research Task Force
• 2013-15 Scientific Committee Member, 4th International FasciaResearch Congress
• 2013-15 Ad hoc reviewer, NIH-NHLBI R13 grant applications
• 2013 Scientific Committee Member, The 4th International FasciaResearch Congress
• 2013-18 Chair of the Research Grants Subcommittee, Louisa Burns Osteopathic Research Committee
• 2012-current Editorial Board Member, Journal of the American Osteopathic Association