Janet Cope
Professor of Physical Therapy Education
Department: Physical Therapy Education
Email: jcope2@elon.edu
Phone number: (336) 278-6355
Professional Expertise
Brief Biography
Dr. Janet M. Cope is an anthropologist and clinical anatomist with expertise in skeletal pathology and disorders of the musculoskeletal system. She is an occupational therapist who specializes in the evaluation and treatment of patients with upper extremity injuries. Professor Cope has taught clinical and gross anatomy for more than 25 years to students from a wide variety of health care related backgrounds. Dr. Cope has published several papers on the topic of formaldehyde safety in the anatomy laboratory. Recently Dr. Cope has been exploring sociocultural topics as related to student and human donor interaction in the anatomy laboratory. She has co-authored two papers on this topic with both PT and PA faculty and students.
News & Notes
Education
University of New Hampshire Durham, NH 1977-1980 Physical Education, Teacher Certified (K-12) BS, May 1980
Springfield College, Department of Occupational Therapy Springfield, MA 1992-1994 Occupational Therapy / Upper Extremity Rehabilitation MS, CAS, May, 1994
University of Massachusetts, Department of Anthropology Amherst, MA 2001-2003 Anthropology, Physical MA May 2003
University of Massachusetts, Department of Anthropology Amherst, MA 2003-2007 Anthropology, Paleopathology, Skeletal Analysis PhD May 2007
Employment History
Elon University Dept of Physical Therapy Education, 2006-present
Alamance Regional Medical Center Outpatient Rehabilitation per diem 2006-2017
Springfield College, Springfield, MA Dept of Physical Therapy, 1996-2006
Courses Taught
Clinical Anatomy
DPT 6030 Human Anatomy I
DPT 6040 Human Anatomy II
Course Summary: I am the lead instructor for this three-module comprehensive study of the typical and pathological functions of human anatomy, emphasizing the skeletal, articular, and muscular systems. Module I & II topics included: the thorax, abdomen, spine, upper extremities, and cardiopulmonary. Module III topics included: gastrointestinal and urogenital anatomy, pelvic floor musculature, lower extremities, and neuroanatomy, including the eye, brain, and facial osteology and musculature. Using a regional approach, the course includes the study of clinically relevant anatomy, radiographic studies, surface anatomy, clinical palpation, and opportunities for foundational inter-professional education sessions with Physician Assistant faculty and students. The laboratory experience includes the study of student-dissected and instructor/student prosected human donors.
Leadership Positions
Chair: SHS Awards Committee, DPT Academic and Professional Progress Committee
Anatomy Lab Director
Research
Ethical topics in anatomy education
Anatomy and Physical Therapy Education Topics.
Anatomical Variation and Clinical Implications.
Formaldehyde Assessment in Anatomy Labs.
Current Projects
Ethical Issues: Anatomy Education
- Presented Claiming the Dead to AAA- legal ethics, Toronto, Canada, March 2024
- Recipient of FR&D 2025 Summer Fellowship for Claiming the dead- counting unclaimed dead persons in anatomy education
Publications
Peer Reviewed Publications (Student authors noted in Italics)
Hannah MC, Cope JM, Palmero A, Wacker V, Smith W. A human donor (cadaveric) observation study of three needle placements in the piriformis muscle. Journal of Manual & Manipulative Therapy. 2022 June 05. https://doi.org/10.1080/10669817.2022.2082638
Stute N, Stickford J, Augenreich M, Kimball K, Cope J, Bennett C, Grosicki G, Ratchford S. Arterial Stiffness and Carotid Distensibility Following Acute Formaldehyde Exposure in Female Adults. Toxicology and Industrial Health. 2021 Sep vol 37:9, pp 535-546.
Augenreich MA, Stickford JL, Stute N, Koontz LK, Cope JM, Bennett C, Ratchford SM. Vascular Dysfunction and Oxidative Stress Caused by Acute Formaldehyde Exposure in Female Adults. Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol. 2020 Dec 02. Vol 319, No. 6.
Cope JM, Bennett C, Balilionis G, Person D M.
Regarding the dead: A model for anatomic gifting outside the traditional medical school setting. ASE 2020; https://doi.org/10.1002/ase.1985
Cope JM; Precht MC, Hannah MK, Bennett C
Naming the Dead: What information do Physical Therapy and Physician Assistant anatomy faculty share with students? ASE 2019; 0:1-9.
Precht MC, Bennett C, Cope JM
Quantifying Cadaver Use in Physician Assistant Anatomy Education. JPAE; 2017; 28(4):x-z
Cope JM; Precht MC, Klinepeter A, Powell B, Hannah MK.
Counting the Dead: Who is teaching anatomy to physical therapy students? JOPTE; 2017; 31(2): 6-10.
Bayliss J, Cope JM. A problematic variation of the palmaris profundus muscle. IJAV; 2016; 9:73-75.
High C, Scott C, Ruffer K, Antonelli C, Cope JM
Bilateral Duplicitous Renal Vasculature. IJAV; 2016;9: 67-69.
Hannah MK, Cope JM, Palermo AC, Smith WJ, Wacker VL. Comparison of two angles of approach for trigger point dry needling of the lumbar multifidus in human donors. Man Ther; 2016 26: 160-164.
Cope JM, Holt SM, Starr K, Tencer G, McGowan C, Ridenour C. Comparison of two formaldehyde exposure assessment devices in a physical therapy education program anatomy laboratory. JOPTE;2014;28(3): 15-20.
Cope JM, Little T. A robust flexor digiti minimi brevis muscle. Inter J of Anat Var 2013, 6:216-17.
Champion T, Cope JM. A severe case of hyperostosis frontalis interna and multiple comorbidities. Inter J of Anat Var 2012, 5:76-78.
Cope JM, Sanders, E, Holt SM, Pappas K, Thomas KJ, Kernick E, Corriher L, Templeton D, Starr, K. Comparison of Personal Formaldehyde Levels in the Anatomy Laboratories of Five Physical Therapy Education Programs. JOPTE 2011 Fall; 25(3): 21-29.
Mirabelli MC, Holt SM, Cope JM. Anatomy laboratory instruction and occupational exposure to formaldehyde. Occup Environ Med. 2011 May; 68(5): 375-8.
Cope JM. Discerning Health, Disease and Activity Patterns in a Bronze-Age Population from Tell Abraq, United Arab Emirates. [Abstract 11/08]. In: Weeks, L. (ed.) 2010. Death and Burial in Arabia and Beyond: Multidisciplinary Perspectives. Oxford: Archaeopress. BAR International Series S2107. Society for Arabian Studies Monographs 10.
Cope JM, Looney EM, Craig CA, Gawron R, Lampros R, Mahoney R. Median Nerve Compression and the Reversed Palmaris Longus. Inter J of Anat Var. 2009; 2: 102–104.
Presentations
Cope JM, Zimmerman M, Bennett C, Magill J, Balilionis G, Person D M. Claiming the dead: Who has legal access to the unclaimed? American Association for Anatomists, Toronto, Canada. March 25, 2024
Cope JM, Bennett CM, Zimmerman M, Balilionis G, Person DM
Anatomical Gift Programs Continue to Meet Donor Demands of Anatomy Educators During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Here’s How. American Association for Anatomy Experimental Biology Conf, Philadelphia, PA. April 3, 2022.
Hannah MC, Lazicki R, Zimmerman M, Moore A, Wei L, Cope JM. Comparison of Dry Needling Approaches for the Quadratus Plantae. APTA Combined Sections Meeting, San Antonio, TX. February 3, 2022.
Hannah MC, Cope JM, Palermo A, Smith W, Wacker V, Byrouty K, Lewis S, Zimmerman M.
Avoid the Bundle! Comparison of Dry Needling Approaches for Tibialis Posterior. APTA NEXT Conference Abstracts Online ISSN 1538-6724; Print ISSN 0031-9023, June 1-3, 2020.
Hannah MK, Cope JM, Palermo AC, Smith WJ, Wacker VL
"Will you hit the sciatic nerve? A cadaver (donor) study investigating the anatomical accuracy of dry needling the piriformis muscle" APTA Combined Sections Meeting, Washington, DC. January 2019.
Cope JM; Bennett CC, Balilionis G, Person DM.
An Ethically Sustainable Model for Anatomic Gifting at a Non-Medical School
American Association of Anatomists National Meeting, San Diego, CA, April 2018.
Phys Ass Education Association National Meeting, Anaheim, CA, October 2018.
Precht MC, Bennett C, Cope JM
Quantifying Cadaver Use in Physician Assistant Anatomy Education. PAEA Education National Conference. Denver, CO. October 27, 2017. Invited interview.
Cope JM; Precht M, Hannah MC, Bennet CC
Naming the Dead: What information do we get and what do we share with our students?
American Association of Anatomists Regional Meeting, New York, NY. Nov 5, 2016. [Poster]
Cope JM; Precht MC, Klinepeter A, Powell B, Hannah MK.
Counting the Dead: Who is teaching anatomy to physical therapy students?
American Association of Anatomists Annual Meeting, San Diego, CA. April 2016. [Poster]
APTA NEXT Conference, Nashville, TN. June 8-11, 2016. [Poster]
Hannah MK, Cope JM, Palermo AC, Smith WJ, Wacker VL.
Comparison of two angles of approach for trigger point dry needling the lumbar multifidus in human donors.
APTA NEXT Conference, Nashville, TN. June 8-11, 2016. [Poster]
Cope JM, Webb E, Rubenstein S, Selby K.
Quenching an insatiable thirst? A comparison of perceptions of students and clinicians who participated in a collaborative learning experience in the anatomy laboratory.
American Physical Therapy Association Combined Sections Meeting, Anaheim CA: February 2016. [Poster]
Cope JM, Zych J, Mankins A, Feldman J, Alcon J, Bailey E, Lewis C. Influence of canine on heart rate and rate of perceived exertion during one mile walk test. International Conference and Exhibition on Obesity & Weight Management, Philadelphia, PA: December 3-5, 2012.
Cope JM, Riggs R. Quenching an insatiable thirst? A comparison of perceptions of students and clinicians who participated in a collaborative learning experience in the anatomy laboratory. American Physical Therapy Association Education Leadership Conference, Greenwich, CT: October 7, 2012.
Sanders E, Cope JM, Holt SM, Pappas K, Thomas KJ, Kernick E, Corriher L, Templeton D, Starr K. Comparison of Personal Formaldehyde Levels in the Anatomy Laboratories of Five Physical Therapy Education Programs. North Carolina Physical Therapy Association Annual Meeting, Greensboro, NC: October 30, 2009.
Cope JM, Sanders, E, Holt SM, Pappas K, Thomas KJ, Kernick E, Corriher L, Templeton D, Spees M. Comparison of Personal Formaldehyde Levels in the Anatomy Laboratories of Five Physical Therapy Education Programs. American Association of Anatomists Annual Meeting, New Orleans, LO: April 18-22, 2009
Cope JM, Martin DL, Potts DT, Miller DJ. Discerning Health, Disease and Activity Patterns in a Bronze-Age Population from Tell Abraq, United Arab Emirates. [Abstract] Poster, London, England November 27-29, 2008. International Arabian Studies Annual Conference at British Museum (D Martin, D Potts, presented).
Cope JM, Martin DL, Potts DT. The transverse midtrochlear ridge: Significant stress at the humeroulnar joints at Tell Abraq, United Arab Emirates? Poster Presentation at American Association of Anatomists Annual Conference, San Diego, CA April 5-9, 2008.
Cope JM, Martin DL, Potts DT. Synergistic musculoskeletal attachment sites in the upper extremity and activity patterns at Tell Abraq, United Arab Emirates, 2300 BC. Platform presentation: Presented at American Association of Physical Anthropologists Annual Meeting, Columbus, Ohio, April 7-13, 2008.
Professional Activities
American Association of Anatomists
American Occupational Therapy Association
Service Activities
Alamance County Habitat for Humanity:
Building affordable homes in our community. January 2020-ongoing
Pericleans Service Sabbatical: September 2020
Awards
Elon University Daniels-Danieley Award for Excellence in Teaching, 2021
Elon University School of Health Sciences: Excellence in Service Award, 2014-2015
Elon University School of Health Sciences: Excellence in Teaching Award, 2011-2012
Adjunct Faculty Award Springfield College, Department of Physical Therapy 1999
Woodbury Award: Graduate Student Research Presented at National Conference University of Massachusetts, Department of Anthropology, 2002 Presentation of Research: American Association of Physical Anthropologists. Cope JM, Berryman A, Martin DL, Potts DT. Incidence of osteoarthritis at the trapeziometacarpal joint from the tomb at Tell Abraq, United Arab Emirates [abstract]. AM. J Physical Anthropology 2002; (suppl. 34): 57