CORE Academy

Amber Walter PT, DPT, NCS has been a physical therapist since 2007 and currently holds the position of Clinical Science Director at Sheltering Arms Institute where her primary responsibilities include oversight of knowledge translation and clinically-oriented research in a 114-bed freestanding inpatient rehabilitation hospital and 8 outpatient clinics. She has extensive clinical and mentoring experience as a board-certified neurologic clinical specialist in both inpatient and outpatient settings at Sheltering Arms, and she received the Clinical Excellence Award in Neurologic Physical Therapy in 2018 from the Academy of Neurologic Physical Therapy. Amber’s previous research experience has been related to locomotor rehabilitation including the use of exoskeletons for persons with spinal cord injuries and stroke and serving as an article review for an Academy of Neurologic Physical Therapy CPG on locomotion. She has presented on rehabilitation outcome measurement, clinical practice guideline implementation, rehabilitation technology, and knowledge translation. She holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Virginia Commonwealth University, and she graduated with a Doctorate in Physical Therapy from Old Dominion University.

Ali Holmes, M.S. CCC-SLP, CBIS, BCS-S is the SLP Advisor for Sheltering Arms Institute. As a member of the clinical science team, she supports the SLP department in mentoring and student programs, knowledge translation, clinical practice guideline use and program development. Prior to that position, she was Speech Pathology Manager at Encompass Health. She has provided diagnostic and therapeutic services to inpatient, day and outpatient adult populations, as well as managed a team of speech pathologists. In her career, she has developed outpatient voice and swallowing programs, and other specialty programs in stroke rehabilitation, pulmonary rehabilitation, tracheostomy management and Parkinson’s disease. Ali has presented to groups throughout the region and at the statewide and national conferences for Speech Pathology as well as rehab medicine. Ali graduated with BS and MS degrees from James Madison University and earned her board certification in swallowing and swallowing disorders in 2024.