Anne Mejia-Downs, PT, MPH, CCS

Anne Mejia-Downs is an assistant professor. She teaches courses in health promotion and wellness, cardiopulmonary physical therapy, and pathophysiology. She is a Board Certified Specialist in cardiopulmonary physical therapy.

Anne works clinically at Methodist Hospital in adult acute care and is responsible for orienting new employees to Intensive Care. She has published several chapters in cardiopulmonary physical therapy texts and has presented nationally on topics including the rehabilitation of patients with heart and lung transplantation, cystic fibrosis, and heart failure.

Anne is a member of the American Physical Therapy Association and has held several positions in the Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Section. She is also a member of the American Public Health Association and the American Association of Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Rehabilitation. Her interests are in the areas of health promotion and community health and the rehabilitation of patients with cardiovascular and pulmonary conditions. She also coordinates the annual Laurelwood health fair.

At APTA's 2011 Combined Sections Meeting in New Orleans, she received the Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Section Mentoring Award! Anne was selected by the University of Indianapolis Center for Aging & Community (CAC) to be a faculty member of the Delta Mu Chapter of the Sigma Phi Omega National Honors and Professional Society in Gerontology. She was inducted in March 2011.

She was invited to join a delegation of members from the American Public Health Association to travel to Cuba to study the country's public health system. She spent a week there in May 2011 visiting health care facilities, community clinics, and a medical school, and met with many high-level officials including the Public Health Minister. Anne was impressed by the use of the country's few resources to create an efficient and organized public health infrastructure. This is achieved by an emphasis on primary care (including mental health and dental care) and by addressing the whole person and family instead of solely medical needs. She was also impressed with the requirement of daily physical education at every grade level, including technical and professional schools, and saw this reflected in low numbers of obese individuals.

Read more about Mejia-Downs and her visit to the Cuban health system.

Anne received a 2011 UIndy Faculty Achievement Award. Here are some notes from the award presentation:
Anne Mejia-Downs is recognized for living the mission of “Education for Service” in her role as a faculty member. 

As the only American Physical Therapy Association board certified cardiovascular and pulmonary clinical specialist in the state of Indiana and one of less than 20 in the Midwest, Ms. Mejia-Downs’ expertise is widely recognized and valued.   She has served as a physical therapy representative on the national Cystic Fibrosis Foundation since 2001, most recently serving on a committee that co-authored the Cystic Fibrosis Clinical Practice Guidelines for Pulmonary Therapies that have been published in several medical journals.  During the 2010-2011 academic year, she co-authored two book chapters including “Thoracic Organ Transplantation” in the book Essentials of Cardiopulmonary Physical Therapy, 3rd edition, and  “Physical Therapy Interventions” in Cardiopulmonary Physical Therapy, 2nd edition. 

In addition to her PT degree, Ms. Mejia-Downs also has a Master’s in Public Health from University of North Carolina and is currently working on her PhD in Health Promotion and Wellness through Rocky Mountain University.  This past May, Ms. Mejia-Downs was the only physical therapist invited to join a delegation from the American Public Health Association to travel to Cuba to study the country’s public health system.  Ms. Mejia-Downs uses this unique background as well as her commitment to service, to actively engage students in understanding their communities and their health needs, from requiring students to take public transportation to class in Fountain Square, to initiating a poverty simulation activity within the classroom.  Since 2007, she has worked with students to coordinate an annual Community Health Fair for the Laurelwood Community, a government subsidized housing development near UIndy, that has experienced increased attendance each year.  This past year, more than 80 adults and children received blood pressure and weight screenings as well as education on topics ranging from eating a healthy diet to smoking cessation to the importance of exercise.   In April 2010, she presented on this unique partnership at the conference of the National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials.   

As a clinician, she willingly shares her expertise to teach others outside the classroom.  At Methodist Hospital, in addition to providing direct patient care, she orients new rehab employees to providing care in the intensive care units.   She also provides regular educational lectures for many PT programs and clinics throughout the state.  In February 2011, she was recognized by the American Physical Therapy Association Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Section for these and other contributions, when she received their annual Outstanding Mentor Award. 

Due to her strong commitment to the university mission of education for service, Anne Mejia-Downs is recognized for her outstanding achievements. 

Click to view Anne's research.