Kaleckas Lecture & Synthesis Day

Richard Souza, PT, PhD, is the Vice Chair for Research in the Department of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Science at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF). He is a physical therapist and biomechanics researcher with joint appointments in Radiology and Biomedical Imaging and in Orthopaedic Surgery at UCSF. He teaches courses on Radiology for the Physical Therapist, Gait Evaluation and Observational Running Analysis. He is also Program Director for the PhD program in Rehabilitation Science.

Souza researches the relationships between mechanics of movement and lower extremity injuries, combining MR imaging and the evaluation of physical activity and loading behaviors. The goal is to determine the influence of loading mechanics on hip, knee and ankle health and to develop preventative and rehabilitative strategies for debilitating diseases such as osteoarthritis. 

Ann Putnam Kaleckas was born in Chicago. She was awarded a Bachelor of Science in physical therapy from Northwestern University in 1982 and a master’s in health science from the University of Indianapolis in 1990. She pursued her passion and worked as a physical therapist before co-founding DuPage Physical Therapy in 1996. Her practice in orthopedic and spine rehabilitation brought her much pride.

Devoted to her family, friends, coworkers, patients and community, Mrs. Kaleckas’s generous and kind spirit enabled her to help improve the lives of countless individuals. She is remembered as one who went the extra mile in all her endeavors.

After a challenging battle, Mrs. Kaleckas succumbed to multiple myeloma in 2004. Upon her passing, her husband Rich Kaleckas, along with many family and friends, chose to memorialize her life within the Department of Physical Therapy, which held the inaugural Ann Putnam Kaleckas Lecture in 2008. The Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine is grateful to the Kaleckases, their friends and their family for their extraordinary commitment to honor Mrs. Kaleckas's legacy of giving.