Dawna blends her passion for the Tai Ji Quan: Moving for Better Balance® and improving lives of older adults to deliver an engaging, interactive Community Instructor and TJQMBB Enhanced Training Workshops. 

She has worked closely with Tai Ji Quan: Moving for Better Balance® (TJQMBB) program developer, Dr. Fuzhong Li since 2012

She has taught TJQMBB class to older adults in the community since 2013 and became a TJQMBB Authorized Trainer in 2015 and has trained hundreds of Community Instructors throughout the country.

Dawna has trained individuals from senior centers, YMCAs, Community Centers, Assisted Living and Senior Living communities, healthcare settings, volunteer organizations such as RSVP, college and university physical therapy professors and students to become successful TJQMBB Community Instructors

Dawna provides ongoing technical assistance to trained instructors as they bring this exciting program to their communities.

She participated most recently in fall prevention efficacy and cost efficient studies conducted by Dr. Li.

Effectiveness of a Therapeutic Tai Ji Quan Intervention vs a Multimodal Exercise Intervention to Prevent Falls Among Older Adults at High Risk of Falling: A Randomized Clinical Trial Fuzhong Li, PhD1,2; Peter Harmer, PhD, MPH3; Kathleen Fitzgerald, MD4; Elizabeth Eckstrom, MD, MPH5; Laura Akers, PhD1; Li-Shan Chou, PhD6; Dawna Pidgeon, PT7; Jan Voit, PT8; Kerri Winters-Stone, PhD9 (2018, JAMA Internal Medicine)

Cost-effectiveness of a therapeutic Tai Ji Quan fall prevention intervention for older adults at high risk of falling Fuzhong Li, PhD, Peter Harmer, PhD, MPH, Elizabeth Eckstrom, MD, MPH, Kathleen Fitzgerald, MD, Laura Akers, PhD, Li-Shan Chou, PhD, Dawna Pidgeon, PT, Jan Voit, PT, Kerri Winters-Stone, PhD, FACSM  (2019, Journal of Gerontology: Medical Sciences)