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Jenny Thain
Jenny Thain, MD
Assistant Professor, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry
Balance, Gait and Falls; Implementation Science and Education
Dr. Jenny Thain is a geriatrician at Parkwood Institute and an Assistant Professor within the Division of Geriatric Medicine at the Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry at Western University. Dr. Thain completed a Master’s degree in Health Professions Education through the University of Maastricht and completed her medical training at the University of Nottingham, sub-specializing in orthogeriatric medicine.
Her areas of clinical interest include osteoporosis and bone health, with a particular interest in orthogeriatric care. She is the Chair of the Canadian Geriatrics Society Osteoporosis and Bone Health Special Interest Group, a member of the Osteoporosis Canada Scientific Advisory Council and Fragility Fracture Network Scientific Committee and the Geriatric clinical lead of the Hip Fracture Unit at Victoria Hospital, London.
Keith Sequeira
Keith Sequeira, MD
Associate Professor, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry
Implementation Science and Education
Dr. Keith Sequeira is a physiatrist at St. Joseph's Health Care London and London Health Sciences Centre and an associate professor in the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation in the Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry at Western University. Dr. Sequeira completed his medical degree at the University of Toronto in 1994, residency training in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at Albany Medical Center in 1998, followed by a fellowship in Electrodiagnostic and Sports Medicine at Michigan State University.
Dr. Sequeira is the Medical Director of the Acquired Brain Injury Rehabilitation Program at Parkwood Institute and runs spasticity, EMG, brain and spinal cord injury clinics. Dr. Sequeira is the past Residency Program Director of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation at Western, a program that he designed and initiated in 2005 and functions. He is the WSIB Champion, working on the integration of WSIB education into the medical school curriculum at Western, past director of the undergraduate the musculoskeletal curriculum within the medical school at Western, the recipient of the Dean’s Award of Excellence for Undergraduate Medical Education, and has authored numerous publications, including a 2020 article in the New England Journal of Medicine on lumbar radiculopathy.
Laura Brunton
Laura Brunton, PT, PhD
Assistant Professor, School of Physical Therapy
Childhood Onset Conditions
Laura Brunton is an Assistant Professor in the School of Physical Therapy at Western University and is a registered Physiotherapist. Professor Brunton's current research focus is exploring and understanding fatigue and pain experienced by individuals with cerebral palsy and the possible relationships with physical activity, sleep, pain and mental health. Professor Brunton has an interest in developing novel approaches to increase and support the self-management skills for youth and adults with childhood-onset conditions. A secondary interest of Professor Brunton’s is the development and validation of clinical measures to support comprehensive assessment of clients in clinical practice.
Laura Graham
Laura Graham, PT, PhD
Assistant Professor, School of Physical Therapy
Neurological injury, mild traumatic brain injury
Laura Graham is an Assistant Professor and Graduate Chair of Western University’s Master of Physical Therapy Program, and an Associate Scientist with Lawson Health Research Institute. Professor Graham’s teaching focus is neurological injury/illness rehabilitation and her research interests revolve around the development of interventions for adults with persistent symptoms following concussion or other mild traumatic brain injuries (mTBI).
Professor Graham has worked as a physiotherapist at Parkwood Institute since 2011, primarily in adult brain injury rehabilitation. She has consulted with Ontario Brain Institute and WSIB Ontario on mTBI Program of Care revision, presented education of the treatment of mTBI both locally and internationally, and has taught physiotherapist instructors across Canada about concussion/mTBI rehabilitation for the National Orthopaedic Division of the Canadian Physiotherapy Association.
Professor Graham is currently helping to develop and evaluate two interventions for adults with mTBI. The first is BrainEx90, which is a circuit training-style therapy that covers self-management exercises, vision rehabilitation, vestibular rehabilitation, balance and core stability, cardiovascular training, and cognitive rehabilitation. nd the second is MyBrainPacer™ App, which is a symptom self-management tool to support people with mTBI through planning and pacing activities.
Manuel Montero-Odasso
Manuel Montero-Odasso, MD; PhD
Professor, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry
Mobility, Cognitive and Brain Health
Dr. Manuel Montero-Odasso is a geriatrician at Parkwood Institute and Professor and Faculty Scholar in the Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry at Western University. He is also the Director of the Gait & Brain Lab at Parkwood Institute, a clinician-scientist at the Lawson Health Research Institute and serves as team leader at the Canadian Consortium on Neurodegeneration in Aging and the Ontario Neurodegenerative Research Initiative.
Dr. Montero-Odasso leads the Gait and Brain Health Program goal of understanding mechanisms and treatments of mobility and cognitive decline in aging by focusing on the interaction between gait performance and cognition and how this increases the risk of falls. Through this work Dr. Montero-Odasso has established the use of “motor biomarkers”, like slowing of gait speed and dual-task effects on gait to predict frailty, falls, and dementia. He is also a co-PI of the Canadian Therapeutic Platform for Multidomain Interventions to Prevent Dementia, which focuses on multi-domain lifestyle interventions that include physical exercises, cognitive training, diet, self-management of cardiovascular factors and sleep, in order to reduce the risk or delay the onset of dementia in older adults.
Dr. Montero-Odasso has received more than $6 million of competitive peer-reviewed research funding, has published over 150 scientific articles, 14 books and book chapters, and has received several accolades, including the American Geriatrics Society New Investigator Award, the Schulich Clinician Scientist Award, the Premier of Ontario Excellence Research Award, and the CIHR New Investigator Award. In 2019, he was inducted as one of the Top 10 Hispanic Canadian for his contribution in Medicine and Science. He has been invited to give more than 100 international presentations as a guest speaker. He serves as associate editor for the Journal of Gerontology Medical Sciences, Geriatrics, and Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease, among others. He also serves as executive member and Vice-President of the Canadian Geriatrics Society.
Michael Payne
Michael Payne, MD
Assistant Professor, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry
Amputation
Dr. Michael Payne is a physiatrist at Parkwood Institute and an Associate Professor in the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at the Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry at Western University. He completed his undergraduate degree in Mechanical Engineering at Queens University followed by a Master’s degree in Sports Medicine and a medical degree at Western University, residency training in Physiatry at the University of Ottawa, and then a clinical fellowship in Australia.
Dr. Payne’s clinical practice has always focused on addressing mobility limitations across a wide range of physical impairments and has been the medical director of the Regional Amputee Rehabilitation program at St. Joseph’s Health Care London since 2009. Dr. Payne collaborates extensively with Dr. Susan Hunter from the School of Physical Therapy from Western University to address research questions centred around improving meaningful outcomes for people with limb loss or deficiencies. Specific interests include mobility outcome measurements, dysvascular amputation associated cognitive impairment, biomechanics, quality of life, gait abnormalities and falls.
Ricardo Viana
Ricardo Viana, MD, OT
Associate Professor, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry
Amputation; Stroke
Dr. Ricardo Viana is a physiatrist at Parkwood Institute and an Associate Professor in the Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry at Western University. Prior to studying medicine, Dr. Viana was an cccupational therapist. Dr. Viana completed his medical training in 2008 and his Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation residency training in 2013. Dr. Viana’s clinical focus is on Stroke and Amputee rehabilitation as well as neuromuscular and pain medicine.
Dr. Viana has two primary research interests. First, is understanding the impact of dual-task performance on mobility, balance and falls for those with amputation. And second, is systematic reviews in support of the Evidence Based Review Stroke Rehabilitation. Dr. Viana also has a growing interest in education, both medical education and knowledge translation in the clinical setting.
Robert Teasell
Robert Teasell, MD
Professor, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry
Stroke
Dr. Robert Teasell is a physiatrist at Parkwood Institute, a Professor in the Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry at Western University, former Chair-Chief and current Research Director of the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. He is a Clinical Researcher with Lawson Health Research Institute, Parkwood Institute Research and Director of the CORRE Research Group. Dr. Teasell has authored over 800 publications including over 350 peer-reviewed articles and has been involved with $24 million of research funding. He has won over 50 awards including Lawson Scientist of the Year, and Post-Acute Stroke Excellence Award, both in 2018, American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine and National Stroke Association in the United States.
Dr. Teasell has supervised many graduate students and since 2014, three research team members have won the Lawson Leadership Impact Award (best graduate student at Lawson Institute) and three have become Vanier Scholars. Research interests include the Clinical Application of Best Evidence in Neurorehabilitation. Projects include: Stroke Rehabilitation Evidence-Based Review, Acquired Brain Injury Evidence-Based Review and Spinal Cord Injury Evidence-Based. The details of all projects within the CORRE Research Group can be found on the lab website.
Siobhan Schabrun
Siobhan Schabrun, PhD
Professor, School of Physical Therapy
Chronic Pain
Siobhan Schabrun is the incoming William and Lynne Gray Endowed Research Chair in Mobility and Activity and Professor in the School of Physical Therapy. Her research program is focused on understanding, treating and preventing persistent pain – a major cause of reduced mobility and activity amongst otherwise healthy individuals and those living with musculoskeletal and neurological conditions. In addition, Professor Schabrun explores the use of non-invasive brain stimulation technologies to boost neuroplasticity and improve outcomes following traditional forms of rehabilitation such as exercise, functional electrical stimulation and virtual reality training. Professor Schabrun is passionate about improving the translation of research evidence into practice and about promoting the participation of women and girls in science.
Steven Macaluso
Steven Macaluso, MD
Associate Professor, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry
Implementation Science and Education
Dr. Steven Macaluso is a physiatrist at Parkwood Institute and an Associate Professor and the current Residency Program director in the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation in the Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry at Western University. He completed a Bachelor of Science degree in Kinesiology prior to completing his medical degree at Western University in 2007. He went on to complete residency training in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at Western University in 2012.
He is currently a consultant physiatrist on the Stroke and Neuro rehabilitation unit at Parkwood Institute and has outpatient clinics at Parkwood Institute, and the Fowler Kennedy Sports Medicine Clinic. His current academic endeavors are focused on promotion of physical activity amongst individuals with impairment and disability, including formation of physical activity guidelines the design and implementation of an online evidence-based resource and clinical skills guide for the management of musculoskeletal disorders. Dr. Macaluso also has a special interest in Sports Medicine, has provided medical coverage for Team Canada at national and international levels, and is currently serving as a team physician for the Canadian Wheelchair Curling Team.
Sue Peters
Sue Peters, PT, PhD
Assistant Professor, School of Physical Therapy
Stroke
Sue Peters is an Assistant Professor in the School of Physical Therapy at Western University. Professor Peters is also a trained physiotherapist and neuroscientist who uses neuroimaging to study how the brain functions to control mobility, and how mobility recovery can be optimized after injuries like stroke.
Professor Peters directs the Neurorehabilitation Physiology Lab, which uses advanced neuroimaging including functional near-infrared spectroscopy and electroencephalography to explore neural mechanisms of basic tasks like standing and stepping, to more complex tasks like stepping up and over a curb. Neuroimaging is completed along with task performance measures including kinematics and electromyography to learn how the behaviours that can be observed are linked with brain function. Projects include basic neuroscience questions around how the brain controls mobility, and clinical questions of how to promote mobility recovery through neurorehabilitation. Ultimately, Professor Peters’ lab aims to improve mobility outcomes and quality of life for people after stroke.
Susan Hunter
Susan Hunter, PhD
Associate Professor, School of Physical Therapy
Amputation; Mobility and Cognitive Health
Susan Hunter is an Associate Professor in the School of Physical Therapy and has appointments through Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, Division of Geriatric Medicine, Departments of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation and Epidemiology & Biostatistics. Her research program is primarily dedicated to the investigation of falls and falls prevention in older adults, with a particular interest in the effect of changes in balance, gait and cognitive function with aging. Falls in older adults are a major cause of disability and dependence in older adults and represent a serious public-health concern in Canada and internationally. The ability to identify people at risk and the underlying mechanisms related to fall events is crucial to implementing interventions to prevent falls.
Specific areas of research interest include older adults with cognitive impairment and dementia, lower extremity amputees, lower extremity joint arthroplasty surgery, mobility aid use in different populations and attitudes of physiotherapists to working with people with dementia. Her recent research has been supported by funding from Alzheimer’s Association (USA) and Ontario Neurotrauma Foundation.
Swati Mehta
Swati Mehta, PhD
Lawson Scientist, Parkwood Institute Research
Mobility, Cognitive and Brain Health
Swati Mehta is a Scientist at Parkwood Institute Research and Lawson Research Institute, an Adjunct Assistant Professor in the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at Western University and a registered Psychotherapist. Professor Mehta leads the RehabPsych Lab. The aim of the lab is to improve activity engagement and overall wellbeing among those undergoing rehabilitation through online programs including virtual group based physical activity and internet delivered cognitive behavior therapy hosted on the lab’s website.
Professor Mehta has received over 1 million dollars in research funding to date and has authored over 65 peer-reviewed articles. She has been awarded the Lawson Impact Leadership Award in 2016, the Royal Society of Canada Alice Wilson Award in 2017 and the Saskatchewan Health Research Foundation Excellence Award in 2017.
Tim Doherty
Tim Doherty, MD; PhD
Professor, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry
Neuromuscular Function
Dr. Tim Doherty is a physiatrist and is the Chair/Chief of the Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation department at Parkwood Institute and a Professor in the Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry at Western University. Dr. Doherty completed a PhD in kinesiology at Western University in 1993 and residency training in in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at McMaster in 2000.
Dr. Doherty is a past President of the Canadian Association of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, examiner for the Canadian Society of Clinical Neurophysiology, Associate Scientist at the Lawson Health Research Institute and is a member of the Editorial Boards of Muscle and Nerve, and the Journal of Clinical Neuromuscular Disease. Dr. Doherty is a renowned expert in the study of mobility and pioneered the development of quantitative electromyography (EMG) techniques that have been employed to study aging, motor neuron disease and peripheral neuropathies.
Tom Miller
Tom Miller, MD
Associate Professor, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry
Neuromuscular Function
Dr. Thomas Miller is a physiatrist at Parkwood Institute and an Associate Professor in the Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry at Western University in the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. Dr. Miller completed his medical degree at Queen’s University in 1989, and then completed subsequent training in physical medicine & rehabilitation at the University of Ottawa and a fellowship in clinical neurophysiology at University of New South Wales in Australia.
Dr. Miller is the Medical Director of the neuromusculoskeletal rehabilitation program at Parkwood Institute, Director of the Electrodiagnostic laboratory, consultant physiatrist with the Hand and Upper Limb Centre. He is also the co-director of the Peripheral Nerve Clinic at Parkwood Institute, a multidisciplinary assessment and treatment program for major nerve injury. Specific areas of academic research include peripheral nerve injury and its rehabilitation, spasticity rehabilitation and the neurophysiological assessment of function and mobility.