Julia Schmidt

Julia Schmidt is an Associate Professor in the Department of Occupational Science & Occupational Therapy at the University of British Columbia (UBC) Faculty of Medicine. With a PhD in cognitive rehabilitation from The University of Queensland and a BSc in Occupational Therapy from the University of Alberta, her research focuses on traumatic brain injury (TBI) rehabilitation, neurophysiological changes in concussion recovery, and patient/community partnerships.

• Academic Focus: Brain injury rehabilitation, evidence-based practice, social participation, and mobile health (mHealth) applications.
• Key Research Themes: Neurobiological to psychosocial impacts of TBI, virtual reality in rehabilitation, pandemic-related health disparities, and self-identity reconstruction post-injury.

Recent Publications & Research Trends

Her 2025–2024 work explores:

• Barriers in healthcare access for homeless populations with TBI and mental health disorders.
• Virtual reality for activities of daily living (ADL) rehabilitation.
• Post-traumatic growth metrics in TBI survivors.
• Pandemic impacts on older adults and people with disabilities.

Labs & Collaborations

Dr. Schmidt leads the CEDAR Brain Injury Lab, integrating lived-experience perspectives into research design and knowledge translation. She collaborates with clinical networks in British Columbia and Germany.