Melissa Brunner

Melissa Brunner ("Liss") is a Senior Lecturer at the Sydney School of Health Sciences, University of Sydney, with a dual role as a certified speech pathologist and researcher. With 20+ years of clinical experience, she specializes in swallowing and communication disorders post-brain injury, integrating digital health into rehabilitation through pioneering work on social media and virtual reality.

• PhD (2020), MHlthSci (Stroke), BaAppSci (Speech Pathology)
• Current projects focus on the social-ABI-lity online tool for social media skills training
• Active in international collaborations with institutions in the UK and USA

Research Interests span interdisciplinary exploration of:

• Acquired Brain Injury (cognitive-communication recovery)
• Digital Health (social media, VR, telehealth)
• Neurorehabilitation (patient autonomy, virtual ecosystems)
• Communication Sciences (ICT integration, social inclusion)

Recent publications reveal trends in social media analytics for TBI communities, VR therapy implementation, and digital identity work in dementia. Awards include UTS Chancellor's List (2020) and multiple research grants. She co-founded the #WeSpeechies community and serves as Brain Impairment Associate Editor.