Find Academic Supervisors

Christiana Okyere FolsonView profile

Assistant Professor

• Inclusive Education
• Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities
• Disability Equity and Social Justice
• +5 more

Dr. Christiana Okyere Folson is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Child and Youth Studies at Brock University. She holds a Ph.D. in Rehabilitation Science from Queen’s University and completed a postdoctoral fellowship at Michigan State University through the Hegarty Program. Her work includes research at McMaster University’s Partnering for Change initiative, focusing on inclusive occupational therapy services in schools. Her research emphasizes promoting inclusion for disabled children and youth globally, particularly addressing systemic barriers in education, employment, and policy sectors. Key areas include racialized disability experiences, inclusive education equity, and qualitative methodologies. Dr. Folson collaborates with families, schools, and communities to design equitable interventions. Her publications (2018–2024) explore pandemic impacts on disability employment, transition services for autistic youth, and global inclusive education strategies in Ghana and Africa. Courses taught include principles of service-learning, learning disabilities, developmental disabilities, and research methods in child and youth studies. Dr. Folson’s interdisciplinary work bridges policy, practice, and community engagement to advance disability equity across diverse contexts.

• Speech Pathology
• Pediatric Communication Disorders
• Child Development
• +3 more

Anna Cronin is a Lecturer in Speech Pathology at the School of Allied Health within the Faculty of Health Sciences at Australian Catholic University. Her research focuses on pediatric communication disorders, particularly in children with cleft palate, and the application of frameworks like the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health – Children and Youth (ICF-CY). She also explores innovative methods for communicating early language and literacy development strategies to parents and caregivers through social media. Her work integrates clinical practice with ethnographic approaches to understand family experiences, emphasizing holistic assessment and family-centered care. Key topics include the psychological impact of cleft palate on families, cross-cultural communication challenges in speech therapy, and the use of digital tools for public health messaging. Anna's research outputs highlight interdisciplinary collaboration, with contributions to journals such as International Journal of Speech-Language Pathology and Journal of Communication Disorders . While no formal grants or awards are listed, her publications reflect a commitment to improving outcomes for children with communication disorders and their families.

• Health Sciences
• Rehabilitation Medicine
• Spinal Cord Injury
• +3 more

Gerold Stucki is a Professor at the Faculty of Health Sciences and Medicine of the University of Lucerne, where he has been Chair since 2009. He also serves as Director of Swiss Paraplegic Research and the ICF Research Branch , a WHO-affiliated international research network. His work focuses on optimizing quality of life for individuals with spinal cord injuries (SCI) and advancing rehabilitation research through the implementation of the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) . Stucki earned his MD from the University of Bern, an MSc in Health Policy and Management from Harvard School of Public Health, and a diploma in Biostatistics and Epidemiology from McGill University. He led the Department of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine at Ludwig-Maximilians University from 1999 to 2009, where he developed a multidisciplinary rehabilitation research agenda. Key research areas include: Rehabilitation service and care provision Human functioning sciences Health systems optimization for SCI Global ICF implementation in healthcare He has played a pivotal role in the Swiss Learning Health System and collaborated with the WHO to institutionalize ICF frameworks. His accolades include being named a Foreign Associate of the Institute of Medicine in 2012.

• Coaching Cultures in Organizations
• Intercultural Coaching
• Team Coaching
• +3 more

Alexandra Barosa Pereira is a Lecturer at the Nova School of Business and Economics , where she contributes as an international guest speaker and researcher. She serves as Executive Director of AIETORG (an international intercultural research association) and founder of ABP Corporate Coaching , developing programs for executives across diverse sectors. Her expertise spans Coaching Cultures in Organizations , Intercultural Coaching , and Team Coaching , with a focus on adapting leadership and collaboration in virtual environments. Her academic background includes a PhD in Management, an MSc in Psychology, and a BSc in Sociology. She holds certifications as a Certified Professional Coach (CPC) by the International Coaching Federation (ICF), a Certified Coach Mentor , and a Team Coaching Individual Accreditation (ITCA) by the European Mentoring and Coaching Council (EMCC). Research Interests : Virtual leadership, organizational culture adaptation, team dynamics in remote work, intercultural communication, and coaching frameworks for corporate settings. Key Publications : Address challenges of virtual leadership, stages of coaching culture development, and organizational transformation in remote environments.

• ICF (International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health)
• Nursing
• Health Services Research
• +3 more

Gonda Stallinga is a Senior Researcher at the University Medical Center Groningen (UMCG), University of Groningen, specializing in the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) framework. Her work bridges nursing practice, health services research, and person-centered care with significant contributions to chronic disease management and disability rehabilitation. Her research focuses on implementing ICF in clinical settings through learning communities of practice, digitizing functioning assessment (functionomics), and validating condition-specific ICF core sets. She investigates how healthcare professionals integrate functioning metrics into daily practice, particularly for chronic conditions, emphasizing collaborative knowledge exchange and patient-centered outcomes. Recent work demonstrates her leadership in operationalizing digital health solutions for personalized care. Publications reveal a clear trajectory toward integrating ICF with digital health infrastructure and practical clinical applications, with increasing emphasis on nurse-led validation studies and cross-disciplinary implementation frameworks. Her 2024 functionomics paper represents a paradigm shift toward data-driven functioning assessment. Scientific recognition includes: Best ePoster at European Nursing Conference 2022 She actively contributes to professional networks including ExpertiseNetwork Functioning (ENF), Nursing Leadership, and Public Private Partnership consortia. Her supervised work includes at least one major thesis on professional learning communities in care practice, reflecting her commitment to advancing clinical education through collaborative models. Stallinga's public engagement demonstrates exceptional knowledge translation, with media contributions advocating for functioning-focused care metrics and quality-of-life centered healthcare standards since 2014.

Susan M. ChangView profile

Professor

• Neuro-Oncology
• Glioblastoma
• Medical Imaging
• +3 more

Susan M. Chang is a Professor in the Department of Neurological Surgery at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) School of Medicine. She serves as Director of Neuro-Oncology at the UCSF Brain Tumor Center, Co-Director of the Sheri Sobrato Brain Cancer Survivorship Program, and Principal Investigator for multiple NIH-funded research projects. Key affiliations: UCSF Weill Institute for Neurosciences, NIH/NCI UCA264338A, Brain Tumor SPORE Grant Her research focuses on experimental glioblastoma therapies , metabolic imaging , and improving patient and caregiver outcomes through the Gordon Murray Caregiver Program. She pioneered the Response Assessment in Neuro-Oncology (RANO) criteria now standard in clinical trials. Recent publications emphasize hyperpolarized MRI and AI-driven response assessment in gliomas. Scientific honors include the Lai Wan Kan Endowed Chair and leadership roles in NIH-funded projects. Grants: NIH P01CA118816, SPORE P50CA097257 She directs clinical trials for glioblastoma, including NCT04549515 and NCT03094169, and has shaped international guidelines for brain tumor management.

Jennie TaylorView profile

Associate Professor

• Neuro-Oncology
• Brain Tumors
• Molecular Markers
• +5 more

Jennie Taylor, MD, MPH is an Associate Professor in Neurology at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) School of Medicine , affiliated with the UCSF Brain Tumor Research Center . She specializes in adult neuro-oncology with a focus on primary brain tumors. Education: University of Kentucky College of Medicine (MD), Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health (MPH) Training: Internship/Residency at University of Virginia Medical Center, Neuro-Oncology fellowship at Massachusetts General Hospital/Dana-Farber Cancer Institute Research interests include molecular and imaging markers of treatment resistance in brain tumors, quality of life optimization for patients and caregivers, and genomic profiling of gliomas. Her recent publications emphasize IDH-mutant glioma evolution , immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment , and precision medicine in neuro-oncology . She co-directs the Neuro-Oncology Gordon Murray Caregiver Program and contributes to clinical trial design and multidisciplinary neuro-oncology care . Her work spans molecular neuro-oncology , radiogenomics , and supportive care innovations .

Elin KarlssonView profile

Lecturer

• Disability Research
• Audiology
• International Classification of Functioning Disability and Health (ICF)
• +6 more

Elin Karlsson is an adjunct lecturer at Örebro University's School of Health Sciences, Department of Health Sciences, and a researcher at the Audiology Research Center, Region Örebro County. She teaches in the Master's program in Hearing Science/Occupational Therapy, Audiologist program, and Occupational Therapist program, with upcoming postdoctoral research at Western University, Canada starting fall 2024. Her educational background includes: Master's degree in Audiology (University of Gothenburg) Master's degree in Gerontology (Jönköping University) Doctor of Medicine in Disability Research (Örebro University), focused on audiology Specializing in disability research and clinical audiology , Karlsson's work centers on the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) framework. She develops and validates patient-reported instruments like the Hearing and Functioning in Everyday Life Questionnaire (HFEQ) and Empowerment Audiology Questionnaire (EmpAQ-15), examining how hearing loss impacts daily activities, social participation, and empowerment. Her research bridges rehabilitation science, psychometrics, and cross-cultural healthcare assessment. Recent publications (2021-2025) reveal a focused trajectory on ICF-based instrument validation for hearing disorders. Key trends include multinational studies of HFEQ, psychometric refinement of hearing assessment tools, and scoping reviews of disability frameworks. Her work consistently addresses hearing loss functional impact, questionnaire translation challenges, and empowerment measurement across diverse populations. Karlsson actively collaborates with researchers in Canada, South Africa, USA, Jönköping University, India, Norway, and Switzerland. She is affiliated with the Interdisciplinary Research in Clinical Audiology (IRCA) group at Örebro University, focusing on evidence-based audiological practices and global hearing rehabilitation strategies.

Samantha PorterView profile

Adjunct Assistant Professor

• Public Policy
• Urban Policy
• Community Development
• +3 more

Samantha Porter is an Adjunct Assistant Professor at the College of Liberal Arts at Temple University, where she teaches courses such as PLCY 8127: Public Policy Project . Her professional career spans academia, government, and consulting sectors, with a focus on economic growth in underserved communities. Education : Bachelor's degree in German and Political Science, magna cum laude , from Temple University (2004) Master of Public Administration (MPA) from the Fels Institute of Government at the University of Pennsylvania (2012) Research & Professional Focus : Porter specializes in public policy with emphasis on community development , low-income housing recovery , and grants management . Her work at the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia and prior roles in the Mayor’s office highlight her commitment to addressing systemic inequities through policy implementation and strategic outreach. Professional Affiliations : Current Community Engagement and Outreach Manager at the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia (since 2020) Experienced in government roles, including Deputy Director for Policy and Strategic Initiatives at the Mayor’s Policy Office (Philadelphia, 2019) Consulting background with ICF and grants management at Thomas Jefferson University

• Stroke Rehabilitation
• Occupational Therapy Practices
• Neurorehabilitation
• +5 more

Mark Kovic, O.T.D., OTR/L, is a Professor and Associate Program Director in the Occupational Therapy Program at Midwestern University's College of Health Sciences-Downers Grove. He holds a Post-Professional Occupational Therapy Doctorate from the University of Illinois at Chicago (2008) and a Master of Science in Humanitarian Action from the University of San Diego (2025). His research focuses on stroke rehabilitation protocols, global healthcare workforce certification, and implementation of the WHO ICF model in international settings. Dr. Kovic's leadership roles include Chairperson of the American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine Stroke SIG, Therapy Missions President, and CGFNS Global Healthcare Worker Certification Team Lead. He has received prestigious awards such as the Thelma Cardwell Research Award and is a Fulbright Specialist. His interdisciplinary work spans postacute stroke care standards, 3D-printed assistive technologies, and Parkinson’s disease therapy practices. Teaching activities include courses like Professional Development II/III and Data-Based Decision Making. His research emphasizes bridging clinical practice with global health challenges, particularly through technology-driven solutions and policy advocacy.

Razan Al FakirView profile

Assistant Professor

• Hearing Loss
• Balance Disorders
• Audiology Rehabilitation
• +7 more

Razan Al Fakir is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences at Auburn University. She holds an M.D. in Otolaryngology from Damascus University Hospital (Syria), an Au.D. from Nova Southeastern University, and a Ph.D. in Communication Sciences and Disorders from the University of Florida. Her research focuses on hearing loss, balance disorders, and audiologic rehabilitation, with a particular emphasis on interdisciplinary approaches to patient care. Dr. Al Fakir has extensive clinical experience in Syria and Qatar, including pioneering the Syrian cochlear implant program. She served as a Crawford Research Fellow at the Mayo Clinic, collaborating with otologists, audiologists, and neuroscientists to advance patient-centered care. Education: Ph.D., Communication Sciences and Disorders, University of Florida AuD., Nova Southeastern University M.D., Otolaryngology, Damascus University Hospital Research Interests: Dr. Al Fakir’s work integrates audiological assessment tools like the HEAR-COMMAND questionnaire and ICF frameworks to evaluate hearing-related disability. She explores the impact of vascular disease on audiovestibular function in aging populations and develops empathy-driven education through virtual reality. Her studies address chronic conditions such as Zenker diverticulum and chronic rhinosinusitis, emphasizing functional outcomes and patient-reported metrics. Awards: 2022 Outstanding Young Alumni Award, University of Florida 2016 Crawford Fellowship Award, Mayo Clinic 2016 Dean’s Scholar Award, University of Florida Advising & Grants: As a mentor, Dr. Al Fakir guides students in audiology and geriatric research. Her lab, the ABILITY Lab, focuses on rehabilitative innovations. She has secured grants supporting her work on hearing aid risk assessment (CEDRA tool) and interdisciplinary clinical studies. Labs & Teams: Director of the ABILITY Lab, collaborating with multidisciplinary teams on projects blending audiology, neurology, and geriatric care.

• Education Policy
• History of Education
• Comparative Pedagogy
• +3 more

Jesper Eckhardt Larsen is a Professor in the Department of Pedagogy at the University of Inland Norway’s Faculty of Teacher Education and Pedagogy. His primary research focuses on Nordic educational systems, the history of education, and the role of humanities within welfare states. He is affiliated with the Global Perspectives in Education research group and teaches at the Lillehammer campus in Room 1Ø5022. His work examines comparative educational policies across Scandinavian countries, with an emphasis on teacher education, cultural dimensions of pedagogy, and historical institutional frameworks. Key topics include the interplay between education systems and societal values, the evolution of Nordic educational models, and the integration of humanities in modern curricula. Recent publications analyze Scandinavian welfare state policies, teacher professionalism, and institutional governance. His research bridges historical analysis with contemporary educational challenges, offering insights into global education trends through a Nordic lens. Larsen’s academic activities include contributions to international conferences and editorial work. His research locations and affiliations reflect a commitment to interdisciplinary collaboration in educational studies.

Jesse AardenView profile

Researcher

• Geriatric Care
• Rehabilitation Medicine
• Telehealth
• +3 more

Jesse Aarden is a researcher at the CENTRE FOR APPLIED RESEARCH ON HEALTH, specializing in geriatric care, rehabilitation medicine, and telehealth. His work focuses on improving outcomes for hospitalized older adults through innovative interventions such as telemonitoring and AI-driven healthcare solutions. He has contributed to studies on post-hospital discharge care, telerehabilitation delivery systems, and automated health record analysis. Key research interests include functional decline prevention, patient-centered rehabilitation strategies, and leveraging technology to enhance healthcare accessibility. His projects often involve international collaborations, such as studies comparing telehealth practices between Canada and the Netherlands. Notable contributions include the Hospital-ADL study on physical resilience and the A-PROOF project automating ICF classification in electronic health records. He has organized workshops on generative AI in healthcare education and presented on topics like voicebots in clinical settings.

• Occupational Therapy
• Clinical Reasoning
• Rural Health Services
• +5 more

Dr Jennie Brentnall is a Senior Lecturer in Occupational Therapy within the Faculty of Health Sciences at the University of Sydney, specializing in clinical reasoning, rural health service delivery, and allied health education. Her work focuses on improving clinical placement readiness for students and developing sustainable models for disability services in rural Australia. Her research interests center on occupational therapy practice frameworks, clinical reasoning development, and culturally responsive service delivery for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. She investigates work readiness in final practice education placements, simulation-based learning for interprofessional education, and the integration of the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) in rural contexts. Her work frequently addresses geographic disparities in healthcare access and workforce retention challenges in remote areas. Dr Brentnall's publication trends reveal a strong focus on rural disability services (2014-2018), clinical reasoning in occupational therapy (2017-2022), and interprofessional simulation for placement preparation (2023-2024). Her recent work demonstrates increasing emphasis on evaluating educational design for immersive simulation and developing multidisciplinary assessment tools for student readiness. She currently supervises PhD candidate Sarah Miles, whose research examines work readiness in occupational therapy final placements. Dr Brentnall has secured significant research grants including the 2018 ANZAHPE grant for developing a multidisciplinary evaluation tool for clinical placements and the 2017 Australian Collaborative Education Network grant for building student evaluative judgment through peer placements. Dr Brentnall is actively involved with the Rural Research Team and contributes to the 'Wobbly Hub' project, which integrates evidence into sustainable disability service delivery in western New South Wales. Her work with the Work Integrated Learning initiative focuses on bridging theory and practice through simulation and fieldwork models.

• Rehabilitation Medicine
• Neurology
• Neurosciences
• +4 more

Kristian Borg is a Professor of Rehabilitation Medicine at Karolinska Institutet, affiliated with the Department of Clinical Sciences at Danderyd Hospital. His work bridges clinical practice and research, focusing on neurology, neurosciences, and rehabilitation medicine. He holds a dual role as a Senior Physician, emphasizing patient care alongside academic contributions. Research Interests: Borg’s research emphasizes post-COVID-19 rehabilitation, neurological rehabilitation, chronic pain management, and cognitive dysfunction. His studies investigate biomarkers, telerehabilitation protocols, and interdisciplinary care models for conditions like post-polio syndrome and long-COVID syndromes. He advocates for health policy reforms to strengthen rehabilitation systems globally. Grants & Projects: Borg leads major grants including the Rehabkompassen® digital tool trial for stroke recovery (Swedish Research Council, 2023–2026) and longitudinal studies on cognitive deficits post-COVID-19 (2021–2025). These projects emphasize patient-tailored care and translational research. Publications: Over 200 publications span rehabilitation methodologies, post-ICU recovery, and neurology. Notable works address telerehabilitation efficacy, biomarker analysis, and health systems research. Recent articles highlight cognitive and functional improvements via multidisciplinary interventions. Labs/Teams: Active in interdisciplinary teams studying post-viral syndromes and neuromuscular disorders. Collaborates globally on policy initiatives to integrate rehabilitation into healthcare systems.