Alison Cogan

Dr. Alison Cogan is an Assistant Professor and Director of the Rehabilitation and Functional Recovery Studies in Health Services (ReFReSH) lab at the University of Southern California's USC Chan Division of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy. She holds a PhD in Occupational Science and an MS in Occupational Therapy from USC, as well as a postdoctoral fellowship from the Washington DC Veterans Affairs Medical Center. Her research focuses on optimizing rehabilitation services for individuals with acquired brain injuries, particularly military service members and veterans, emphasizing functional recovery and community participation. Dr. Cogan has over 35 peer-reviewed publications and serves leadership roles in the American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine (ACRM). She has been honored with the Deborah L. Wilkerson Early Career Award and recognized for peer review excellence by prominent journals.

Education:

• PhD in Occupational Science, University of Southern California
• MS in Occupational Therapy, University of Southern California
• Postdoctoral Fellowship, Washington DC Veterans Affairs Medical Center
• MA in Exercise Physiology, Temple University
• BA in Political Science, Temple University

Research Interests:

• Community participation and reintegration
• Traumatic brain injury
• Military and Veteran health issues
• Health services research
• Rehabilitation outcomes

Dr. Cogan’s work emphasizes health services systems and the occupational aspects of providing and receiving rehabilitation therapies. Her recent projects include developing predictive models for functional recovery in stroke patients and analyzing electronic health record transitions. She actively collaborates with the VA and military healthcare systems to improve care delivery and patient outcomes.