Doug Gross

Doug Gross serves as Professor and Chair of the Physical Therapy department within the Faculty of Rehabilitation Medicine at the University of Alberta. With over 25 years of professional experience since becoming licensed in 1997, he has established himself as a leading researcher in work disability prevention and occupational rehabilitation.

His educational background includes a BSc in Physical Therapy (1997), PhD in Physical Therapy (2003), and Diploma in Work Disability Prevention Research (2009), all from the University of Alberta. Previously serving as Director of the Rehabilitation Research Centre from 2012-2024, he currently holds the position of Co-Director since July 2024 and serves as Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Occupational Rehabilitation since 2020.

Gross's research program focuses on preventing disability and improving outcomes for individuals with physical and mental health conditions through evaluation of clinical interventions, identification of recovery factors, and development of practical assessment tools. His work spans occupational rehabilitation, workers' compensation systems, return-to-work strategies, and increasingly addresses Long COVID rehabilitation challenges.

Analysis of his recent publications reveals a strong emphasis on telehealth applications in occupational rehabilitation, predictive modeling for surgical triage, and innovative approaches to managing work disability in complex health conditions. His research consistently bridges clinical practice with public health implementation.

• Killam Laureate and McCalla Professor
• Recipient of Liberty Mutual Work Disability Award (2014)
• Multiple teaching awards including 'Great Supervisor' Award (2018)
• Editor-in-Chief of Journal of Occupational Rehabilitation (Impact Factor 2.5)
• Recipient of Outstanding Presentation Award at 2025 World Physiotherapy Congress

Gross leads the Rehabilitation Research Centre which provides research consulting services, maintains specialized resources, connects investigators with qualified personnel, supports grant applications, and develops research links across the university and clinical communities. His work with the Glen Sather Sports Medicine Clinic Research Committee (2012-2020) demonstrates his commitment to translational research in sports medicine contexts.