معرفی
Gabriela Abbud serves as an Associate Teaching Professor in the Department of Physical Therapy, Faculty of Rehabilitation Medicine at the University of Alberta. She has been a full-time teaching staff member in the MScPT program at the Calgary Satellite since 2016 and currently holds the role of Calgary Clinical Education Coordinator, overseeing physiotherapy placements across the province.
Her educational qualifications include:
- Bachelor of Science in Physiotherapy, University of Sao Paulo, Brazil
- Master of Science in Exercise Science, Concordia University, Canada
- Canadian Physiotherapy Equivalence (2009)
Research interests center on neurological rehabilitation, physical activity and community integration, aging, and clinical education. Her work investigates mobility challenges in neurological populations, the role of physical activity in community reintegration, and innovative approaches to clinical teaching for physiotherapy students.
Analysis of her publications reveals a strong emphasis on gait dynamics, attentional demands during locomotion, and rehabilitation strategies for older adults and individuals with ataxia. Key contributions include studies on dual-task walking, the use of animal-assisted gait aids, and the impact of sensory cues on motor performance.
In her role as Calgary Clinical Education Coordinator, Abbud manages clinical placements for physiotherapy students across Alberta and contributes significantly to the Internationally Educated Physiotherapist Bridging Program. She teaches courses such as PTHER 565: Aging and Physical Therapy, integrating her research expertise into the curriculum.
She actively collaborates with healthcare facilities province-wide to develop clinical training opportunities, fostering strong partnerships between the University of Alberta and the physiotherapy community.