Ghazala Saleem

Dr. Ghazala Saleem is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Rehabilitation Science at the University at Buffalo’s School of Public Health and Health Professions. Her research focuses on neuromotor and physiological mechanisms in vulnerable populations with brain injury, motor control/learning, and targeted neuromodulatory interventions. She leads the Brain Function and Recovery Lab, emphasizing objective detection methods and cost-effective treatments for brain injury.

Education:

• EdD, Movement Sciences (Occupational Therapy), Teachers College, Columbia University (2016)
• MS, Occupational Therapy, Columbia University (2010)
• BS, Psychology (Summa Cum Laude), Missouri Western State University (2006)
• Postdoctoral Fellowships: Johns Hopkins University (Brain Injury Neurorehabilitation, 2019) and Harvard Medical School (Clinical Trials, 2018)

Research Interests: Dr. Saleem investigates interventions to enhance recovery in brain injury, particularly in populations with limited access to care. Her work combines neuroimaging, motor learning assessments, and neuromodulation to address post-concussive symptoms, intimate partner violence-related TBI, and pediatric motor performance. She is advancing telemedicine approaches for concussion assessment and advocating for marginalized communities.

Awards:

• ACRM Brain Injury SIG Scholarship Award (2021)
• ACRM Complementary and Integrative Rehabilitation Medicine Fellowship (2021)

Lab & Future Work: The Brain Function and Recovery Lab develops scalable solutions for brain injury rehabilitation. Current projects include studying IPV-associated TBI and optimizing telehealth concussion exams. Dr. Saleem aims to bridge clinical research and real-world accessibility, particularly for underserved populations.