The Duke Interdisciplinary Rehabilitation Research Group completed the fall 2024 dates of its Seminar Series with three insightful lectures that highlighted cross-institution collaboration and knowledge sharing.
“The seminars provide a valuable opportunity for us to come together, share knowledge, and listen to the inspiring work of our colleagues and guests,” said Kimberley Hreha, EdD, OTR/L, assistant professor, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery; Senior Fellow, Duke Center for the Study of Aging and Human Development; assistant professor, Department of Ophthalmology, who co-leads the seminar series with Timothy Faw, PT, DPT, PhD, assistant professor of Orthopaedic Surgery, and Laura Pietrosimone, PT, PDT, PhD, assistant professor of Orthopaedic Surgery; assistant director, K-Lab. “It is also wonderful to see students engaging with the speakers and learning about the breadth of innovation happening in rehabilitation.”
“Hearing Loss Research at the Intersection of Medical Sociology and Clinical Practice”
Presented by Jessica S. West, PhD, MPH; Medical Instructor, Duke Department of Head and Neck Surgery & Communication Sciences
Dr. West kicked off the series on August 28. Her work focuses on hearing loss, aging, and health disparities across the life span.
She shared that over 73 million people will experience hearing loss by 2027, and that “Hearing loss is not just a natural aging process and can happen anytime.”
Dr. West summarized current research and techniques for helping patients modify their lives to accommodate hearing loss. This information provided a sound basis of knowledge for future OT and PT practitioners attending the seminar.
“Revitalizing Rehabilitation in Contemporary Rheumatology Care”
Presented by Louise Thoma, PT, PhD; Assistant Professor, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Division of Physical Therapy
On September 25, Dr. Thoma talked about her research that traces the evolution of rehab for patients with rheumatoid arthritis and analyzes the need and evidence for rehab as a treatment in conjunction with medication.
Her research showed that in prior years, rheumatologists were not frequently generating referrals for their patients to receive physical and occupational therapy but that patients were enthusiastic about the potential opportunity for rehab.
A pilot feasibility trial will be coming soon, and the hope is better to integrate PT and OT into rheumatoid arthritis treatment models to reverse or slow functional decline and preserve valued activities in life.
“The Neural Origin and Function of the Supraspinal Control during Post-Stroke Walking”
Presented by Bobby Charalambous, PhD; Medical Instructor, Duke University, Department of Neurology
The fall series concluded on November 13 with Dr. Charalambous. His research focuses on the assessment and modulation of the motor descending pathways to both upper and lower extremities, human locomotor control and learning, neuromechanical analysis of human movement, tracking of neural and motor recovery in clinical cohorts, and use of innovative computational approaches for the analysis of neurophysiological and neuromechanical data.
During his presentation, he explained that as research continues to identify cause-and-effect relationships in the body’s neural pathways, it will be possible to develop new neurorehabilitation strategies that can help improve the life of someone who has suffered a stroke.
The Duke Interdisciplinary Rehabilitation Research Group’s Seminar Series resumes in the spring semester with a presentation by Dustin Grooms, PhD, ATC, Professor at Ohio University, Division of Physical Therapy, on January 23. Learn more about the upcoming seminars.