In partnership with ACRM, NIDILRR annually selects five ARRT Fellows to present research relevant to the ACRM mission and attendees of the ACRM Annual Conference. The 2015 ARRT Fellows are:

Carmen Capo-Lugo presenting Reduced Functional and Quality of Life Outcomes Associated With Delays in Evaluation for Acute Rehabilitation Services #4764

Dr. Carmen E. Capo-Lugo is a post-doctoral fellow in Health Services and Outcomes Research at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. She holds a PhD in Neuroscience, a Master of Science in Physical Therapy and a Graduate Certificate in Health-focused Patient Management.

Her research focuses on identifying and optimizing processes of care associated with neurorehabilitation in order to promote long-term patient recovery. Specifically, Dr. Capo-Lugo is interested developing patient-centered approaches to neurorehabilitation that provide continuity of care between acute rehabilitation and long-term community recovery for individuals with acquired neurological disabilities.

Hyun Ka presenting Voice-Controlled Vision-based Semi-Autonomous Assistive Robotic Manipulation Assistance #4853

Dr. Hyun Ka is a post-doctoral researcher in Department of Rehabilitation Science and Technology at the University of Pittsburgh. He earned his BS in computer science and education from Yonsei University, South Korea (2002), MS in instructional technology from the same institution (2005); and PhD in rehabilitation science from the University of Pittsburgh (2013).

Hyun’s main research interests are in alternative input methods & devices for assistive technologies and developing intelligent algorithm based on user intent recognition and alternative modalities. He is proficient in several programming languages and has extensive research and clinical experience in advanced assistive technologies, including intelligent alternative control methods for assistive robotics and smart wheelchair, alternative user interaction design for computer access, speech recognition and synthesis, screen reader, alternative & augmentative communication software, and multi-modal adaptive user interface.

Rachel Ward presenting Impairments Contributing to Persistently Poor and Declining Mobility in Late-Life: New Findings Informing Geriatric Rehabilitation #4845.

Rachel Ward received her MPH and PhD in Epidemiology at the University of Pittsburgh, where she studied poor peripheral nerve function as a predictor of musculoskeletal and mobility decline in older adults. She is currently a postdoctoral fellow within the Health and Disability Research Institute at Boston University School of Public Health and in the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital.

Her current research focuses on neuromuscular contributors to mobility decline and disability in older adults. Dr. Ward is funded by the Training in Rehabilitation Outcomes Measurement Research grant through the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living and Rehabilitation Research.

Shaswati Geed presenting Reliability of Corticomotor Excitability in Proximal Upper-Extremity Muscles of Severely-Impaired Chronic Stroke Patients #3825

Shashwati Geed, PT, PhD, is an Advanced Rehabilitation Research Training (ARRT) post-doctoral fellow at MedStar National Rehabilitation Hospital in Washington, DC. She trained as a Physical Therapist in India followed by a PhD in Kinesiology (concentration: motor control and neuroscience) from the University of Wisconsin – Madison. Her research focuses on neurophysiology of arm function recovery in patients post stroke and brain injuries.

Lucia Smith-Wexlar presenting Disordered Eating, Weight, and Physical Activity Concerns in Rehabilitation Outpatients with Acquired Brain Injury #4854

Dr. Lucia Smith-Wexler currently works as a psychologist at NYU Langone Medical Center, Rusk Rehabilitation where she completed her internship and fellowship in the NIDILRR funded Advanced Rehabilitation Research Training program. She graduated from the Clinical Psychology (Health Emphasis) PhD program at Ferkauf Graduate School of Psychology, Yeshiva University, and is a bicultural Spanish-speaking psychologist who specializes in cultural competence issues in rehabilitation psychology.

She has presented at state and national rehabilitation and brain injury conferences, and has been involved in planning and Continuing Education Committees. During her post-doctoral fellowship, she was involved in various funded research projects in the areas of Multiple Sclerosis, mild traumatic brain injury, and emotion self-regulation and problem-solving. In addition, she developed an independent research project investigating disordered eating and other health behaviors following acquired brain injury.