SPECIAL SYMPOSIA are not-to-be-missed presentations & award lectures led by top researchers and clinicians
SPECIAL SYMPOSIA refer to one or more symposium in each block of concurrent sessions, luncheon lectures, and award lectures that have extra-wide appeal.
See faculty & session details in the Searchable Online Program >>
SPECIAL SYMPOSIUM: 5th Annual Women in Rehabilitation Science Symposium
Flavia H. Santos, PhD
Assistant Professor / Ad Astra Fellow, University College Dublin
Patricia C. Heyn, PhD, FGSA, FACRM
Associate Professor of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus
Kelli W. Gary, PhD, MPH, OTR/L
Assistant Professor Department of Rehabilitation Counseling, Virginia Commonwealth University
Monique R. Pappadis, MEd, PhD
Assistant Professor, The University of Texas Medical Branch
Alison M. Cogan, PhD, OTR/L
Health Science Specialist, VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System
Deborah Backus, PT, PhD, FACRM
Vice President of Research & Innovation, Shepherd Center
Mark A. Hirsch, PhD, FACRM
Senior Scientist; Director Parkinson Disease and Movement Disorders Lab Carolinas Rehabilitation/Carolinas Medical Center
SPECIAL SYMPOSIUM: Activity Based Neuroplastic Interventions in Pediatric Population With Spinal Cord Related Paralysis
Cristina L. Sadowsky, MD
Clinical Director International Center for Spinal Cord Injury, Kennedy Krieger Institute
SPECIAL SYMPOSIUM: Black Men Brain Health in the United States: From NFL Athlete to Old Age
Patricia C. Heyn, PhD, FGSA, FACRM
Associate Professor of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus
Roland J. Thorpe, Jr., PhD
Professor, Johns Hopkins Center for Health Disparities Solutions
Robert W. Turner, II, PhD
Assistant Professor, Department of Clinical Research & Leadership, Department of Neurology, George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences
SPECIAL SYMPOSIUM: Brain Mechanisms and Clinical Applications of Mindfulness Meditation for Neuroplasticity and Neurorehabilitation
Yi-Yuan Tang, PhD
Presidential Endowed Chair in Neuroscience, Professor of Psychological Sciences/Internal Medicine, Texas Tech University
SPECIAL SYMPOSIUM: Cognitive Training for Parkinson’s Disease During a Global Pandemic
Michele K. York, PhD, ABPP-CN, FACRM
Professor of Neurology and Psychiatry, and Neuropsychology Section Head, Baylor College of Medicine
Ekaterina Dobryakova, PhD
Research Scientist, Kessler Foundation
Hannes Devos, PhD
Associate Professor, University of Kansas Medical Center
Iracema Leroi, MD, MRCPsych, FRCPC
Associate Professor, Global Brain Health Institute, Trinity College Dublin
Sandra L. Kletzel, PhD
Research Health Scientist, Edward Hines Jr. VA
SPECIAL SYMPOSIUM: Collaboration Makes Us Stronger: Alliances to Advance Stroke Recovery Research
Julie Bernhardt, PhD
Senior Principal Research Fellow, Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health
Pamela Roberts, PhD, MSHA, OTR/L, SCFES, FAOTA, CPHQ, FNAP, FACRM
Executive Director and Professor, Cedars-Sinai
Veronica T. Rowe, MS(R), PhD, OTR/L, CBIST, FNAP
Assistant Professor, Georgia State University
SPECIAL SYMPOSIUM: COVID-19, Inflammation, and Neuropsychiatric Function
Jennifer Loftis, PhD
Research Scientist and Professor of Psychiatry, VA Portland Health Care System and Oregon Health & Science University
C. Sue Carter, PhD
Distinguished University Research Professor, Indiana University
Amy A. Herrold, PhD
Research Health Scientist, Edward Hines Jr., VA Hospital
SPECIAL SYMPOSIUM: Exploring the Impacts of the COVID-19 Pandemic Mental Health and Suicide Risk in Veterans: Building an Evidence Base to Inform Pandemic Recovery
Amy A. Herrold, PhD
Research Health Scientist, Edward Hines Jr., VA Hospital
Bryann DeBeer, PhD
Director and Clinical Research Psychologist, Rocky Mountain MIRECC for Suicide Prevention, Department of Veterans Affairs
Christopher A. Lowry, PhD
Associate Professor, University of Colorado Boulder
SPECIAL SYMPOSIUM: Harnessing Human Technologies to Optimise the Development, Deployment and use of Rehabilitation Technology
Nicola Kayes, PhD, MSc (Hons), BSc
Professor of Rehabilitation and Director, Centre for Person Centred Research Auckland University of Technology
SPECIAL SYMPOSIUM: Living in a System that is Broken: Perspectives of the SCI Community on Research and Real Life
Kim Anderson-Erisman, PhD
Professor, Dept. of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Metrohealth Medical Center | Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine
SPECIAL SYMPOSIUM: Pediatric Traumatic Brain Injury: Implications for K-12 Students
Angela H. Ciccia, PhD, CCC-SLP
Associate Professor, Case Western Reserve University
SPECIAL SYMPOSIUM: TECHNOLOGIES APPLIED TO THE REHABILITATION OF PEOPLE WITH SPINAL INJURY (SCI) IN DEVELOPING COUNTRIES: MEDULAPP, REHABILITATION AVAILABLE TO EVERYONE
Melina Longoni, Physician
Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Hyperbaric Medicine Specialist, ReDel Rehabilitation Center and Director of Disability of the Municipality of Ituzaingó san Jerónimo Sur
SPECIAL SYMPOSIUM: What Works for Those Who Want to Work? Addressing Employment Needs in Tandem with VA Healthcare
Christina Dillahunt-Aspillaga, PhD, CRC, CVE, CLCP, CBIST, CRS
Associate Professor; Research Affiliate, University of South Florida; James A. Haley Hospital and Clinics
Shana Bakken, PhD, CRC
National Director, VHA Vocational Rehabilitation Service, Office of Mental Health and Suicide Prevention VA Central Office Veterans Health Administration
Deveney Ching, MA, CRC, CBIST
Doctoral Candidate, James A Haley, VA, Tampa; University of South Florida
Lisa Ottomanelli, PhD
Clinical Psychologist, Research and Development Service, James A. Haley Veterans’ Hospital and Clinics
