2023 Edition

Letter from the Editors

It is our pleasure to introduce the International Interdisciplinary Special Interest Group’s fifth annual newsletter! Two of our members, Eva Pettemeridou from Cyprus and Rozlie Potts from Florida, come together to compile highlights of our annual global outreach and valuable, relevant research updates. Each year, we look forward to learning about recent changes and improvements in the diversity of clinical practice around the world. We are proud to have members who live and work in at least 25 different countries! We strive to collect and summarize the findings and experiences of our fellow researchers and clinicians to provide our readers a reliable resource for culturally appropriate and efficacious guidelines within the field of rehabilitation. Our number one priority is to provide individualized care, while aligning with culturally appropriate standards. Additionally, we pride ourselves on maintaining evidenced-based techniques for functional clinical outcomes. 

This year we are excited to learn more about our members, Fransiska M. Bossuyt, PhD, Mansha Mirza PhD, OTR/L and our Brucker Award Winner, Stephen Bornheim, PT, PhD, through personal interviews. We will also hear from our Task Force Chairs with recent updates regarding COVID-19 Rehabilitation, Organization and Research, Refugee Empowerment and International Service Delivery. If you feel passionate about any of these topics, please reach out to Chetan Phadke or Eva Pettemeridou to get involved in our Task Force Initiatives! Our valued I-ISIG group members get the wonderful opportunity to expand cultural awareness through connecting with colleagues around the world to share innovative techniques, knowledge and unique experiences which drives positive change in diversifying healthcare. We hope our readers will explore our newsletter and reach out to get involved from a global perspective! The medical field is ever changing; innovation and collaboration are key components to moving forward toward effective and culturally appropriate care around the world. We hope you will be empowered by the different success stories, on both research and clinical practices, shared within our newsletter!

A grand appreciation goes out to the Commission Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities International (CARF) for your consistent commitment to our maintenance of internationally recognized standards of care. We are forever grateful for our devoted leaders, Kristine Kingsley, Fofi Constantinidou, and Chetan Phadke for their ongoing dedication and guidance. We look forward to another year of staying connected with our members and meeting prospective members! Please contact us to get involved or share ideas, questions or concerns via email: Chetan Phadke cphadke@gmail.com

Respectfully submitted,

Eva Pettemeridou & Rozlie Potts