I am pleased to announce that the Agenda Committee of the Academic Board has approved the appointment of Professor Kara Patterson as Interim Chair and Graduate Chair, Department of Physical Therapy, from January 1 to June 30, 2024, or until a new chair is appointed, whichever is first. She takes over from Professor Susan Jaglal who concludes her term as Chair on December 31, 2023.
Dr. Kara Patterson received her PhD in Rehabilitation Science from the University of Toronto in 2010, having earned her master’s degree in 2006. She joined U of T in 2013 as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Physical Therapy and was promoted to Associate Professor in 2020. She is also a Senior Scientist at KITE – Toronto Rehabilitation Institute at UHN.
The overall goal of Professor Patterson’s research program is to advance neurorehabilitation practice in order to improve gait and mobility outcomes for individuals living with neurological conditions and in particular, stroke. Her research is comprised of two main themes: 1) characterizing the impact of neurological injury and 2) development of novel rehabilitation interventions. She has (co)authored more than 80 journal articles and has received grants from CIHR, Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada, and the Canadian Partnership for Stroke Recovery, among others. Professor Patterson has been primary or co-supervisor, or faculty advisor to many graduate students and is an active teacher in the Department of Physical Therapy and the Rehabilitation Sciences Institute.
Please join me in thanking Professor Jaglal for her excellent leadership of the Department since 2019, and Professor Patterson for assuming this important role.
