Associate Professor
Department of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Sciences
Galveston, Texas, United States
I am an Associate Professor and occupational therapist in the Department of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Sciences at the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston, TX. I teach Basic Foundations of Research for the Post-Professional OTD Program and mentor entry-level occupational therapy doctoral students with their capstone projects. Previously I taught the topics of Management, Psychosocial Practice, Mental Health Fieldwork, Legal and Ethics, and Research Methods at the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston, TX.
I am an innovative researcher focusing primarily on improving functional independence and quality of life for adults with disabilities using assistive technology interventions. I am currently investigating the use of internet-connected assistive devices (iCAD), such as smartphones, virtual personal assistants like Alexa and Siri, and laptops with apps to improve the lives of persons from underserved communities with disabilities. I am involved in a longitudinal study investigating pressure detection at wheelchair seat interfaces to inform clinicians about seat cushion performance by collecting data on sitting patterns and pressure relief measures taken by persons from underserved communities who use wheelchairs. I am also involved in a study examining the longitudinal development of shoulder pathology among manual wheelchair users.
I rely on iCAD to complete all of my daily tasks. From paying bills to teaching graduate courses, shopping, and participating in social activities online, these devices help me overcome some of the barriers I encounter while using a power wheelchair. With this grant application, Dr. Quamar and I aim to use our knowledge of iCAD to help others from underserved communities with disabilities improve their effectiveness in completing daily tasks and socially connecting to others. To do this, we aim to strengthen the psychometric properties of an outcome measurement tool Quamar developed during his dissertation called the EISA 1.0 (Electronic Instrumental activities of daily living Satisfaction Assessment V1.0). The EISA aims to help clinicians assess and consider the possibility of using off-the-shelf, ubiquitous iCAD as an intervention to assist people from underserved populations with disabilities to participate more easily in daily tasks and their social communities to improve their quality of life. We aim to bolster the validity, conduct cognitive interviews, and collect and analyze data from the end-users - clinicians and people from underserved communities with disabilities - to modify and improve the EISA 1.0, and then pilot an EISA 2.0.
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Frailty Measurement and Management: A Multidisciplinary Perspective 9609
Friday, November 1, 2024
4:15 PM – 5:15 PM