Hannes Devos, Ph.D., PT, FACRM

Professional Background

Hannes Devos, Ph.D., PT, DRS, FACRM, is an associate professor in the Department of Physical Therapy, Rehabilitation Science, and Athletic Training with a joint appointment in the Department of Occupational Therapy Education. He is director of course REHS 887 Neurorehabilitation in the rehabilitation science doctoral program.

Devos' research interests are centered on the intersection between cognition and mobility in healthy aging and age-related neurodegenerative conditions. As a driving rehabilitation specialist, he also renders clinical services to clients seeking to continue driving vehicles.

Devos serves on several national and international professional organizations. He is chair of the Neurodegenerative Diseases Networking Group of the American Congress in Rehabilitation Medicine. He also serves as executive member of the Special Interest Group on Driving of the World Federation for Neurorehabilitation, and he is a member of the research committee of the Association for Driving Rehabilitation Specialists.

Academic Background
Devos earned a bachelor’s degree in 2002 and a master’s degree in 2005 in physical therapy and rehabilitation science at the University of Leuven in Belgium. He then started an academic career as a teaching assistant and research assistant in neurorehabilitation.

In 2011, Devos earned his doctoral degree in biomedical science at the University of Leuven. After being awarded a three-year postdoctoral fellowship, Devos relocated to the United States where he trained in neurology and mechanical engineering at the University of Iowa in Iowa City. In 2013, Devos accepted a faculty position at Augusta University in Augusta, Georgia.

To continue his academic career, he joined the faculty of the School of Health Professions at KU Medical Center in 2016. He was awarded promotion to associate professor with tenure in 2020.

Research

Overview

Devos is co-director of the Laboratory for Advanced Rehabilitation Research in Simulation (LARRS), co-director of the Driving and Mobility Services clinic, and director of the mobility core of the University of Kansas Center for Community Access, Rehabilitation Research, Education, and Service (KU-CARES). His career goal is to make meaningful and significant contributions to the rehabilitation outcomes of older adults with and without neurodegenerative diseases.

Current research by Devos is centered on cognition and mobility in aging and early neurodegeneration. His long-term research goal is to shift the paradigm of rehabilitation research to early detection and intervention of mobility deficits before they affect daily-life functioning and quality of life.

His publications show a diverse portfolio with expertise in virtual reality, eye tracking, electro-encephalography and machine learning to detect and train mobility impairments in neurotypical aging and age-related neurodegeneration.