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Our Students

As a student within KU's doctoral program in rehabilitation science, you'll benefit from the mentorship of program faculty and the interdisciplinary environment fostered by the University of Kansas Medical Center. 

Pedram Ahmadnezhad, M.S.

Academic background: physical therapy, rehabilitation science with a concentration in exercise physiology and neurorehabilitation.
Professional background: physical therapist working in clinics, senior center, and hospital setting.
Research interests: neurodegenerative disorders, virtual reality driving simulation, pupillometry, electroencephalogram, Alzheimer's disease, and rehabilitation.
Mentor: Hannes Devos, Ph.D.
Laboratory: Laboratory for Advanced Rehabilitation Research in Simulation (LARRS)


Batool Alkhamis, M.S.

Academic background: physical therapy, rehabilitation sciences with a concentration in musculoskeletal rehabilitation.
Professional background: lecturer at King Khalid University, Saudi Arabia.
Research interests: musculoskeletal disorders.
Mentor: Wen Liu, Ph.D.
Laboratory: Neuromuscular Research Laboratory


Karen J. Bock, MPT

Academic background: physical therapy, biology.
Professional background: acute care and outpatient physical therapy, clinical education.
Research interests: lymphedema in breast cancer survivors and effects of sleep.
Mentor: Catherine Siengsukon, Ph.D.
Laboratory: Sleep, Health, and Wellness Laboratory


Rebecca Ludwig, OTR/L

Academic background: rehabilitative science, occupational therapy.
Professional background: occupational therapist working in acute care hospital setting.
Research interests: sleep, concussion, cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBT-I), social determinants of health, quality of life.
Mentor: Catherine Siengsukon, Ph.D.
Laboratory: Sleep, Health, and Wellness Laboratory


Taylor Rees, DPT, PT

Academic background: physical therapy, kinesiology.
Professional background: physical therapist in outpatient orthopedic settings.
Research interests: orthopedics and physical therapy education.


Maryam Sadeghi, M.S.

Academic background: electronic engineering, applied exercise physiology.
Professional background: instructor at Islamic Azad University, Iran.
Research interests: neurodegenerative disorders, cognitive and physical rehabilitation by using virtual reality and simulation.
Mentor: Hannes Devos, Ph.D.
Laboratory: Laboratory for Advanced Rehabilitation Research in Simulation


Alicen Whitaker, DPT, PT

Academic background: physical therapy, exercise science.
Professional background: physical therapist in acute. inpatient rehabilitation and skilled nursing unit.
Research interests: cerebrovascular health during exercise in individuals with stroke.
Mentor: Sandra Billinger, Ph.D.
Laboratory: Research in Exercise and Cardiovascular Health (REACH) Laboratory


Derong Yang, M.S.

Academic background: biomedical engineering, medical imaging.
Research interests: computer vision in rehabilitation science.
Mentor: Wen Liu, Ph.D.
Laboratory: Neuromuscular Research Laboratory


"When I contacted seven researchers for my postdoctoral training – all internationally well-known in pain research – six of them were willing to work with me because of my graduate research experience at KU. Their institutions include Brigham and Women's Hospital (Harvard Medical School), University of Michigan, Duke University, University of Florida, and Boston University School of Medicine."
KU School of Health Professions

Physical Therapy, Rehabilitation Science, and Athletic Training
University of Kansas Medical Center
Mail Stop 2002
3901 Rainbow Blvd.
Kansas City, KS 66160
ptrsat@kumc.edu

913-588-6799