News and Events

2005 Media Releases

New Professor and Head of Physiotherapy appointed

Dr Karen Dodd has been appointed Professor of Physiotherapy and Head of the School of Physiotherapy at La Trobe University.

Professor Dodd is a leading researcher in the physical rehabilitation of people who have stroke and cerebral palsy and has helped improve the quality of life for older people and people with chronic disabilities.

She currently holds the position of Associate Professor of Allied Health, La Trobe University, located at Ballarat Health Services. Professor Dodd is widely recognised for her research into gait analysis after stroke and into the special movement problems faced by children with cerebral palsy.

She has also designed, evaluated and helped implement a number of innovative programs in physical activity and strength training for old people and people with chronic disabilities. These are now being used by many clinicians and health services.

Professor Dodd heads a team which conducts research in close collaboration with allied health professionals at health care agencies in metropolitan Melbourne and in regional areas. She currently leads four multidisciplinary allied health research projects with health services in the Ballarat region.

Professor Dodd holds a Doctorate and Graduate Diploma qualifications from La Trobe University and a Bachelor of Applied Science (Physiotherapy) degree from Lincoln Institute.

She has worked as a lecturer and senior lecturer in the School of Physiotherapy at La Trobe University since 1990 where she has had extensive experience in creating and delivering evidence-based education programs to undergraduate students and postgraduate clinicians in physiotherapy.

Prior to that she worked with Child and Family Services within the Victorian Health Department, the Werribee Community Health Centre, the former Lincoln Institute of Health Sciences, as well as the Queen Victoria Medical Centre and Spastic Society of Victoria.

Professor Dodd is a Member of the Australian Physiotherapy Association and served as Victorian Delegate to the National Paediatric Special Group of the Australian Physiotherapy Association (1999-2002).

She has also served as an academic reviewer for the National Health and Medical Research Council, the Research Grants Council of Hong Kong, and for a number of physiotherapy journals.

Monday 19 September 2005New Professor and Head of Physiotherapy at La Trobe University

For further information:

Professor Dodd can be contacted on Tel: (03) 9479 5803 or Email: k.dodd@latrobe.edu.au