Rate My Professor Heidi Janssen

Dr. Heidi Janssen is a Postdoctoral Fellow in the School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Health and Medicine at the University of Newcastle, Australia. She earned her Doctor of Philosophy from the University of Newcastle in 2013, focusing on the use of enriched environments post-stroke, translating findings from bench to bedside. Prior degrees include a Master of Health Science in Neurological Physiotherapy from the University of Sydney and a Bachelor of Physiotherapy from Charles Sturt University. Her career encompasses extensive roles in clinical and research settings within Hunter New England Local Health District (HNELHD), including NSW Early Career Research Fellow since 2017, Senior Physiotherapist in the Community Stroke Team since 2016, Health Services Manager (Research Associate) in Hunter Stroke Service since 2007, and Conjoint Lecturer at the University of Newcastle since 2014. She previously served as Casual Lecturer/Tutor in Neurological Physiotherapy and held positions such as Casual Physiotherapist at Westlakes Community Rehabilitation Unit.

Janssen's research specializations include supporting self-determined stroke recovery, environmental enrichment to enhance physical, cognitive, and social activity, conversational agents for recovery support, carer programs, culturally responsive models for First Nations communities, and health behavior change to prevent cardiovascular events post-stroke. She leads projects like ESTEEM After Stroke, funded by the Hunter Medical Research Institute Women in Medical Research Fellowship (2019-2023, $508,761), and SLAM-TIA for secondary prevention after TIA. Key publications encompass 'Altering the rehabilitation environment to improve stroke survivor activity: A Phase II trial' (2021), 'Environmental enrichment: neurophysiological responses and consequences for health' (2018), 'An enriched environment increases activity in stroke patients undergoing rehabilitation' (2014), 'Physical, cognitive and social activity levels of stroke patients undergoing rehabilitation within a mixed rehabilitation unit' (2014), and 'Translating the use of an enriched environment poststroke from bench to bedside' (2012). Awards include the Vice Chancellor's Early Career Research and Innovation Excellence Award (Faculty of Health and Medicine, 2019) and Honorary Clinical Research Fellowship (HNELHD NSW Health, 2017). Her contributions advance stroke rehabilitation through clinical trials, PhD supervision, and emphasis on equitable access in regional and Aboriginal contexts.