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Rehabilitation Teaching and Research Unit Staff

Will Taylor, Head of the RTRU

Will is a Rehabilitation Medicine physician and Rheumatologist whose clinical work is based at Hutt Hospital and Wakefield Specialist Medical Centre. His major areas of clinical work are general adult rheumatology, stroke rehabilitation and hospital based rehabilitation for people under 65 years. His research interests include psoriatic arthritis (member of a steering committee for an international network of psoriatic arthritis investigators), epidemiology of rheumatic diseases, musculoskeletal pain and outcome measurement. He is also interested in the psychological factors associated with musculoskeletal pain and welcomes enquiries from students interested in pursuing thesis projects in these areas. Will teaches in REHX701 Rehabilitation Principles.

Email will.taylor@otago.ac.nz

William Levack

William is a physiotherapist who has worked in a variety of hospital and community settings, from intensive care through to slow stream residential rehabilitation. His clinical interests are diverse, but his research to date has focused on rehabilitation for people with acquired brain injury. His PhD, which he completed in 2008, investigated the application of goal planning to the practice of clinical rehabilitation. William is also editor for the New Zealand Rehabilitation Association's website: www.rehabilitation.org.nz. William lives with his partner and three children in the South Wairarapa , where in his spare time, he can be found gardening or playing his guitar. Williams teaches REHX713 Goal Setting and the Therapeutic Relationship, in Semester 2.

Email william.levack@otago.ac.nz

Mark Weatherall

Mark works as a consultant geriatrician for Capital and Coast Health DHB with special interest in ortho-geriatrics, urinary incontinence and the rehabilitation of older adults. He also has particular expertise in applied statistics including meta-analysis of health care interventions. Mark teaches REHX704 Neurological Rehabilitation and REHX707 Rehabilitation for the Elderly.

Email mark.weatherall@otago.ac.nz

Jean Hay-Smith

Jean's interests include (specifically) the management of continence problems, and (more broadly) illness perceptions/beliefs and how these might influence help seeking, coping, 'treatment' choices and treatment 'adherence'. With regard to research methodology, Jean has experience of highly quantitative designs (such as systematic review and meta-analysis, and randomised trials), observational designs (such as before and after studies) and more qualitative approaches (in particular, interpretative phenomology). A special interest is mixed method research. Jean's master's thesis investigated postnatal dyspareunia (painful sexual intercourse after childbirth), and her PhD thesis addressed the effectiveness and costs of pelvic floor muscle training for women with stress urinary incontinence and the women's experiences of training. Her current research project is investigating the incontinence beliefs of women with and without incontinence symptoms and how this might influence help seeking and behavioural change to follow treatment recommendations from health professionals. With regard to postgraduate research, Jean is currently supervising PhD students investigating illness beliefs and outcomes in people with mild traumatic brain injury, and decision making about upper limb reconstructive surgery in people with spinal cord injury. Master's thesis supervision incudes projects exploring maintenance of relationships after spinal cord injury, management of paid personal attendant care after spinal cord injury, and fear avoidance beliefs in clinicians treating people with chronic low back pain. Jean is the Masters' Co-ordinator and should be contacted for all enquiries about undertaking a Masters' qualification with the RTRU. Jean also teaches REHX712 Evaluating Rehabilitation.

Email jean.hay-smith@otago.ac.nz

Rob Griffiths

Rob is an occupational medicine specialist who works primarily as Director of Occupational and Aviation Medicine which runs an international distance learning programme in occupational medicine and aviation medicine, but who works in the same Department with the RTRU to teach REHX706 Work Rehabilitation. He is on the ACC Purchasing Guidance Advisory Group and is working on a research project on causation and compensation for gradual process injuries for ACC. He has worked previously as chair of the ACC Back Pain Expert Panel and ACC Return to Working project group, Regional Health Authority as Planning Manager, and the National Health Committee.

Email rob.griffiths@otago.ac.nz

Elliot Bell

Elliot is a clinical psychologist with expereince working both in public mental health services and private practice. His clinical interests include rehabilitation in major mental illnesses, cognitive behavioural therapy, clinical neuropsychology, intellectual disability, the assessment and treatment of posttrauma states, and forensic issues in mental health. He is currently completing his PhD on theory of mind in schizophrenia. As a lecturer in the Rehabilitation Teaching & Research Unit, Elliot will be teaching REHX714 Personal and Psychological Factors in Rehabilitation, in Semester 2. He also works in the Department of Psychological Medicine teaching cognitive behaviour therapy.

Email elliot.bell@otago.ac.nz

Rebecca Grainger

Rebecca is a Rheumatologist employed at Hutt Valley District Health Board seeing patients in Porirua, Wellington and Greytown. Her clinical interests are broad and include inflammatory arthritis, gout and scleroderma. To date her research has focused on gout, including both translational research and outcome measures in gout. She teaches REHX703 Musculoskeletal Rehabilitation.

Email rebecca.grainger@otago.ac.nz

Fi Graham

Fi (Fiona) is an occupational therapist, specialising in work with families and children. Her PhD with the University of Queensland has examined the effectiveness of coaching parents of children with disabilities to enhance children’s success in everyday life. Current research interests include working with families and caregivers, therapists’ uptake of evidence-based practice, undergraduate clinical training and the efficacy of participation-focused interventions. Fi teaches the Certificate in Health Science (Clinical Rehabilitation) papers: REHX701 and REHX710.

Email fi.graham@otago.ac.nz

Bennett Friedmann

Bennett is a registered Clinical Psychologist and a member of the New Zealand College of Clinical Psychologists. He has over 30 years of clinical experience, working in a variety of settings, including adult and child mental health services, Corrections and Special education. Currently Bennett runs his own private practice. For the past few years he has also been involved in teaching Family Therapy to postgraduate students. When not involved in clinical practice or teaching, Bennett may be found walking his two crazy dogs, or playing music with friends. Bennett teaches REHX709 Family Systems and Rehabilitation.

Email clinpsycprac@paradise.net.nz

Trudy Murrell

Trudy is the admistrator of the RTRU and deals with the day to day administration and running of the unit. Email rtru@otago.ac.nz