Julie Bernhardt
Professor Julie Bernhardt, PhD, is an Australian physiotherapist, Principal Research Fellow at the Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health and an NHMRC Senior Research Fellow, Clinical Head of the Stroke Division at the Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, University of Melbourne. Bernhardt is also principal investigator for the 'A Very Early Rehabilitation Trial (AVERT) and a world leader in the field of stroke recovery.
Early life and education
Professor Bernhardt received a Bachelor of Science in Physiotherapy, masters, PhD (1999) at the Lincoln Institute of Health Sciences, La Trobe University. Her PhD research focused on the hemiplegic upper limb, developing new methods of testing the accuracy of observational kinematic assessment of upper limb dysfunction. She has worked as a Physiotherapy Research Coordinator at Melbourne Health since 1989.[1]
After completing her PhD, Bernhardt went on to become a Senior Physiotherapist at both the Austin Hospital and Royal Melbourne Hospital from 1999-2008. She has worked for over 20 years with stroke survivors and their families as a therapist, patient advocate and researcher.[2] Professor Bernhardt initiated the AVERT trial in 2004, and has recently finished her tenure as a non-executive director for the National Stroke Foundation (2006 - 2014).
Work
As Director of AVERT, Bernhardt leads a large multidisciplinary team of researchers who develop, test and implement treatment models that promote recovery and reduce the burden of stroke on affected individuals, their families and the community. The models aim to harness the brain’s potential for change and adaptation after neurological injury. AVERT is the largest acute stroke rehabilitation trial, which includes over 2000 stroke patients, the recruitment for which was completed October 2014. The studies focus on understanding how early exercise-based interventions after stroke may work to alter bone, muscle and brain.[3]
Bernhardt is also Co-Head of Stroke Division at Florey Institute, and she is on the Steering Committee Australian Stroke Research Network since 2012. She is also a Co-Chair for Australian Stroke trials network since January 2014 and Board Member for World Stroke Organisation since July 2014.
Bernhardt has published 116 papers and nearly 200 abstracts, as well as book chapters, editorials and opinion pieces, most of these in the field of stroke rehabilitation.
Personal
Bernardt lives in Melbourne, Australia with her husband and teenage son.[4] You can find her on Twitter at her Twitter handle, @AVERTtrial.[5]
Awards and honors
- NHMRC Centre of Research Excellence in Stroke Rehabilitation and Brain Recovery (2014)
- AVERT Project Grant awarded by NHMRC (2013 - 2016)
- Winston Churchill Memorial Fellowship (2012)
See also
References
- ↑ "Neurosciences Centre of Research Excellence: Staff". Neurosciences Centre of Research Excellence. Neurosciences Centre of Research Excellence. Retrieved 6 November 2014.
- ↑ "No Chicks No Excuses: Expert women for every event: Julie Bernhardt". No Chicks No Excuses. Retrieved 6 November 2014.
- ↑ "Julie Bernhardt". LinkedIn. LinkedIn. Retrieved 6 November 2014.
- ↑ "Life as a scientist can mean directly helping those who suffer". Women's Agenda. Retrieved 6 November 2014.
- ↑ "Twitter". 6 November 2014.