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Associate Professor & Clinical Neuropsychologist, La Trobe University

Dana is an Associate Professor, Clinical Neuropsychologist, and School Director of Graduate Research in the School of Psychology and Public Health, with active roles in research, teaching and clinical practice. She leads the eNACT (Neurorehabilitation And Clinical Translation) Research Group (www.latrobe.edu.au/enact), which focuses on innovative neuropsychological rehabilitation techniques to improve the lives of brain injury survivors, and enhancing clinical implementation of and clinician competence in these evidence-based interventions. She was awarded La Trobe's Research Engagement and Impact Award in 2020. Dana's focus on training top scientist-practitioners as a key element to clinical translation has been recognised with the 2021 AAUT Citation for Outstanding Contribution to Student Learning, 2018 Australian Psychological Society Early Career Teaching Award, the 2017 Vice-Chancellor’s Award for Teaching Excellence, the 2017 Dean’s Award for Excellence in Education (Innovation in Teaching), and the 2016 Australasian Society for the Study of Brain Impairment (ASSBI) Clinical Innovation Award. Dana is currently President-Elect of ASSBI. She is an Editorial Board member for the journal Brain Impairment. In 2017 she led the development of BRAINSPaN, a multidisciplinary community of practice of clinicians and researchers in the brain impairment field. She is co-Chair of the Neuropsychological Intervention Special Interest Group of the International Neuropsychological Society; co-leads the Neuropsychology Advocacy working group; co-leads the Mental Health and Cognition stream of the Telehealth for Stroke Community of Practice; and is a committee member for the Organisation for Psychological Research into Stroke (OPsyRIS).

Experience

  • 2007–present
    Honorary Senior Research Fellow, Monash-Epworth Rehabilitation Research Centre
  • 2022–present
    Associate professor, School of Psychology & Public Health, La Trobe University
  • 2018–2021
    Senior lecturer, School of Psychology & Public Health, La Trobe University
  • 2016–2018
    Senior lecturer, School of Psychological Sciences, Monash University
  • 2007–2015
    Lecturer, School of Psychological Sciences, Monash University

Education

  • 2005 
    University of Western Australia, MPsych (Clinical Neuropsychology) & PhD

Publications

  • 2022
    Preliminary validation of a new competency tool for evaluating assessment skills in professional psychology trainees, Training and Education in Professional Psychology
  • 2022
    Who, What, When, Where, Why, and How: Systematic review of the quality of post-stroke cognitive rehabilitation protocols, Annals of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation
  • 2022
    How do people with acquired brain injury interpret the Valued Living Questionnaire? A cognitive interviewing study, Journal of Contextual Behavioral Science
  • 2022
    Does integrating cognitive and psychological interventions enhance wellbeing after acquired brain injury? Study protocol for a Phase II randomised controlled trial of the VaLiANT (Valued Living After Neurological Trauma) group program, Frontiers in Rehabilitation Sciences
  • 2022
    Characterising the impact of BRAINSPaN: a multidisciplinary community of practice for clinicians and researchers in the brain impairment field, Brain Impairment
  • 2022
    The design and evaluation of a health education control for comparison with cognitive behavioural therapy for individuals with acquired brain injury, Pilot and Feasibility Studies
  • 2021
    Does participation in structured group supervision impact experiences of transition to the workforce?: A survey of psychology registrars, Australian Psychologist
  • 2021
    Which training methods are effective for learning new smartphone memory apps after acquired brain injury? A pilot randomised controlled trial comparing trial and error, systematic instruction and error-based learning, Neuropsychological Rehabilitation
  • 2021
    A single-case experimental evaluation of a new group-based intervention to enhance adjustment to life with acquired brain injury: VaLiANT (Valued Living After Neurological Trauma), Neuropsychological Rehabilitation
  • 2021
    Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for Sleep Disturbance and Fatigue following Acquired Brain Injury: Predictors of Treatment Response, Journal of Head Trauma Rehabilitation
  • 2021
    Cognitive Behavioural Therapy versus health education for sleep disturbance and fatigue following acquired brain injury: A pilot randomised controlled trial, Annals of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
  • 2021
    Performance and symptom validity testing in neuropsychological assessments in Australia: A survey of practices and beliefs, Australian Psychologist
  • 2021
    Psychology graduate outcomes: Evaluating the quality and impact of clinical psychology and clinical neuropsychology training in Australia, Australian Psychologist
  • 2021
    Evaluating telehealth delivery of a compensatory memory rehabilitation program following stroke: A single case experimental design, Neuropsychological Rehabilitation
  • 2021
    Memory rehabilitation for people with multiple sclerosis, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews
  • 2021
    Real world implementation of a group-based memory rehabilitation program into stroke services: A knowledge translation evaluation, Topics in Stroke Rehabilitation
  • 2021
    Therapist competence and clinical outcome in the Rehabilitation of Memory following Traumatic Brain Injury trial, Brain Injury
  • 2021
    The experience and acceptability of smartphone reminder app training for people with acquired brain injury: a mixed methods study, Neuropsychological Rehabilitation
  • 2021
    Post-stroke cognitive impairment impacts activity and participation outcomes: A systematic review and meta-analysis, Stroke
  • 2021
    A brief period of wakeful rest after learning enhances verbal memory in stroke survivors, Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society
  • 2021
    Psychological and cognitive barriers to diabetes-related foot complication treatment: Clinicians’ perspectives, International Journal of Lower Extremity Wounds
  • 2021
    A comparison of systematic instruction, error-based learning and trial and error to train the use of smartphone memory apps after acquired brain injury: A three-armed phase II randomised controlled trial study protocol, Brain Impairment
  • 2020
    Nocebo-Hypothesis Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (NH-CBT) for persons with functional neurological symptoms (motor type): Design and implementation of a randomised active-controlled trial, Frontiers in Neurology
  • 2020
    What are the most common memory complaints following stroke? An exploratory factor and item-level analysis of the Everyday Memory Questionnaire-Revised, The Clinical Neuropsychologist
  • 2020
    Behavioural and functional correlates of post-traumatic growth following traumatic brain injury, Neuropsychological Rehabilitation
  • 2020
    Predictors of working alliance in Cognitive Behavior Therapy adapted for traumatic brain injury, Neuropsychological Rehabilitation
  • 2020
    Predictors of homework engagement in CBT adapted for traumatic brain injury: Pre/post-injury and therapy process factors, Cognitive Therapy and Research
  • 2020
    Factors associated with response to cognitive behavioral therapy for anxiety and depression following traumatic brain injury, Journal of Head Trauma Rehabilitation
  • 2020
    Understanding the experience of compensatory and restorative memory rehabilitation: A qualitative study of stroke survivors, Neuropsychological Rehabilitation
  • 2020
    Feasibility and effectiveness of computerised cognitive training for memory dysfunction following stroke: A series of single case studies, Neuropsychological Rehabilitation
  • 2020
    Effectiveness of a manualised group training intervention for memory dysfunction following stroke: A series of single case studies, Disability and Rehabilitation
  • 2020
    Probability of major depression diagnostic classification based on the SCID, CIDI and MINI diagnostic interviews controlling for Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale – Depression subscale scores: An individual participant data meta-analysis of 73 primary studies, Journal of Psychosomatic Research
  • 2020
    Telehealth delivery of memory rehabilitation following stroke, Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society
  • 2020
    Predictors of anxiety and depression symptom improvement in CBT adapted for traumatic brain injury: Pre/post injury and therapy process factors, Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society
  • 2020
    Acceptability of telehealth in post-stroke memory rehabilitation: A qualitative analysis, Neuropsychological Rehabilitation
  • 2020
    Clinical translation of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for anxiety and depression - Adapted for Brain Injury (CBT-ABI): How do we train competent clinicians? , International Journal of Cognitive Therapy
  • 2020
    Transcranial random noise stimulation is more effective than transcranial direct current stimulation for enhancing working memory in healthy individuals: Behavioural and electrophysiological evidence, Brain Stimulation
  • 2020
    Retrieval practice enhances memory for names in survivors of stroke, Neuropsychology
  • 2019
    Cognitive rehabilitation for attention deficits following stroke, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews
  • 2019
    Individuals with depression display abnormal modulation of neural oscillatory activity during working memory encoding and maintenance, Biological Psychology
  • 2019
    Comparing memory group training and computerized cognitive training for improving memory function following stroke: A Phase II randomized controlled trial, Journal of Rehabilitation Medicine
  • 2019
    Measuring clinical competencies in facilitating group-based rehabilitation interventions: Development of a new competency checklist, Clinical Rehabilitation
  • 2018
    General and domain-specific effectiveness of cognitive remediation after stroke: Systematic literature review and meta-analysis, Neuropsychological Review
  • 2017
    Role of valued living and associations with functional outcome following traumatic brain injury, Neuropsychological Rehabilitation
  • 2017
    Feasibility and efficacy of brief computerized training to improve emotion recognition in premanifest and early-symptomatic Huntington's disease, Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society
  • 2017
    Exploring predictors of treatment outcome in Cognitive Behavior Therapy for sleep disturbance following Acquired Brain Injury, Disability & Rehabilitation
  • 2017
    Do smartphones have the potential to support cognition and independence following stroke?, Brain Impairment
  • 2017
    Cognitive Behavior Therapy to treat sleep disturbance and fatigue following traumatic brain injury: a pilot randomized controlled trial, Archives of Physical Medicine & rehabilitation
  • 2017
    Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for post-stroke fatigue and sleep disturbance: a pilot randomised controlled trial with blind assessment, Neuropsychological Rehabilitation
  • 2016
    Smartphones as assistive technology following traumatic brain injury: A preliminary study of what helps and what hinders, Disability & Rehabilitation
  • 2016
    Efficacy of Motivational Interviewing and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Anxiety and Depression Symptoms following Traumatic Brain Injury, Psychological Medicine
  • 2014
    Development and predictors of psychological adjustment during the course of community-based rehabilitation of traumatic brain injury: A preliminary study, Neuropsychological Rehabilitation
  • 2014
    Delivery of psychological interventions by clinical neuropsychologists: Current practice in Australia and implications for training, Australian Psychologist
  • 2014
    Are Cognitive Screening Tools Sensitive and Specific Enough for Use After Stroke?: A Systematic Literature Review, Stroke
  • 2013
    Validity of the Depression Anxiety Stress Scales in assessing depression and anxiety following traumatic brain injury, Journal of Affective Disorders
  • 2013
    Factor structure of the Depression Anxiety Stress Scales in individuals with traumatic brain injury, Brain Injury
  • 2012
    A cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT) programme for anxiety following moderate-severe traumatic brain injury (TBI): Two case studies, Brain Injury
  • 2012
    Motivational interviewing and cognitive behaviour therapy for anxiety following traumatic brain injury: A pilot randomised controlled trial, Neuropsychological Rehabilitation
  • 2012
    Exploring variables associated with change in cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT) for anxiety following traumatic brain injury, Disability & Rehabilitation
  • 2012
    Development of a motivational interviewing programme as a prelude to cognitive behaviour therapy for anxiety following traumatic brain injury, Neuropsychological Rehabilitation

Grants and Contracts

  • 2022
    New models of rehabilitation to improve work and health outcomes after stroke
    Role:
    CIF
    Funding Source:
    Medical Research Future Fund
  • 2022
    Engaging partners to implement sustainable memory rehabilitation and support for survivors of stroke in Australia
    Role:
    CIA
    Funding Source:
    La Trobe University
  • 2022
    Clinical practice guidelines for the management of psychosocial disorders following adult traumatic brain injury
    Role:
    CIF
    Funding Source:
    Medical Research Future Fund
  • 2022
    Developing an NHMRC Centre of Research Excellence for Living Well at Home (for adults with acquired neurological disability)
    Role:
    CIJ
    Funding Source:
    La Trobe University
  • 2022
    Surviving and Thriving AfteR Stroke (STARS): Family-focused interventions for stroke survivors with children
    Role:
    CID
    Funding Source:
    National Stroke Foundation
  • 2022
    Building Australia’s first young stroke service
    Role:
    CIF
    Funding Source:
    Medical Research Future Fund
  • 2022
    Digital technology and virtual care delivery in Australia: Co-designing eNav for Health and Wellbeing
    Role:
    CIF
    Funding Source:
    La Trobe University
  • 2022
    Addressing inequity in aphasia rehabilitation: Adapting Multi-Modality Aphasia Therapy for telehealth
    Role:
    CID
    Funding Source:
    La Trobe University
  • 2021
    Communication Connect: Improving long term communication and mental health outcomes following stroke and brain injury
    Role:
    CIH
    Funding Source:
    National Health and Medical Research Council
  • 2021
    Towards equitable health service delivery: Understanding the influence of health literacy on the unmet needs and preferences of stroke survivors and carers
    Role:
    CIC
    Funding Source:
    St Vincent's Hospital
  • 2021
    Optimising mood and wellbeing with aphasia after stroke: a feasibility study of PRevention Intervention and Support in Mental health (PRISM) via telerehabilitation
    Role:
    CIE
    Funding Source:
    National Stroke Foundation
  • 2021
    Toward community implementation of pre-emptive autism interventions: Understanding the acceptability of two promising approaches, and developing hypotheses for a future precision-medicine approach
    Role:
    CII
    Funding Source:
    La Trobe University
  • 2020
    Enhancing wellbeing after acquired brain injury: A Phase II randomised controlled trial of the VaLiANT (Valued Living After Neurological Trauma) group program
    Role:
    CIA
    Funding Source:
    La Trobe University
  • 2019
    Enhancing the effects of post-stroke memory rehabilitation: A feasibility trial of two eHealth interventions to sustain the benefits of a memory skills group
    Role:
    CIA
    Funding Source:
    National Stroke Foundation
  • 2019
    Co-designing a health service model for young stroke survivors
    Role:
    CIC
    Funding Source:
    National Stroke Foundation
  • 2019
    Testing the feasibility and effects of a hub-and-spoke model of aphasia rehabilitation and support
    Role:
    CIB
    Funding Source:
    La Trobe University
  • 2018
    Evaluating the efficacy of a new group-based intervention to enhance valued living for people with cognitive impairment due to acquired brain injury
    Role:
    CIA
    Funding Source:
    La Trobe University
  • 2017
    Telehealth delivery of memory rehabilitation following stroke
    Role:
    CIA
    Funding Source:
    Monash Institute of Cognitive and Clinical Neurosciences
  • 2017
    Telehealth delivery of memory rehabilitation following stroke
    Role:
    CIA
    Funding Source:
    National Stroke Foundation
  • 2017
    Development of a group facilitation competency checklist
    Role:
    CIA
    Funding Source:
    Monash University
  • 2016
    Memory rehabilitation initiative
    Role:
    CIA
    Funding Source:
    Department of Health, Victorian State Government
  • 2016
    Pilot randomised controlled trial comparing computer-based memory training and compensatory memory rehabilitation in acquired brain injury
    Role:
    CIG
    Funding Source:
    Epworth Research Institute

Professional Memberships

  • Australian Psychological Society (APS)
  • APS College of Clinical Neuropsychologists
  • Australasian Society for the Study of Brain Impairment (ASSBI)
  • World Federation for Neurorehabilitation
  • International Neuropsychological Society (INS)
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