Professor Leigh Hale is the Dean of the School of Physiotherapy / Centre for Health, Activity, and Rehabilitation Research at the University of Otago, New Zealand. Leigh is the Editor of the New Zealand Journal of Physiotherapy. Leigh graduated as a physiotherapist from the University of Cape Town (South Africa) and went on to attain her MSc (Neurorehabilitation) and PhD from the University of the Witwatersrand (Wits)(South Africa). Leigh worked as clinical physiotherapist in all areas of physiotherapy before pursuing an academic career. Leigh primarily researches in the area of community-based physiotherapeutic rehabilitation for people living with disability and with neurological conditions, such as stroke, multiple sclerosis, and Parkinson’s disease. Her research uses both quantitative and qualitative methodologies and focusses on how physiotherapists can enable people to optimally live healthy and engaging lives.
New Zealand professor Katrina Bryant and colleagues describe their work with patient-centered research resulting in an art exhibit that conveys a cultural experience of disability.