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Nicole Sharf joined the CROR team as a volunteer research investigator to assist on a project funded by the Craig H. Neilsen Foundation targeting mental health concerns among people living with spinal cord injury (SCI). She joined CROR during her second year of graduate school at The Chicago School of Professional Psychology, pursuing a PsyD in clinical psychology. Sharf was engaged in clinical work in a medical setting but was interested in gaining more research experience to compliment her clinical skills. She sent a cold email to Allen Heinemann, PhD, CROR’s director, asking if there were any research opportunities available. He enthusiastically invited her to join the Neilsen project.
Sharf’s role involved assisting in conducting systematic reviews and contributing to qualitative manuscripts based on focus group data. The focus groups included people with SCI, their care partners, and clinicians. Conversations predominantly focused on mental health concerns related to acquiring a SCI; however, sexuality and reproductive health issues were also voiced by focus group participants. Given her clinical and research interests in this area, Sharf became the lead author on a qualitative manuscript that focused on sexuality and reproductive health concerns among people with SCI based on focus group findings.
“Collaborating on several manuscripts for the Nielsen project as a volunteer with CROR has been the highlight of my grad school experience,” says Sharf. “Receiving mentorship in qualitative data analysis, conducting systematic reviews, and engaging in manuscript writing was a really valuable experience since I hadn’t done that before. I am grateful to CROR for giving me the opportunity to engage in meaningful research.”
In addition to the paper, which appeared in Rehabilitation Psychology, she also presented a poster on the focus group findings related to sexuality at the Rehabilitation Psychology Conference in Austin in early 2024. She also talked about the research in an episode of CROR’s podcast, INside the OUTcomes. It is one of the most popular episodes with more than 2,000 listens to date.
“Nicole brought incredible insights and energy to our team,” said Heinemann. “The manuscript she led on psychosexual well-being grew from her interests, background, and training and would not have been written without her leadership.”
"The experience of being part of CROR and the Nielsen project for the past two and a half years has really allowed me to apply what I’ve learned directly to my clinical work,” says Sharf. “Without that level of research involvement with CROR, I don’t know if I would be focusing on rehabilitation psychology, which I didn’t have that much exposure to in my graduate program."
Sharf is currently wrapping up an advanced practicum at Edward Hines Jr. VA Hospital in their spinal cord injury/related disorders unit while working on her dissertation. Her dissertation focuses on the psychological and logistical challenges women face in managing their reproductive health after SCI.
Following her practicum, she will begin a clinical internship in rehabilitation psychology at Jackson Health System, affiliated with the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, where she will continue to work with individuals with SCI, as well as other traumatic and non-traumatic injuries. Sharf expects to graduate from The Chicago School in June 2026.
Originally from Miami, Sharf earned her undergraduate degree at the University of Florida before moving to Chicago for graduate school. After she graduates, Sharf hopes to return to a rehabilitation or hospital setting, working with individuals living with disability, ideally combining inpatient and outpatient work.