Dr. Alex Wong

Alex Wong, PhD, DPhil, OT, CRC

Research Scientist | Associate Professor, Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation and Medical Social Sciences, Northwestern
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About Me

Dr. Wong focuses on health services and outcomes research in rehabilitation care. His current research program focuses on the development, evaluation, and sustainable implementation of technology-based approaches in the study, assessment, and treatment of neurologic disorders. He is also interested in developing therapeutic tools targeting longitudinal measurement of patient outcomes and personalized and timely models of treatment delivery.

Dr. Wong is a Research Scientist in the Center of Rehabilitation Outcomes Research at Shirley Ryan AbilityLab and a Research Associate Professor of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation and Medical Social Sciences at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. Prior to joining Shirley Ryan AbilityLab and Northwestern University in 2021, Dr. Wong served as an Assistant Professor of Occupational Therapy, Neurology, and Psychiatry at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis.

 

Research Interests

  • Digital health applications in rehabilitation medicine
  • Cognitive and behavioral interventions
  • Longitudinal outcome measurements and digital biomarkers
  • Precision and decentralized clinical trials

Location

Shirley Ryan AbilityLab

355 E. Erie St.

Chicago, IL 60611

Education & Training

    Education

    Credential

    1998 - 2001
    Bachelor of Science (First Class Honors) in Occupational Therapy, Hong Kong Polytechnic University
    2003 - 2007
    Doctor of Philosophy in Rehabilitation Sciences, Hong Kong Polytechnic University
    2009 - 2012
    Doctor of Philosophy in Community Health, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
    Fellowship

    Credential

    2012 - 2014
    Postdoctoral Fellowship in Health Services and Outcomes Research, Northwestern University/ Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago

Recent Publications

Measuring Activities of Daily Living in Stroke Patients with Motion Machine Learning Algorithms: A Pilot Study.
Chen PW, Baune NA, Zwir I, Wang J, Swamidass V, Wong AWK
International journal of environmental research and public health
doi: 10.3390/ijerph18041634
Rasch Analysis of Social Attitude Barriers and Facilitators to Participation for Individuals with Disabilities.
Wong AWK, Garcia SF, Hahn EA, Semik P, Lai JS, Magasi S, Hammel J, Nitsch KP, Miskovic A, Heinemann AW
Archives of physical medicine and rehabilitation
doi: 10.1016/j.apmr.2020.09.390
Ecological Momentary Assessment of Social Interactions: Associations With Depression, Anxiety, Pain, and Fatigue in Individuals With Mild Stroke.
Neff AJ, Lee Y, Metts CL, Wong AWK
Archives of physical medicine and rehabilitation
doi: 10.1016/j.apmr.2020.08.007

Honors & Awards

  • Deborah L. Wilkerson Early Career Award
    2019 American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine
  • Howard S. Hoyman Award
    2012 University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
  • Best Project Award
    2007 Hong Kong Occupational Safety and Health Council
  • Outstanding Project Award
    2007 Hong Kong Ergonomics Society
  • Young Investigator Award
    2004 Fourth Pan-Pacific Conference on Rehabilitation

Affiliations

  • NeuroRehab CDE Working Group – ADL Subgroup, NINDS/NICHD
    2020 - 2021
  • Executive Committee, Measurement Interdisciplinary Special Interest Group, American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine
    2019 - Present
  • Membership Committee, American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine
    2013 - Present

Grants

  • Mobile Rehabilitation for Daily Life Participation Post-Stroke
    NIH/NICHD/NCMRR, K01 Program, Role: Principal Investigator, 2019 - 2024
  • Real-time Mobile Cognitive Assessments for Stroke Rehabilitation
    NIH P2C Center for Smart Use of Technology to Assess Real-world Outcomes (C-STAR), Pilot Program, Role: Sub-award Principal Investigator, 2021 - 2022
  • Feasibility of Mobile Self-Management Intervention for Mild Stroke
    American Occupational Therapy Foundation, Role: Principal Investigator, 2020 - 2021
  • Patient Engagement Intervention in Inpatient Spinal Cord Injury Rehabilitation
    Craig H. Neilsen Foundation, Psychosocial Research Program, Role: Principal Investigator, 2018 - 2021
  • Adapting mHealth Technology to Improve Patient Activation and Overall Wellness for Persons with Disabilities
    Foundation for Barnes-Jewish Hospital, Role, Co-Investigator, 2021 - 2022
  • Recovery Dynamics of Depression, Social Support, and Functional Status in Stroke Survivors after Inpatient Rehabilitation: Longitudinal Evidence from the Stroke Recovery in Underserved Populations Study
    NIH P2C Center for Large Data Research & Data Sharing in Rehabilitation (CLDR), Pilot Program, Role: Sub-award Principal Investigator, 2018 - 2020
  • Ambulatory Assessment of Daily Function in Stroke Survivors
    NIH/NICHD/NCMRR & NIH/NINDS, K12 CORRT Program, Role: K12 Scholar, 2018 - 2019
  • Measuring Activities of Daily Living in Stroke Patients with Motion Artificial Intelligence
    NIDILRR, SBIR Program, 2018-2019, Role: Sub-award Principal Investigator, 2018 - 2019
  • Evaluating Cognitive Function in Breast Cancer Survivors Who Received Chemotherapy
    Siteman Investment Multi-PI Pre-R01 Program, 2017-2019, Role: Co-Principal Investigator, 2017 - 2019
  • Environmental Determinants of Social Participation after Spinal Cord Injury
    Craig H. Neilsen Foundation, Psychosocial Research Fellowship, Role: Principal Investigator, 2014 - 2017
  • Improving Patient Outcomes through Engagement in Inpatient Spinal Cord Injury Rehabilitation: Perspectives of Patients, Clinicians, Administrators, and Policymakers
    NIDILRR, Switzer Research Fellowship, Role: Principal Investigator, 2014 - 2016

Lab

Center for Rehabilitation Outcomes Research (CROR)

This lab focuses on outcome studies, measuring the long-term impact of medical rehabilitation in patients with disabilities.

view lab

Work History

  • 2014 - 2021
    Assistant Professor, Program in Occupational Therapy
    Washington university School of Medicine in St. Louis
  • 2017 - 2021
    Assistant Professor, Department of Neurology
    Washington university School of Medicine in St. Louis
  • 2019 - 2021
    Assistant Professor, Department of Psychiatry
    Washington university School of Medicine in St. Louis