Allen Heinemann, PhD

Allen Heinemann, PhD

Director, Center for Rehabilitation Outcomes Research
Professor, Department of PM&R, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern

About Me

Dr. Heinemann’s research interests focus on health services research, psychosocial aspects of rehabilitation including substance abuse, and measurement issues in rehabilitation. He is the author of more than 300 articles in peer-reviewed publications and is Co-Editor-in-Chief, Archives of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation. 


Since 1985, Dr. Heinemann has worked at Shirley Ryan AbilityLab (formerly the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago (RIC)) where he directs the Center for Rehabilitation Outcomes Research. The Center manages a $9.85 million portfolio of research projects funded by the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living and Rehabilitation Research, the National Institutes of Health, the Craig H. Neilsen Foundation, the Department of Defense and other sources. The Center also manages the Rehabilitation Measures Database, a free online resource with more than 550 summarized rehabilitation measures as well as educational resources to help users get the most out of the database. 


Dr. Heinemann, who is also Professor of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Emergency Medicine and Medical Social Sciences in the Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, earned his doctoral degree in clinical psychology at the University of Kansas with a specialty focus in rehabilitation. He completed an internship at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston and then accepted an assistant professor position in the Department of Psychology at Illinois Institute of Technology.


Dr. Heinemann is a diplomate in Rehabilitation Psychology (ABPP), and a fellow of the American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine (ACRM) and the American Psychological Association (APA Division 22). He is a past president of ACRM and the Rehabilitation Psychology Division of the American Psychological Association. He serves on the editorial boards of the Journal of Head Trauma Rehabilitation and Rehabilitation Psychology. He is the recipient of the APA Division 22 Roger Barker Distinguished Career Award. He also serves on the the Standing Committee of Medical and Vocational Experts for the Social Security Administration's Disability Programs.
 

 

Location

Shirley Ryan AbilityLab

355 East Erie

Chicago, IL 60611

Education & Training

    Education

    Credential

    1973 - 1977
    Psychology, Washington State University
    1977 - 1982
    Psychology, University of Kansas
    Internship

    Credential

    1981 - 1982
    Baylor College of Medicine, Clinical Psychology

Recent Publications

Financial hardship is associated with employment challenges and reduced quality of life in early Parkinson's disease.
Rafferty MR, Achler S, Su H, Kocherginsky M, Bega D, Heinemann AW, Johnson K
Clinical parkinsonism & related disorders
doi: 10.1016/j.prdoa.2023.100225
Spasticity Predicts Motor Recovery for Patients with Subacute Motor Complete Spinal Cord Injury.
Sangari S, Chen B, Grover F, Salsabili H, Sheth M, Gohil K, Hobbs S, Olson A, Eisner-Janowicz I, Anschel A, Kim K, Chen D, Kessler A, Heinemann AW, Oudega M, Kwon BK, Kirshblum S, Guest JD, Perez MA
Annals of neurology
doi: 10.1002/ana.26772
Feasibility of PROMIS using computerized adaptive testing during inpatient rehabilitation.
Rafiq RB, Yount S, Jerousek S, Roth EJ, Cella D, Albert MV, Heinemann AW
Journal of patient-reported outcomes
doi: 10.1186/s41687-023-00567-x
Informal Caregivers' Perceptions of Facilitators of Successful Weight Management for People With Spinal Cord Injury.
Pedersen JP, Ehrlich-Jones LS, Heinemann AW, LaVela SL
The American journal of occupational therapy : official publication of the American Occupational Therapy Association
doi: 10.5014/ajot.2023.050093
Functional Cognition: Distinct From Fluid and Crystallized Cognition?
Baum CM, Lau SCL, Heinemann AW, Connor LT
The American journal of occupational therapy : official publication of the American Occupational Therapy Association
pii: 7703205020. doi: 10.5014/ajot.2023.050010

Honors & Awards

  • Best paper
    National Association of Rehabilitation Research and Training Centers, 2015
  • Keynote Speaker
    National Symposium; Parks and Recreation in Public Health, Indiana University, 2016
  • Keynote Speaker
    University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee College of Health Sciences Research Day, 2014
  • Henry B. Betts Innovation Award
    Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago, 2012
  • Knowledge Translation Activity Award for the Rehabilitation Measures Database
    National Association of Rehabilitation Research and Training Centers, 2012
  • Keynote presentation at the Research Capacity Building Summit: Critical Conversations on Repositioning NIDRR’s Investments for the Future
    National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research
    , 2011
  • Anthony M. Solomon Lecturer in Clinical Neuropsychology
    Rusk Institute of Rehabilitation Medicine, 2009
  • Morita Distinguished Fellow
    Rehabilitation Hospital of the Pacific, 2005
  • Recipient, Harold Yuker Award for Research Excellence
    Rehabilitation Psychology Division (22) of the American Psychological Association, 2004
  • Roger Barker Distinguished Career Award
    Rehabilitation Psychology Division (22) of the American Psychological Association, 2000

Professional Affiliations

  • Co-Editor-in-Chief
    Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, 2013 - present
  • President
    American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine, 2004 - 2005
  • President
    Rehabilitation Psychology Division (22) of the American Psychological Association, 2004 - 2005
  • Member
    National Academy of Medicine Standing Committee on Medical Experts to Assist Social Security on Disability Issues, 2009 - present
  • Editorial Board Member
    Journal of Head Trauma Rehabilitation
    , 1996 - present
  • Editorial Board Member
    Rehabilitation Psychology, 1988 - present
  • Member, Board of Scientific Counselors
    National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2008 - 2012

Research Interests

  • Health services research
  • Healthcare quality
  • Psychosocial aspects of disability
  • Outcomes measurement

Grants

  • International Exploration of Rehabilitation Length of Stay Following Spinal Cord Injury
    NIDILRR grant 90DPHF0012, 2023 - 2028
  • Midwest Regional Spinal Cord Injury Model System
    NIDILRR grant 90SIMS0015, 2021 - 2026
  • Promoting the Psychological Health of Persons with Spinal Cord Injury: A Knowledge Translation Project
    Craig H. Neilsen Foundation, 2021 - 2024
  • Rehabilitation Research & Training Center (RRTC) on Home and Community Based Services
    NIDILRR grant 90RTGE0004, 2020 - 2025
  • Defining Trajectories of Linguistic, Cognitive-Communicative and Quality of Life Outcomes in Aphasia
    National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders grant STU00209555, 2019
  • Rehabilitation Research & Training Center (RRTC) on Employment for People with Physical Disabilities
    NIDILRR grant 90RTEM0001, 2018 - 2023
  • Texas TBI Model System of TIRR
    Memorial Hermann Health System
    , 2017 - 2018
  • Evaluating the Utilization and Efficiency of Wearable Exoskeletons for SCI Rehabilitation
    Department of Defense
    , 2017 - 2019
  • Department of Defense-Congressionally Directed Military Research Program
    DOD W81XWH-16-1-0788
    , 2016 - 2019
  • Implementing SCI-QOL into Clinical Practice to Enhance Patient Engagement
    Craig H. Neilsen Foundation
    , 2016 - 2019
  • Clinical Adaptation of the SCI-QOL Psychosocial Measures
    University of Delaware
    , 2016 - 2019
  • Enhancing Quality of Orthotic Services with Process and Outcome information
    Department of Defense
    , 2016 - 2019
  • Collaboration on Mobility Training (COMIT)
    University of Pittsburgh
    , 2012 - 2018

My 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