Dr. Alex Wong

Alex Wong, PhD, DPhil, OT, CRC

Assistant Director, Center for Rehabilitation Outcomes Research | Associate Professor, Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation and Medical Social Sciences, Northwestern
Contact

My Lab

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.

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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 Assistant Director of 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. 

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

    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

    2012 – 2014

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

Featured Research

Dynamics of Perceived Social Isolation, Secondary Conditions, and Daily Activity Patterns Among Individuals With Stroke: A Network Analysis of Ecological Momentary Assessment Data.
Archives of physical medicine and rehabilitation
doi: 10.1016/j.apmr.2024.02.733

Shi Y,
Fong MWM,
Metts CL,
LaVela SL,
Bombardier C,
Hu L,
Wong AWK

Recent Publications

Post-stroke Depressive Symptoms and Cognitive Performances: A Network Analysis.
Shi Y, Lenze EJ, Mohr DC, Lee JM, Hu L, Metts CL, Fong MWM, Wong AWK
Archives of physical medicine and rehabilitation
doi: 10.1016/j.apmr.2023.10.006
A Digital Intervention to Promote Self-Management Self-Efficacy Among Community-Dwelling Individuals With Stroke: Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial.
Li Z, Lei Y, Bui Q, DePaul O, Nicol GE, Mohr DC, Lee SI, Fong MWM, Metts CL, Tomazin SE, Wong AWK
JMIR rehabilitation and assistive technologies
doi: 10.2196/50863
Intraindividual variability in post-stroke cognition and its relationship with activities of daily living and social functioning: an ecological momentary assessment approach.
Munsell EGS, Bui Q, Kaufman KJ, Tomazin SE, Regan BA, Lenze EJ, Lee JM, Mohr DC, Fong MWM, Metts CL, Pham V, Wong AWK
Topics in stroke rehabilitation
doi: 10.1080/10749357.2024.2307203
Text messaging intervention for fatigue self-management in people with stroke, spinal cord injury, and multiple sclerosis: A pilot study.
Wong AWK, Tomazin R, Walker K, Heeb Desai R, Hollingsworth H, Newland PK, Morgan KA
Disability and health journal
doi: 10.1016/j.dhjo.2023.101549
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
Precision clinical trials: a framework for getting to precision medicine for neurobehavioural disorders.
Lenze EJ, Nicol GE, Barbour DL, Kannampallil T, Wong AWK, Piccirillo J, Drysdale AT, Sylvester CM, Haddad R, Miller JP, Low CA, Lenze SN, Freedland KE, Rodebaugh TL
Journal of psychiatry & neuroscience : JPN
doi: 10.1503/jpn.200042

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

  • Chair, ACRM Measurement Interdisciplinary Special Interest Group
    2023 - 2025
  • NeuroRehab CDE Working Group – ADL Subgroup, NINDS/NICHD
    2020 - 2021
  • Community Group Oversight Committee
    American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine, 2022 - Present
  • Membership Committee, American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine
    2013 - Present

Grants

  • Telewellness Program for People with Disabilities: Mindfulness, Exercise, and Nutrition to Optimize Resilience (MENTOR)
    CDC/NCHPAD. Role: Subcontract PI, 2024 - 2026
  • International Exploration of Rehabilitation Length of Stay Following Spinal Cord Injury
    NIDILRR grant 90DPHF0012. Role: Project PI, 2023 - 2028
  • Development and Validation of a Nutrition Knowledge Questionnaire for Individuals with Spinal Cord Injuries and Disorders
    Department of Defense, Role: Co-I, 2022 - 2025
  • Improving Adherence to Exercise Guidelines Using Smartphone-Based Technology and E-Coaching: A Proof of Concept SMART Design Study
    NIDILRR. Role: Project PI., 2021 - 2026
  • Patient Engagement Intervention in Inpatient Spinal Cord Injury Rehabilitation
    Craig H. Neilsen Foundation, Role: PI, 2021 - 2024
  • A Randomized Controlled Trial of Geriatric Emergency Department Innovations
    NIH/AHRQ, Role: Co-I, 2021 - 2025
  • Mobile Rehabilitation for Daily Life Participation Post-Stroke
    NIH/NICDH/NCMRR, Role: PI, 2019 - 2024

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

Professional Colleagues

Dr. Elliot J. Roth
Elliot J. Roth, MD, FACRM
Attending Physician, Brain Innovation Center
Paul B. Magnuson Professor and Chairman of PM&R,
Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine
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