Our Team/Our Mission

The Center for Neurorehabilitation is comprised of a team of researchers and clinicians with expertise in rehabilitation and movement science. We conduct research, clinical and educational activities in a single location all with the goal of directly impacting the quality of rehabilitation provided to persons with neurological disorders.
The research investigating the efficacy of rehabilitation methods allows us to refine rehabilitation approaches. This fosters immediate advances in clinical practice leading to the emergence of innovative, evidence-based approaches. These advances will assist people with neurological diagnoses to reach their maximum functional potential and level of independence in order to improve quality of life.
We disseminate this emerging knowledge in the field of rehabilitation science directly to practicing professionals, students and patients via numerous Center activities.

Robert Wagenaar

Gloria Waters, Ph.D, Professor and Dean

Dr. Robert C. Wagenaar, MSc, PhD, Vrije Universiteit (Amsterdam, The Netherlands), is a Professor at Boston University, Sargent College of Health & Rehabilitation Sciences in the Department of Physical Therapy & Athletic Training. He is also the director for the Center for Neurorehabiliation. He also serves as an Associate Professor for the Department of Neurology, School of Medicine, Boston University. He has been conducting research on movement disorders since 1985, and brings particular expertise to the development and implementation of clinical trials of rehabilitation with movement disorders, as well as theoretical expertise in theories of motor control and learning (i.e., dynamic systems theory) and its application to normal and disordered movement.

Previous research at the Vrije Universiteit (Department of Physical Therapy in collaboration with the Research Institutes for Neurosciences and Fundamental and Clinical Human Movement Sciences) in Amsterdam and at Boston University (Department of Physical Therapy and Athletic Training and Center for Neurorehabilitation) has focused on:

The coordination of disordered locomotion in people post stroke, in people with Parkinson disease, and in people with low back pain;
The effects of different functional exercise therapies in people with Parkinson's disease, stroke, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disorders;
Early diagnostics of PD.

These projects were supported by government as well as national and international foundations in the Netherlands and the United States. Professional affiliations include the American Physical Therapy Association, American Society for Neurorehabilitation, and the Society for Posture and Gait.

Terry Ellis

Gloria Waters, Ph.D, Professor and Dean

Terry Ellis is a Clinical Associate Professor at Boston University, Sargent College of Health & Rehabilitation Sciences in the Department of Physical Therapy & Athletic Training. She is also the Associate Director of Clinical Care in the Center for Neurorehabilitation at Boston University. She completed her Ph.D. in Behavioral Neuroscience from Boston University School of Medicine. She received the Henry Russek Student Achievement Award based on her dissertation work in the area of Parkinson's disease. She earned her degree in Physical Therapy from Springfield College. In addition, she is a board certified specialist in Neurologic Physical Therapy.

Dr. Ellis teaches in the area of rehabilitation of patients with a variety of neurological diagnoses with particular expertise in the areas of Parkinson's disease and Stroke. She was a recipient of the Whitney Powers Excellence in Teaching Award at Sargent College, Boston University in May 2003. Her area of research focuses on investigating the efficacy of rehabilitation in individuals with Parkinson's disease. She has published in the area of Parkinson's disease related to efficacy of rehabilitation, and has lectured nationally in the area of Parkinson's disease.

Tami Rork Deangelis

Gloria Waters, Ph.D, Professor and Dean

Tami Rork DeAngelis is a senior physical therapist at the Center for Neurorehabilitation where she provides clinical care and participates in research and educational activities. Prior to working at the Center, Tami was employed at Braintree Rehabilitation Hospital, working with a variety of patient populations. There she was a member of the Movement Disorders Team which allowed her to develop expertise in Parkinson's disease. Tami continues to work at Braintree Rehabilitation Hospital on a per diem basis. She also lectures in the Physical Therapy Program at Boston University and speaks at local Parkinson's Disease Support Groups about the benefits of rehabilitation. Tami received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Biology from Lafayette College and a Master of Science degree in Physical Therapy from Boston Universitys Sargent College of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences.