Keynote Speaker: Yasser Salem

Speaker Profile:

Yasser Salem, USA

Dr. Salem is Professor and Interim Chair of the Division of Physical Therapy in the School of Health Professions at the University of North Texas Health Science Center.

Dr. Salem teaches courses in examination and intervention of the clients with neurologic dysfunction, as well as content in neuroscience and motor control. His clinical practice has been primarily in the area of pediatric and neurologic physical therapy. He is a Pediatric Certified Clinical Specialist since 2004 and recertified in 2013. In 2006 he completed the requirements and he became certified by the American Physical Therapy Association as a Clinical Specialist in Neurology Physical Therapy and was recertified in 2014.

Dr. Salem research agenda focuses on the development of effective treatment strategies for the rehabilitation of children and adults with neurological deficits. He is also interested in developing evidence-based practice using aquatic exercises. He has been consistently engaged in research, having published 21 peer-reviewed articles and three peer-reviewed invited publications. He has authored a small book, two books chapters and over 75 abstracts. He has over 120 peer-reviewed presentations at state, national, and international conferences. He is the first author on many of the published articles and presentations. He has been a mentor for both a post-doctorate researcher and an international vising physical therapy and physician researcher and several DPT students. He has successfully received several grant funding. He is the principle investigator on several of those grants.

Dr. Salem has been actively engaged in leadership activities of the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA), the American Council of Academic Physical Therapy (ACAPT), Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Accreditation (CAPTE), American Board of Physical Therapy Residency and Fellowship Education (ABPTRFE), and Aquatic Section. He is currently serving as the Vice President of the Aquatic Section of the APTA. He is the co-editor of the Journal of Aquatic Physical Therapy, the official journal of the Aquatic Section. He has served as editorial board member and associate editor for scientific journals. He has been a reviewer for numerous scientific journals and state, national and international level conferences including the Combined Sections Meeting (CSM) and the World Congress of Physical Therapy. He is a member of the Education, Neurology, Aquatic and Pediatric Sections.  He has served as a member and chair for multiple committees, working groups, and task forces regarding physical therapy practice, research, and education.

As a result of his research, Dr. Salem received several professional awards including a teaching award, two state research awards, a national research award and a national service award.