Contact Information

Biography

Dr. Elena Donoso Brown is an occupational therapist and associate professor at Duquesne University. She earned her M.S. in Occupational Therapy from Duquesne University and her Ph.D. in Rehabilitation Sciences from the University of Washington. Her clinical background is with individual post-stroke and traumatic brain injury during the acute phase of recovery in the inpatient rehabilitation setting. She has developed a research agenda around understanding and assessing ways to optimize the implementation of home programs for persons with acquired brain injury to increase adherence. In addition, Dr. Donoso Brown teaches students in the program’s professional and advanced professional phases on evaluation/assessment, biomechanical intervention, and program development. She also mentors students through the research project series and as a doctoral capstone chair.

Education

  • Ph.D., Rehabilitation Science, University of Washington, 2012
  • M.S., Occupational Therapy, Duquesne University, 2005
  • B.S. Health Sciences, Duquesne University, 2004

Research Interests or Expertise

Research Focus: My research contributions aim to support the assessment and rehabilitation of adults with neurological diagnoses. Specifically, my work aims to understand methods that can support implementation of rehabilitation recommendations into practice to improve health outcomes and decrease care costs.

Current Projects: My current projects include: 1) a series of quantitative and qualitative investigations of stakeholders in home programming for individuals post stroke, 2) interprofessional exploration of home practice for clients with aphasia, and 3) understanding best practice around interprofessional education.

About

Teaching Philosophy: I believe that learning is a collaborative process between the educator and the student. In the process both the students and the educator bring knowledge that can enhance a deeper understanding of the material. Students in my classes are taught how to use evidence and knowledge to make decisions whether that be for a biomechanical intervention or qualitative research methods.

DU Courses I Teach or Co-teach in:

  • OCCT 535/L: Occupational Performance Evaluation/Lab
  • OCCT 530/L: Biomechanical Function/Lab*
  • OCCT 532: Qualitative Research
  • OCCT 522: Intervention Seminar/Lab*
  • OCCT 625: Designing Effective Programs
  • OCCT 650: Instructional Learning Theory & Technology
  • OCCT 574: Fieldwork Proposal

*Indicates course that are co-taught.

  • Wallace, S.E., Donoso Brown, E.V., *Saylor, A., Lapp, E., & *Eskander, J. (2020). Designing occupational therapy home programs for people with aphasia: Aphasia friendly modifications. Perspectives of the ASHA Special Interest Groups, SIG 2, 1-10. (Invited). https://doi.org/10.1044/2019_PERSP-19-00001
  • Benson, J.D., Donoso Brown, E.V., Blough, A., Smitsky, D. (2020). The effect of sensorimotor strategies on attention and in-seat behavoir in preschools with autism spectrum disorder: A pilot study. Journal of Occupational Therapy Schools & Early Intervention. https://doi.org/10.1080/19411243.2020.1732262
  • Donoso Brown, E.V., Vojcsik, G., Bleakley, S., *Boring, E., & *Moon, J. (2020). A preliminary study on using a thoracolumbar brace to change spinal alignment in Parkinson's Disease. Journal of Physical Therapy Science 32(1)72-78. https://doi.org/10.1589/jpts.32.72
  • Benson, J., Morgus, K., Donoso Brown E.V., & Smitsky, D. (2019) The Effect of Alternate Seating on Improving Attention and in Seat Behavior of Preschoolers with Autism: A pilot study. Journal of Occupational Therapy, Schools, & Early Intervention 12(4) 455-465. https://doi.org/10.1080/19411243.2019.1672606
  • Donoso Brown, E.V., Nolfi, D., Wallace, S., & *Eskander, J., & Hoffmann, J., (2019) Home program practices for supporting and measuring adherence in post-stroke rehabilitation: A scoping review. Topics in Stroke Rehabilitation Advanced online publication. doi: 10.1080/10749357.2019.1707950.
  • Wallace, S.E., Donoso Brown, E.V., Simpson, R., D'Acunto, K., Kranjec, A., *Rodgers, M., Agostino, C. (2019). A comparison of electronic and paper versions of the Montreal Cognitive Assessment. Alzheimer Disease & Associated Disorders. 33(3):272-278. DOI: 10.1097/WAD.0000000000000333
  • Wallace, S.E., Donoso Brown, E.V., Schreiber, J.B., Diehl, S., Kinney, J., & *Zangara, L. (2019). Computerized touchscreen cognitive assessment in traumatic brain injury: A comparison to paper-based assessments. Neurorehabilitation. 45(1):25-36. doi: 10.3233/NRE-192725 
  • Wallace, S.E., Donoso Brown, E.V., Saylor, A., & Lapp, E. (2018). Participants' perceptions of an aphasia-friendly occupational therapy home program. Topics in Stroke Rehabilitation. Advanced online publication. doi:10.1080/10749357.2018.1517492
  • Szucs, K. A. & Donoso Brown, E. V. (2018). Rater reliability and construct validity of a mobile application for posture analysis. The Journal of Physical Therapy Science. 30(1), 31-36. doi: https://doi.org/10.1589/jpts.30.31 
  • Donoso Brown, E. V. & *Fichter, R. (2017). Home programs for upper extremity recovery post-stroke: A survey of occupational therapy practitioners. Topics in Stroke Rehabilitation. 24(8), 573-578. doi: 10.1080/10749357.2017.1366013
  • Donoso Brown, E. V., & Powell, J.M. (2017) Assessment of unilateral neglect in stroke: Simplification and structuring of test items. British Journal of Occupational Therapy. 80(7), 448-452. doi: 10.1177/0308022616685582
  • Wallace, S.E., Donoso Brown, E., Fairman, A., Beardshall, K., *Olexsovich, A., Taylor, A., & Schreiber, J. (2017). Validation of the Standardized Touchscreen Assessment of Cognition in neurotypical adults. NeuroRehabilitation. 40(3), 411-420. doi: 10.3233/NRE-161428
  • Donoso Brown, E.; Dudgeon, B.J.; Gutman, K.; Moritz, C.T.; McCoy, S.W. (2015). Understanding upper extremity home programs and the use of gaming technology for persons after stroke. Disability & Health Journal 8(4), 507-513.

Student authors supervised or co-supervised by Dr. Donoso Brown are noted with an asterisk (*).

Research Presentations

  • Donoso Brown, E.V., Rowe, V., Gauthier, L., Langan, J., & Page, S. J. (2020, October) Strategies for supporting and measuring adherence to independent movement practice in rehabilitation. Symposia presented virtually at the annual conference for the American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine.
  • Donoso Brown, E.V., Wallace, S.E. ,*Liu, Q., Famularo, M. (2020, October) Creating Home Practice Programs for Persons with Aphasia: A Survey of Speech Language Pathologists. Poster presented virtually at the annual conference for the American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine.
  • *Gough, M. Donoso Brown, E.V., Anddrejow, N.W., & Garcia Reidy, T. (2020, March) FIT for home: A home program feasibility project for children with cerebral palsy. Poster accepted for presentation at the annual American Occupational Therapy Association Conference, Boston, MA. (Conference cancelled due to COVID-19)
  • Donoso Brown, E.V., Sucz, K., *Boucher, A., & *Crilly, C. (2020, March) Understanding Physical Activity (PA) in college students: A comparison of self-reported & objective measures. Poster accepted for presentation at the annual American Occupational Therapy Association Conference, Boston, MA. (Conference cancelled due to COVID-19) Contributing Authors: Falcione, N. & Burton, K.
  • Donoso Brown, E.V.,*Eskander, J., (2019, October). Supporting adherence to rehabilitation home programs for persons post-stroke: A scoping review. Poster presented at the American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine Conference, Chicago, IL. Contributing Authors: Nolfi, D., Wallace, S.E. & Hoffman, J.
  • *Rodgers, M. & Donoso Brown, E.V. (2019, April). A comparison of computerized and paper and pencil versions of the Montreal Cognitive Assessement (MoCA). Poster presented at the American Occupational Therapy Association Conference Annual Conference, New Orleans, LA. Contributing Authors: Sarah E. Wallace, Richard Simpson, Alexander Kranjec, Kristin D'Acunto, Caroline Agostino, & Mary Rose Zoeckler
  • Also presented at the Pennsylvania Speech Language and Hearing Conference 2018, Pittsburgh, PA and the Duquesne University 2018 Undergraduate Research Symposium. Earned the Rangos School of Health Sciences Research Award.
  • *Gough, M., *McElroy, T., Donoso Brown, E.V., Neilan R.M., *Kessler, F., & *Gallipoli, J. (2019, April). Exploring the use of Microsoft Bands to measure task repetitive practice. Poster presented at the American Occupational Therapy Association Conference Annual Conference, New Orleans, LA.
  • Cook, A., Donoso Brown, E.V., & *Hyland, M. (2019). Burn survey title Poster presented at the American Occupational Therapy Association Conference Annual Conference, New Orleans, LA.
  • Blough, A., Benson, J.D., Donoso Brown, E.V., Poster presented at the American Occupational Therapy Association Conference Annual Conference, New Orleans, LA.
  • Donoso Brown, E.V., Redford, A., Wallace, S.E., Sather, T., & Braun, S. (2018). Supporting participation in exercise programs for individuals with aphasia: Outcomes and future directions. Poster presented at the American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine, Dallas, TX.
  • Ducey, L.*, Palermo, V.*, Donoso Brown E.V. (2018, April). Upper extremity home programs for individuals post-stroke: Capturing occupational therapists' perspectives. Poster presented at American Occupational Therapy Association Conference Annual Conference, Salt Lake City, UT.
  • Donoso Brown, E.V., Eskander, J.*, Wallace S., Matthews, L.* (2018, April) Music and adherence in home programs post-stroke. Poster presented at American Occupational Therapy Association Conference Annual Conference, Salt Lake City, UT.
  • An earlier version of the poster with preliminary analysis from a subset of participants was presented by the two students named above in the Duquesne University Undergraduate Research and Scholarship Symposium. Earned the Rangos School of Health Sciences Research Award. Also presented at the Pennsylvania Occupational Therapy Association Conference 2017, State College, PA.
  • Morgus, K., Benson, J.D., Donoso Brown, E., & Smitsky, D. (2018, April). The Effect of alternate seating on improving attention and in seat behavior of preschoolers with Autism. Poster presented at American Occupational Therapy Association Conference Annual Conference, Salt Lake City, UT.
  • Poster was selected out of 300 posters to be included in a Young Scientist presentation, only 8 Young Scientist Presenters were selected for this distinction at each poster session.
  • Kinney, J.*, Matthews, L., Wallace, S.E., Rusiewicz, H., Donoso Brown, E.V., & Schiber, J. (2017, November). Drawing conclusions about aphasia: An examination of the relationship between word retrieval, drawing, and semantics. Poster, American Speech-Language-Hearing Association Annual National Convention, Los Angeles, CA.
  • Received the Rangos School of Health Sciences Award for Graduate Research at the Duquesne University Graduate Research and Scholarship Symposium.
  • Fichter, R.* & Donoso Brown, E.V. (2017, April) Understanding the implementation of home programs for upper extremity motor recovery with persons post-stroke: Capturing occupational therapy practitioners' practice and perspectives. Poster presented at American Occupational Therapy Annual Conference, Philadelphia, PA.
  • Donoso Brown, E.; Vojcsik, G.; Bleakley, S.; Boring, E.*; Moon, J.* (2016, May) Development and Pilot Testing of an Innovative Thoracolumbar brace for Individuals with Parkinson's Disease. Poster presented at the World Congress for Neurorehabilitation Bi-annual convention, Philadelphia, PA.

State and Regional Presentation

  • *Rodgers, M. & Donoso Brown, E.V. (2018, October). A comparison of computerized and paper and pencil versions of the MoCA. Oral presentation at the Pennsylvania Occupational Therapy Association Annual Conference, Monroeville, PA.
  • *McElroy, T., *Gough, M., Donoso Brown, E.V., *Kessler, F., & *Gallipoli, J. (2018, October) Exploring the use of Microsoft Bands to measure task repetitive practice. Poster presented at the Pennsylvania Occupational Therapy Association Annual Conference, Monroeville, PA.
  • *Blough, A., Benson, J.D., Smitsky, D., & Donoso Brown, E.V. (2018, October) The effect of sensorimotor strategies on attention and in seat behavior in preschoolers with Austism Spectrum Disorders. Poster presented at the Pennsylvania Occupational Therapy Association Annual Conference, Monroeville, PA.
  • Wallace, S. E., Donoso Brown, E. V., Simpson, R., D'Acunto, K., Kranjec, A., *Agostino, C., *Rodgers, M., & *Zoeckler, M. (2018, March). A Comparison of Computerized and Paper and Pencil Versions of the MoCA. Student poster presented at the Pennsylvania Speech-Language and Hearing Association Annual Conference, Pittsburgh, PA.
  • Wallace, S. E., Donoso Brown, E. V., Saylor, A., & Lapp, E. (2018, March). Aphasia-Friendly Occupational Therapy Home Program: Analysis of Participant Perceptions. Poster presented at the Pennsylvania Speech-Language and Hearing Association Annual Conference, Pittsburgh, PA.
  • Mattila, A.M. & Donoso Brown, E.V. (2017, March) Facilitating Connections: Low Tech to High Tech Methods for Collaboration. Poster, 2018 Pittsburgh Regional Faculty Symposium, Pittsburgh, PA.
  • Donoso Brown, E.; Zangara, L.*, Olexsovich, A.; Fairman, A. (2016, October) Computerized Assessment of Cognition for Persons with Traumatic Brain Injury. Poster presented at Pennsylvania Occupational Therapy Conference, Lancaster, PA.
  • DeIuliis, E., & Donoso Brown, E.V. (2015, October) Academia as an OT Practice Setting? Workshop, Pennsylvania Occupational Therapy Association Annual Conference, Scranton, Pennsylvania.

Invited Scholarly Conference Presentations

  • Wallace, S.E., & Donoso Brown, E.V. (2018, March). Use of electronic cognitive assessments: What have we learned? Invited seminar at the Pennsylvania Speech-Language and Hearing Association Conference, Pittsburgh, PA.

*denotes publications with Duquesne University students

Dr. DB talks about online learning: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u85j7nnMXH0

Dr. DB talks about Living the Spirit: https://youtu.be/aFZLxD_6-UI