Professor Lorraine De Souza
Lorraine De Souza is Head of the School of Health Sciences and Social Care, Professor of Rehabilitation and Director of the Centre for Research in Rehabilitation.
"I have a major research interest in the management of multiple sclerosis, an area I've been involved with for 14 years. My research focuses on how people with multiple sclerosis and their carers can adapt their lifestyles to maximise their strengths and abilities for daily living with this progressive and unpredictable condition and how health professionals can provide support.
My other main interests lie in studying the disability caused by spinal pain, and its treatment in particular, as pain is experienced by people living with chronic back and neck problems.
My research informs my teaching, and I contribute to undergraduate and postgraduate courses, mainly to the Master's course in Neurorehabilitation. As a healthcare practitioner, I bring a strong sense of clinical reality to both my research and teaching as I'm able to draw on my own clinical experience of treating people with chronic neurological conditions.
I supervise a number of research students carrying out research in rehabilitation and related areas of study. It's exceptionally rewarding to see students tackle difficult research questions successfully through their doctoral studies and achieve peer reviewed publications. My role is to support, guide and challenge students as they develop and polish their research skills and critical thinking. What excites me most is seeing them succeed."
