Hana Alazem

Ottawa Hospital, Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario

Papers

Total Citations

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About

Dr. Hana Alazem is a pioneering researcher in pediatric rehabilitation engineering, whose work centers on developing and evaluating robotic technologies to improve mobility and quality of life for children with cerebral palsy (CP). Her most significant contribution is the first-ever study of a robotic walker for youth and young adults with CP classified as GMFCS IV, a population with severely limited independent mobility. This foundational 2019 paper (8 citations) used qualitative interviews to capture the profound impact of enabling self-directed walking, moving beyond mere metrics to understand user experience. She has since advanced this line of inquiry with a 2023 protocol for a randomized, cross-over trial comparing innovative robotic gait training to standard functional therapy (7 citations), demonstrating her commitment to rigorous, evidence-based validation. Dr. Alazem also provides critical perspective on the field's rapid evolution in her 2024 review "The Explosion of Technology in Pediatric Rehabilitation" (2 citations), where she advocates for applying the "F-words in Child Development" framework—focusing on function, family, and fitness—to ensure technology serves holistic, child-centered goals. Her work uniquely bridges cutting-edge robotics with the humanistic principles of pediatric care, establishing her as a leading voice in accessible, meaningful rehabilitation innovation.