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Ann Goerdt, PT, PhD

Ann Goerdt, PT, PhD

Ann Goerdt, PT, PhD is currently the Director of the Doctor of Physical Therapy Program for Practicing Physical Therapists in the New York University Physical Therapy Department. She initiated and currently co-chairs the NYU Council for the Study of Disability, whose membership includes a university-wide group of faculty from departments in the arts and humanities, social sciences, education, health, social work, medicine and law. This Disability Council promotes collaboration for research, teaching and programs that incorporate community groups concerned with disability.   Dr. Goerdt’s international experience stems primarily from her work with the World Health Organization, where she managed the training program of the Rehabilitation Unit. She served as author and editor of training materials relevant to country and training needs, planned and conducted national level training courses for rehabilitation staff and implemented inter-country workshops for national managers to analyze and plan rehabilitation delivery systems. Within the framework of WHO, she advised ministries of health, international donor agencies and non-governmental organizations on the development of community-based rehabilitation programs in countries of Africa and Asia.   WHO training materials that she wrote or edited to support community based rehabilitation (CBR) initiatives include—

  • Promoting the development of infants and young children with spina bifida and hydrocephalus,
  • Promoting independence following a spinal cord injury,
  • Disability prevention and rehabilitation in primary health care, a guide for district health and rehabilitation managers,
  • Community-based rehabilitation and the health-care referral services, a guide for program managers,
  • Promoting the development of young children with cerebral palsy,
  • The education of mid-level rehabilitation workers-- Recommendations from country experience.

  Dr. Goerdt continues to work with the World Health Organization, and assumed responsibility for the Health Component, one of six major components, in the new Community-based Rehabilitation (CBR) Guidelines, planned for publication by the end of 2010. Three UN Agencies and the International Disability and Development Consortium (IDDC), a consortium of more than twenty International NGOs, participate in updating this seminal CBR document. More than 150 experts from all over the world are contributing to the development of these guidelines.