​Katy O'Brien, PhD CCC-SLP

Katy O’Brien is a Senior Scientific Advisor with the Courage Kenny Rehabilitation Institute in Minneapolis, Minnesota. She also has retained an appointment at the University of Georgia as an Adjunct Associate Professor in the department of Communication Sciences and Special Education. She is the Chair of the Brain Injury Association of Georgia and is a member of the Academy of Neurologic Communication Disorders and Sciences. As a speech-language pathologist, she has clinical experience with people with traumatic brain injury (TBI) across the spectrum of recovery, from intensive care through outpatient rehabilitation and community re-entry. Her research addresses cognitive rehabilitation and return to productivity, including return to learn following traumatic brain injury and concussion in secondary and post-secondary settings, and knowledge translation for clinical management of brain injury. 

Doctoral Students

Amy Kemp
Amy earned her master's degree at Michigan State University and worked clinically as as a Speech Language Pathologist for three years. Her research interests are in neuroscience and cognitive rehabilitation following brain injury in older adults.
Yalian Pei
Pei worked as a Speech-Language-Hearing therapist in Japan for two years, after she earned her master's degree at Musashino University. Her research interests are in cognitive rehabilitation, especially changes in language and reading following traumatic brain injury. 

Master's Thesis Students

Ansley Messina
Madison Neese

Undergraduate Research Assistants

Former Lab Associates

Jacqueline Brown – CFY in the Teton Valley School District
Lauren Beck Stutzman – CFY at the Minneapolis VA Hospital
​Kimberly Dable – CFY in a Adams 12 Five Star Schools in Colorado