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Assistant Professor
University of Saint Mary
Dr. Sonia Rawal PT MPT PhD, currently working as an Asistant Professor to physical therapy in Univeristy of Saint Mary, Kansas, commenced her academic career in India where she earned her Bachelor’s degree in Physical Therapy in 2004. She then enriched it further by completing her Master’s in Physical Therapy, specializing in Neurology. Her professional career in India included working at some of Asia’s most prestigious and advanced spine, orthopedic, and neuromuscular center and rehabilitation units equipped with aquatic therapy, wherein she treated variety of patients including but not limited to spinal cord injury, stroke and total knee replacement. As an inveterate learner, she decided to pursue her doctorate in rehabilitation science from University of Kansas Medical Center (KUMC). She joined as a post-doctoral fellow at KUMC, Cancer Center soon after she graduated from the PhD program in 2016.
Dr. Rawal has strong wide-ranging research background, that includes basic science as well as clinical research. Her doctoral dissertation involved novel projects, focused on improving pancreatic islet viability and functioning that culminated into patents. Dr. Rawal also has extensive clinical research experience, gained while working on a large, multi-center study examining the effects of diet and exercise therapy in patients with diabetic neuropathy.
Throughout her carrier, Dr. Rawal has been actively engaged in research, teaching and mentoring students. Prior to joining the University of Saint Mary in 2018, Dr. Rawal held multiple teaching positions during her career in India and United States. Dr. Rawal is an AIB- certified vestibular rehabilitation therapist and also a certified LSVT Big clinician.