Professor Alia Alghwiri, a distinguished member of the Barany Society, has made significant contributions to the field of vestibular and balance disorders. As president of the Jordanian Physiotherapy Society and a former board member of World Physiotherapy, she has played a pivotal role in advancing both national and international physioterapy standards in the assessment and management of balance disorders. Her involvement with the Barany Society, a prestigious organization dedicated to the study of vestibular science, highlights her expertise in balance assessment and rehabilitation, connecting her with leading experts and the latest global research.
Professor Alia Alghwiri has played a crucial role in the translation and validation of outcome measures for balance and vestibular assessment, significantly contributing to the global understanding and clinical management of vestibular disorders. Her work in this area is particularly notable for ensuring that culturally and linguistically diverse populations can benefit from reliable, accurate, and standardized tools for diagnosing and treating balance-related issues. Starting from the development of the Vestibular Activities and Participation measure in 2012 (Alghwiri et al., 2012) and the Arabic translation in 2014 (Mueller et al., 2014). Moreover, she was involved in the translation/validation of several balance tools including the Dynamic Gait Index (Alghwiri, 2014), the Activities specific Balance Confidence scale and the Berg Balance Scale (Alghwiri et al., 2016).
Dr. Faten S. Obeidat is an accomplished audiologist and researcher specializing in audiology and balance. She obtained her PhD in Audiology, specializing in balance disorders from the University of Southampton, UK, in 2019. As an associate professor at the University of Jordan, Dr. Obeidat has successfully integrated the expertise gained during her UK education into her teaching. She developed the university's first course on balance disorders and actively engages her students in research projects, fostering a new generation of professionals in the field. In 2024, Dr. Obeidat was nominated by the British Council for the prestigious Alumni Award, a recognition of her significant contributions to the field of audiology and balance disorders.
In her clinical work at the University of Jordan Clinic, Dr. Obeidat has made significant strides in improving care for patients with balance and hearing disorders. She provides specialized vestibular assessments and rehabilitations, contributing to better patient outcomes and improving the quality of life for those affected by such conditions.
Professor Susan Whitney is a Professor in the Departments of Physical Therapy, Otolaryngology, and Clinical and Translational Science Institue at the University of Pittsburgh. Professor Whitney is a world-renowned expert in vestibular and balance rehabilitation. She is one of the most, if not the most, sought out and recognized international speakers/instructors on the topic of vestibular and balance rehabilitation. Her expertise receives the attention of biomedical engineers, colleagues, and inventors seeking expert consultation and collaboration for manuscripts, projects (including funded proposals), and patents. She is not only a leader in her field but is a pioneers who helped create it.
Professor Susan L. Whitney has played a pivotal leadership role in advancing the field of balance rehabilitation, both in the U.S. and globally. As a past board member of the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA), she helped shape policies that increased recognition and training in vestibular and balance rehabilitation, improving patient outcomes. In her current role as Vice President of the International Neurological Physiotherapy Association (INPA), she fosters global collaboration, advances research, and promotes best practices in neurological rehabilitation. Her leadership and expertise in vestibular rehabilitation have had a profound impact on the field, with her work informing international clinical protocols and guidelines for balance assessment and treatment. By integrating advanced techniques into physical therapy education and encouraging international research partnerships, Whitney has significantly contributed to the global development of balance rehabilitation, enhancing the quality of care for individuals with balance disorders worldwide.
Together, these distinguished professionals and our dedicated, driven team are committed to advancing research in vestibular and balance disorders. Our collective efforts aim to provide objective assessments of gaze stabilization exercises in individuals with multiple sclerosis, explore the impact of sleep quality on balance confidence and fear of falling in those with peripheral vestibular disorders, and ultimately enhance clinical practices and improve patient care, setting new standards and creating lasting change in the field.