Susan V. Duff, EdD, MPT, OT/L, CHT

Susan V. Duff, EdD, PT, OT/L, CHT, is an Associate Professor in the Crean College of Health and Behavioral Sciences, Department of Physical Therapy at Chapman University. She serves on the editorial board of Physical & Occupational Therapy in Pediatrics. Dr. Duff contributed to the development of the GRASSP, a clinical tool used to assess sensorimotor and prehension function in individuals with tetraplegia. Her research program focuses on the development and recovery of prehensile skill following peripheral or central neural injury. She is particularly interested in how individual resources and opportunities influence motor learning and control of hand and arm movement. Her research emphasizes quantitative assessment of motor asymmetry in infants at risk, interlimb coordination in children and adults with hemiparesis, as well as the design of strategies to accelerate and enhance recovery. Most recently, she is examining the efficacy of technology-based methods to assess and enhance arm movement and motor learning in young infants with unilateral dysfunction. While her work is rooted in development and pediatrics, Dr. Duff has expanded her research to include collaborations investigating training with neuromodulation aimed at extending recovery windows for individuals with hemiparesis. Her expertise in pediatrics brings a unique and creative perspective to rehabilitation efforts across the lifespan.