Jefferson Health and LVHN Celebrate Innovation and Research in Rehabilitation | Lehigh Valley Health Network
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Program honored visionaries who are shaping the future of care
By Linda Bandura
November 20, 2025
On Nov. 4, more than 100 rehabilitation professionals and partners gathered at Lehigh Valley Hospital–Cedar Crest for the fourth annual “Rehabilitation: Innovation and Research Event.” This celebration, hosted by LVHN Rehabilitation Services, recognized groundbreaking research, clinical advancements and collaborative efforts that made a significant impact during the past fiscal year.
This year’s program featured:
Poster presentations showcasing FY25 research and quality improvement projectsNetworking opportunities for professionals committed to advancing rehabilitation across the continuumA keynote address from Jefferson Moss Rehabilitation Research InstituteAn awards ceremony honoring excellence in innovation and researchAwards included Clinical Innovator of the Year, Quality Improvement or Research Project of the Year and the inaugural RISE Award.
A community of innovators
Attendees included leaders and clinicians from rehabilitation and ambulatory services, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy and cardiac rehabilitation, as well as local university partners and students. Colleagues represented every setting – acute care, inpatient rehabilitation and outpatient services.
Celebrating collaboration
“This year we are thrilled to welcome keynote speakers from Jefferson Moss Rehabilitation Research Institute,” says Kasey Hutter, Team Lead, Rehabilitation Operations at LVHN. “Events like this strengthen collaboration with our Jefferson Health partners and help us discover new ways to elevate patient care.”
The event emphasized three core themes:
Building partnerships for the future – Collaborating with Jefferson Rehabilitation to advance patient-centered careDriving innovation for better outcomes – Translating research into transformative interventionsCommitment to community – Promoting equity, access and compassionate care
Clinical Innovator of the Year
Outpatient occupational therapist Jillian Ralph earned this honor for her pioneering work on sleep hygiene in pediatric rehabilitation – an often-overlooked factor in recovery. Ralph developed standardized protocols, tools and education sessions for colleagues, and partnered with physicians in the Sleep Center and the Concussion Clinic to integrate this approach.
Her initiative resulted in a 1,200% increase in pediatric referrals, dramatically improving quality of life for children and families.
Quality Improvement or Research Project of the Year
This year’s award went to the project “Family Training in the Inpatient Rehabilitation Center (IRC) and Community Discharge.”
The study demonstrated that completing two family training sessions per patient improves discharge-to-home rates. These findings will guide culture change across all IRCs, emphasizing family involvement for optimal outcomes.
RISE Award
Introduced this year, the RISE Award honors inspirational support and empowerment in rehabilitation. Congratulations to the Inpatient Pediatric Rehabilitation Team for their extraordinary care of a young boy recovering from severe burns during an extended hospitalization.
Keynote presentation
The keynote, “30+ Years of Innovation and Neurorehabilitation Research Excellence,” was delivered by experts from Jefferson Moss Rehabilitation Research Institute:
Dylan Edwards, PhDAmanda Rabinowitz, PhDSharon Antonucci, PhD
They shared the institute’s history and current research initiatives driving progress in their fields of study which is highly focused on neurorehabilitation.
Congratulations to all honorees for their outstanding contributions to advancing rehabilitation care!
After injury or illness, it can be tough getting back on your feet. If part of your recovery includes rehabilitation, LVHN is ready to support you. We offer a full range of rehabilitation services, including both inpatient and outpatient programs, at mult
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