Julie Richardson
Professor Emeritus, Rehabilitation Science

Julie Richardson is a Professor in the School of Rehabilitation Science at McMaster University and the Assistant Dean of the Rehabilitation Science programs. She is a physiotherapist and has a Master’s degree in Psychology from University of Otago, New Zealand and a PhD in Epidemiology from the University of Toronto. She teaches Community Health/Community Practice in the Physiotherapy Program which includes approaches to the prevention and management of chronic disease. She also teaches Research Methodology and a course about Chronic Disease in the Rehabilitation Science Graduate Program.

Her research interests include identifying persons at risk for functional decline and rehabilitation interventions to prevent functional decline and maintain health status in persons with chronic illness. My research interests include measurement and intervention issues to promote mobility and lower-extremity functioning in older adults as well as risk factor assessment for decline of mobility and functioning with aging and the health transitions that older persons undergo in the process of disablement. I also work with family physicians around the assessment of preclinical disability to teach seniors how to avoid falls and maintain their mobility. Recent work has involved clinical trials which have examined complex rehabilitation interventions in primary care settings and have included behavioural, educational and self-management interventions to maximise function, health status and quality of life for persons with chronic illness. Dr. Richardson is also currently a member of the MAC H2ope clinic Executive Council.