Creating and Inspiring Hope After Disability - An Interview With Dr. Pamela Duncan

"I feel as though I have created a foundation for the next generation to push the field forward in an accelerated fashion, and honestly – the needs for advancement in stroke recovery are greater than ever."

An interesting phenomenon occurs when someone mentions Dr. Pamela Duncan – people immediately smile and reflect on how she has shaped stroke recovery and their life, whether they know her or not. Throughout her career, she has broken barriers, both as a woman and as a researcher. In 2020, she was the first woman to receive the?American Stroke Association’s David G. Sherman Lifetime Achievement Award. As a scholar, she continues to?investigate? the effects of movement and stimulation on medically frail patients including acute stroke survivors and individuals with severe congestive heart failure.?

When discussing the future of stroke recovery, Dr. Duncan motivates the current and next generation to think and dream bigger – never accepting the current standard of treatment and believing that life without disability is possible. In order to live in a world without disability, Dr. Duncan emphasizes the importance of doing more–learning more, creating more, and taking on more challenges and risks. Dr. Duncan acknowledges that there are always challenges with clinical trials, but if a team is passionate about the project and believes in the mission, then it's contagious and the goal will be reached.

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