Professor Keith Hill has recently returned from the first part of a two phase approved study program.
This component of the study leave involved visiting Thammasat University in Bangkok, Thailand. A key element of this visit was to build on an existing research collaboration with a former PhD student who has returned the Physiotherapy Department at Thammasat University in 2012. Professor Hill discussed research and teaching opportunities with staff of both the Physiotherapy Department, and the Sports Science Department, whose course is relatively new, but has strong links with the National Sports Centre, which he visited. He also visited Bangkok Hospital and discussed falls clinic operations and procedures with staff of the first, newly developed Falls (Stability) Clinic in Thailand, and discussed current issues in preventing falls in the wards at Bangkok Hospital with key members of their hospital wide falls prevention committee.
During the study program, Professor Hill also led a falls prevention workshop which attracted participants from eight countries, and attended the Asia / Oceania Regional Congress of Gerontology and Geriatrics to present invited and submitted symposia, as well as to chair a Regional Council meeting in his role as President of the Asia Oceania Council of the International Association of Geriatrics and Gerontology.
During the 4 weeks approved study leave, Peter Gardner was Acting Head of School and did an excellent job leading the School, with Peter Robinson assisting as Acting Deputy Head of School.
The second phase of the approved study program will take place in March-April 2016, and include time at Universities in Taiwan, Hong Kong and China.
