Rate My Professor Ewan Kennedy

Ewan Kennedy is a Senior Lecturer and Year 2 Lead in the School of Physiotherapy, Faculty of Health Professional Programmes, Health Sciences Division, University of Otago. He holds a Bachelor of Physiotherapy (BPhty), a PhD in Clinical Anatomy from the University of Otago awarded in 2008, and a Postgraduate Certificate in Higher Education (PGCert Higher Education). With more than 20 years of experience teaching clinical anatomy to medicine and physiotherapy students, as well as undergraduate and postgraduate physiotherapy courses, Kennedy has extensive involvement in clinical supervision, laboratory teaching, tutorials, paper coordination, and academic administration. As a practicing primary care physiotherapist, he completed postgraduate training in orthopaedic manual therapy. He maintains registration as a New Zealand physiotherapist and holds memberships in Physiotherapy New Zealand and the New Zealand Manipulative Physiotherapy Association. Affiliated with the Centre for Health, Activity, and Rehabilitation Research, he contributes to advancing physiotherapy education and practice.

Kennedy's academic interests center on the cervical spine's contribution to persistent post-concussion symptoms, physiotherapy management in concussion recovery, clinical anatomy of anterior neck muscles, musculoskeletal chest pain services, voice and throat physiotherapy, rural allied health workforces, and clinical education. Notable publications include 'Clinical characteristics and outcomes of treatment of the cervical spine in patients with persistent post-concussion symptoms: a retrospective analysis' (Musculoskelet Sci Pract, 2017), 'The fascicular anatomy and peak force capabilities of the sternocleidomastoid muscle' (J Anat, 2017), 'Can the neck contribute to persistent symptoms post concussion? A prospective descriptive case series' (J Orthop Sports Phys Ther, 2019), 'Do longus capitis and colli really stabilise the cervical spine? A study of their fascicular anatomy and peak force capabilities' (Musculoskelet Sci Pract, 2017), and 'The allied health workforce of rural Aotearoa New Zealand: a scoping review' (Aust J Rural Health, 2022). He held a Postdoctoral Fellowship in Orthopaedic Physiotherapy funded by the Alumni of the University of Otago in America from 2016 to 2017, enabling key research on post-concussion neck interventions. Additionally, in 2020, he received a Health Research Council Explorer Grant of $28,283 over 12 months for improving health services for people with musculoskeletal chest pain. His research influences physiotherapy approaches to concussion and cervical disorders.