Stephanie Kolakowsky-Hayner

Stephanie Kolakowsky-Hayner, PhD, CBIST, FACRM has a diverse work experience in the field of rehabilitation medicine. Stephanie is currently serving as the Director of Research and Clinical Outcomes at Good Shepherd Rehabilitation Network. Prior to this, they held the position of Director at the National Traumatic Brain Injury Registry Coalition, where they worked to improve surveillance, prevention, and accessibility of information for individuals and families affected by traumatic brain injuries. Stephanie has also been actively involved with the ACRM | AMERICAN CONGRESS OF REHABILITATION MEDICINE, where they served as President Elect, Co-Chair of the Program Committee, Awards Committee Chair, and a member of the Board of Governors. Stephanie has also been a Professional Advisory Board Member for PINK Concussions, served on the Board of Governors for the Academy of Certified Brain Injury Specialists, and been a member of the Spinal Cord Injury Advisory Committee at Independence Care System. Stephanie has contributed to research and academia as an Associate Professor of Rehabilitation and Human Performance at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. Stephanie has also held leadership roles in the Brain Injury Association of California and served as the Chief Operating Officer at the Brain Trauma Foundation. Stephanie's expertise lies in the comprehensive management of traumatic brain injuries and they have played an instrumental role in developing innovative TBI-related health programs.

Stephanie Kolakowsky-Hayner, PhD, CBIST, FACRM holds a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degree in Health Related Sciences with a focus on Rehabilitation Leadership from Virginia Commonwealth University, which they obtained in 2007. Prior to that, they completed a Master of Arts (MA) degree in Experimental Psychology at Towson University in 1997. In 1994, they earned dual Bachelor of Arts (BA) degrees in Psychology and Sociology from the University of Connecticut. Stephanie also participated in a study abroad program at Louisiana Tech University - Tech Rome in 1993. In terms of additional certifications, they are a Certified Brain Injury Specialist Trainer through the Academy of Certified Brain Injury Specialists, and they completed the Ken Blanchard on Servant Leadership course on LinkedIn in 2020.