Mary Galea facts for kids

Mary Pauline Galea, born in 1951, is an Australian scientist. She is a physiotherapist and neuroscientist. She works at the University of Melbourne in Australia.

Professor Galea is known around the world. She helps people recover from spinal cord injury. She also works on ways to help people get better after injuries.

Mary Galea's Education

Mary Galea studied at the University of Melbourne and Lincoln. She earned many degrees to become a physiotherapist and neuroscientist.

Here are some of her studies:

• Diploma in Physiotherapy, Lincoln (1972)
• Bachelor of Applied Science, Physiotherapy, Lincoln (1978)
• Graduate Diploma in Neuroscience, Lincoln (1986)
• Graduate Diploma of Physiotherapy (Neuro), Lincoln (1987)
• Bachelor of Arts, University of Melbourne (1987)
• Doctor of Philosophy, University of Melbourne (1992)
• Graduate Certificate in Clinical Trials Management, University of Canberra (2000)
• Graduate Diploma in Epidemiological Biostatistics, University of Melbourne (2005)

What Mary Galea Does

Mary Galea helps people recover from serious injuries. She started a special research center in 2004. This center focuses on helping people with spinal cord injury.

Helping Spinal Cord Injuries

In 2009, Professor Galea led important studies. These studies looked at how exercise can help people. They wanted to see if exercise could improve hand function. It also aimed to help people recover after a spinal cord injury.

Her five-year program was called SCIPA. This stands for "Spinal Cord Injury & Physical Activity." It explored how exercise helps in rehabilitation. Seven special units were set up in Australia and New Zealand. They tested new ways to help muscles in the legs work again.

The Hand Hub

Professor Galea also helped create the Hand Hub. This is at the Royal Melbourne Hospital. The Hand Hub uses cool technology. It has robots, sensors, and even games. These tools help patients get better use of their hands and arms. This is especially for people recovering from a stroke or other brain injuries.

Awards and Special Recognitions

Mary Galea has received many awards for her important work. She has been a visiting professor at other universities. These include The University of Sydney and The University of Queensland.

In 2007, she won the Churchill Fellowship. This is a very special award. In 2014, she was added to the Victorian Honour Roll of Women. This honor celebrates amazing women in Victoria, Australia.

In 2019, Mary Galea became a Member of the Order of Australia (AM). This award recognized her great service. It honored her work in physiotherapy education. It also recognized her help to professional groups.

In 2020, she became a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Health and Medical Sciences. This means she is one of the top experts in health and medical science.