Dr. Sander is an associate professor with tenure in the department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at Baylor College of Medicine, where she is director of the division of Clinical Neuropsychology and Rehabilitation Psychology. She directs TIRR Memorial Hermann’s Brain Injury Research Center and is a senior scientist on the TIRR Memorial Hermann Research Council. She has served as project director of two NIDILRR-funded Rehabilitation Research and Training Centers on Traumatic Brain Injury and has been the project co-director for the Texas Traumatic Brain Injury Model System at TIRR for the past three cycles.
“I am incredibly honored to be the recipient of the William Fields Caveness Award,” Dr. Sander says. “Throughout my career, I have attempted to conduct research on topics that have practical importance to persons with brain injury and their caregivers. Being able to improve people’s lives, in even a small way, is the greatest fulfillment for me as a researcher and clinician. Receiving this award is an honor because it confirms that I am moving on the right path toward making a difference in the lives of the people I serve.” Dr. Sander has been principal investigator or co-investigator of federally funded studies addressing prediction and treatment of cognitive, emotional and psychosocial problems in persons with TBI, intimacy and sexuality after TBI, impact of TBI on caregivers and cultural disparities in outcomes following TBI. She co-chairs the TBI Model System Special Interest Group on Caregivers and Families, as well as the Cultural Competency Special Interest Group. She has more than 90 peer-reviewed publications, numerous book chapters and published abstracts, and multiple consumer-oriented dissemination products, including fact sheets, educational manuals, webcasts and videos. Dr. Sander also serves as neuropsychologist for the inpatient rehabilitation units at Quentin Mease Community Hospital in Harris Health System and CHI Baylor St. Luke’s Medical Center.