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Development Course

Leadership

Cross Cutting

Writing Grants & Getting Funded

ACRM Early Career Development Course

Monday, October 27, 2025
7:30 AM - 2:30 PM  
Location:  ROOM: Williford A >>> DIRECTIONS: Third Floor >>> From the Main Elevator Bank, proceed left. Williford A is the first room on your right.

Effective communication and strong teamwork are at the heart of successful rehabilitation research and clinical practice. This interactive workshop, part of the 2025 Early Career Development Course (ECDC), equips emerging professionals with practical tools to enhance collaboration, resolve conflicts, and build resilient teams.

Participants will explore strategies for communicating with clarity and confidence across diverse settings, including interdisciplinary team meetings, grant applications, and patient-centered care. Key topics include active listening, addressing conflict professionally, navigating power dynamics, and giving and receiving constructive feedback. Emphasis will be placed on applying these skills to real-world scenarios where clear, solution-oriented communication is essential for advancing both science and practice.

The workshop also focuses on team building—fostering environments of trust, inclusion, and psychological safety where all members feel empowered to contribute. Attendees will identify their natural team roles, discuss how to maximize individual strengths within group settings, and learn approaches to cultivating a culture of openness, accountability, and mutual respect.

Through interactive exercises, case discussions, and peer-to-peer engagement, participants will leave with actionable strategies to improve their communication, strengthen professional relationships, and lead effective teams. By applying these skills, early career scholars will be better prepared to grow as leaders, secure research funding, and contribute to impactful, interdisciplinary collaborations.

Join us to develop the skills that ensure clarity and kindness remain central to your professional interactions—helping you build stronger teams and advance rehabilitation research and practice.

Learning Objectives:

  • Understand the critical role of leadership and advocacy in improving the lives of individuals with disabilities.
  • Develop practical strategies for effective communication in various professional settings, including team meetings, grant applications, and patient interactions.
  • Acquire skills to address conflicts professionally and constructively within interdisciplinary teams.
  • Gain insights from funding agency representatives on making a compelling case for research while addressing potential concerns from reviewers and stakeholders.