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Katherine E. Buzzanca-Fried, PhD (she/her/hers)

Postdoctoral Associate
University of Florida and Brooks Rehabilitation
St. Augustine, FL, United States

Katherine Buzzanca-Fried, PhD, is a Postdoctoral Associate in the Department of Physical Therapy at the University of Florida’s College of Public Health and Health Professions, working in collaboration with Brooks Rehabilitation. She earned her PhD in Rehabilitation Science with a concentration in Neuromuscular Plasticity at the University of Florida, as well as a graduate certificate in Implementation Science from the UF College of Medicine and dual bachelor’s degrees in Psychology and Sociology/Criminology & Law.

Dr. Buzzanca-Fried’s research focuses on the multifactorial contributors to persisting symptoms after concussion, with an emphasis on fear-related psychological adaptations and how they may interact with other multifactorial factors in recovery. Her doctoral work examined fear-based psychological processes, autonomic nervous system function (including heart rate variability), and their influence on persistent post-concussion symptoms. She has contributed to the validation of patient-reported outcome tools, including the Post-Concussion Symptom Catastrophizing Scale, and published an integrative review presenting the Fear Avoidance Model for Persisting Symptoms After Concussion, a modified version of the Fear Avoidance Model for chronic pain.

More recently, she founded the TBI Health Research Innovation and Education (THRIVE) Partnership, which engages persons with lived experience, caregivers, and clinicians to guide patient-centered TBI research priorities at Brooks Rehabilitation and the University of Florida.

Dr. Buzzanca-Fried has been recognized with awards including the Frederick Family Scholarship in Rehabilitation Science and the Muthard Philanthropic Research Award. In her current role, she is working to establish a comprehensive traumatic brain injury research program at Brooks Rehabilitation and the University of Florida that is informed by patient-centered questions and outcomes, integrating psychological, physiological, and implementation science approaches to advance precision rehabilitation for individuals with traumatic brain injury.

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