Research & Scholarship
The School of Health Professions at Stony Brook University fosters a diverse, vibrant research environment focused on advancing educational, clinical, and investigator-initiated programs. Faculty research spans multiple areas, from behavioral and community health to cutting-edge laboratory medicine.
Areas of Active Research by Program
Our commitment to scholarship and research drives faculty and students alike to lead in healthcare innovation, translating academic expertise into real-world impact. We support a wide range of programs, each contributing uniquely to healthcare research:
- Applied Health Informatics: Research in this department is currently centered on the use of technology to improve health‑care delivery and data analysis. The studies range from comparative analyses of large‑language models to performance metrics for athletes, covering a blend of informatics, data science, and medicine.
- Athletic Training: Research in this department is currently focused on physical and psychological outcomes of sports‑related interventions. As a example, their lone project examines the impact of sleep hygiene on shooting accuracy and reaction time in collegiate basketball players, highlighting a niche interest in sports performance and athlete well‑being.
- BS/HS Department: This department conducts a wide array of survey‑based studies targeting diverse populations, from athletes to parents of children with autism, to caregivers of older veterans. Research primarily explores perceptions, experiences, and attitudes related to health‑care, education, and community support.
- Clinical Laboratory Sciences: Most research within this department currently focuses on the technical validation and performance of laboratory assays and diagnostic instruments. Projects include cross‑comparison of flow cytometers, analyzer validations, and studies of biomarkers for disease states such as Parkinson’s and COVID‑19.
- Occupational Therapy: Research in this department currently centers on the lived experience of veterans, caregivers, and people with chronic conditions. Their studies survey perceptions of therapy practices, the impact of technology and spirituality on quality of life, and the role of occupational therapists in interdisciplinary settings.
- Physician Assistant: Research within this department is mostly survey‑driven, evaluating student attitudes, program effectiveness, and health‑related outcomes for diverse populations such as patients with Parkinson’s and those undergoing spinal‑cord rehabilitation. Their work also examines how educational interventions influence readiness and confidence among future therapists.
- Physical Therapy: Research within this department currently investigates the design and impact of interprofessional education (IPE) and diversity initiatives within the PA curriculum. Other research activities assess student perceptions of virtual interviewing, engagement in community health programs, and the broader integration of health‑professional education.
- Respiratory Care: Current research within this department focuses on health and well‑being of respiratory care professionals and their stakeholders. Their studies explore fatigue, lifestyle practices, and the psychological impact of working in respiratory settings, aiming to inform better support systems and training.
- Speech Language Pathology: At this time, the SLP department’s research portfolio is most survey‑based, and spans topics from autism to stuttering to healthcare communication. Current research activities assess caregiver perceptions, professional ethics, the use of assistive technology, and the psychosocial aspects of speech language services.
Research Day at the School of Health Professions
Research Interest and Collaboration
Please reach out to our Director of Scholarship, Innovation, and Analytics - Dr. Hants Williams, PhD, RN, PHN (hants.williams@stonybrook.edu) if interested in conducting research with SHP faculty or staff.
