Dr. Pam Diener, a Professor in the department of Neuroscience at Georgetown University Medical School, is the Academic Director and Curriculum Developer of the three-week Neuroscience summer program at Georgetown University School of Continuing Studies.
Dr. Diener completed her BS in Occupational Therapy at Tufts University in 1985, her MS in Applied Anatomy and Physiology at Boston University in 1989, and her PhD in Neuroscience at Georgetown University in 1996.
She has expertise in, a passion for and steadfast determination to understand typical and atypical functioning of the human body from a gross anatomical and neurobiological framework. Her aim is to think critically about recovery of function following congenital and acquired neurologic injuries and to let her clinical and basic science questions guide her career. This allows for the continual intertwining of her basic science and clinical professional roles in occupational therapy (pediatrics), neuroscience research/teaching and as a mentor/advisor to graduate and medical students. In teaching, she incorporates individual and group interactive teaching styles including problem-based and activity-oriented instruction to supplement lectures to stimulate interest and curiosity and to inspire students to be excited about being life-long learners. In the clinical realm, she maintains a pediatric Occupational therapy private practice and conducts both basic and clinical research to investigate the effects of using various multisensory environments/experiences to improve cognitive and motor learning in individuals with Rett syndrome. She has served on the Board of the International Rett Syndrome Foundation and has presented her research findings and clinical expertise at numerous national and international conferences.
