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Contact Details

Phone
+64 3 364 1086
Email
debbie.snell@otago.ac.nz
Position
Research Professor
Department
Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and Musculoskeletal Medicine (Christchurch)
Research summary
Neuropsychological rehabilitation

Research

Based at the Burwood Hospital Campus, Deborah co-ordinates clinical trials and oversees data collection by the COBRA team, for people undergoing hip and knee replacements in Canterbury.

She is a registered clinical psychologist and has worked in the area of neuropsychological rehabilitation for many years. She leads the Concussion Clinic at the Brain Injury Rehabilitation Service at Burwood Hospital and locums for the QRS Concussion Service in Auckland once a month.

She enjoys collaboration with research colleagues around New Zealand and internationally and is the treasurer for both the NZ Rehabilitation Association and the New Zealand College of Clinical Psychologists (Canterbury Branch).

She is focused on ensuring clinical relevance is maintained in her research activities and enjoys the dual role of working both as a practising clinician and as a health researcher.

Publications

Mangan, K., Henley, S., Spriggs, N., Hamlin, M. J., Kabaliuk, N., Stitt, D., … Anderson, T., … Snell, D., … Draper, N. (2026). The effect of anthropometrics and maturity status on youth rugby head impact biomechanics. Journal of Biomechanics. Advance online publication. doi: 10.1016/j.jbiomech.2026.113403 Journal - Research Article

McCleary, R. E., Martin, R. A., & Snell, D. L. (2026). Barriers and facilitators experienced by primary school teachers returning to work after mild traumatic brain injury in Aotearoa, New Zealand. Brain Impairment, 27(2), IB25114. doi: 10.1071/ib25114 Journal - Research Article

Overton, M., Dunn, J., Snell, D., & Mani, R. (2026). Relationships between the Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS) and smartphone ecological momentary assessment outcomes in people with knee osteoarthritis. Osteoarthritis & Cartilage Open, 8, 100809. doi: 10.1016/j.ocarto.2026.100809 Journal - Research Article

Faulkner, J. W., Snell, D., Theadom, A., Siegert, R. J., Cairncross, M., Williams, M. N., & Silverberg, N. D. (2026). Mapping the interplay between postconcussion symptoms and functional disability after mild traumatic brain injury: A network analysis across treatment care settings. Journal of Head Trauma Rehabilitation. Advance online publication. doi: 10.1097/htr.0000000000001167 Journal - Research Article

Henley, S., Spriggs, N., Kabaliuk, N., Stitt, D., Swale, A., Xu, C., … Anderson, T., Snell, D., … Draper, N. (2026). Effects of one season of rugby on the neurological integrity of male adolescent players. Sports Medicine: Open, 12, 14. doi: 10.1186/s40798-026-00987-1 Journal - Research Article

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