Doctor Ruth Turk

Dr Ruth Turk is a Lecturer and Physiotherapy Programmes (MSc and BSc) Lead and Manager within Health Sciences, University of Southampton. Under Ruth's leadership, the Physiotherapy programme at Southampton has been UK number one for three years in succession (Complete University Guide). Her clinical and academic expertise is in neurological rehabilitation.

Ruth's PhD used neuromechanical methods to evaluate the mechanisms of sensory-motor control following stroke. Her post-doc mixed methods interdisciplinary research has been in the development, application and user pespectives of technologies for clinically applicable assessment tools and rehabilitation interventions. These have focussed on trunk and arm rehabilitation post-stroke and include electrical stimulation and wearable movement and muscle sensors combined with video gaming. 

Ruth brings 13 years of clinical neurological physiotherapy expertise in both UK and developing world healthcare systems, as well as research expertise in sensory-motor control and health technologies, to the physiotherapy curriculum to ensure that students have an innovative experience embedded in evidence. Ruth values the involvement of patients in both teaching sessions and the co-design of the curriculum, resulting in an HEE award for ‘Hearing the patient voice in health education’. As Programme Manager, Ruth has overseen the development of simulation-based education to encompass a broad range of specialties in the Physiotherapy curriculum, including the development and evaluation of an immersive in-person and online simulation programme for allied health profession students to prepare for and replace one week of placement.