School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences

Katherine Seelman PhD

Seelman_Katherine_kds31

    Title

    Professor and Associate Dean for Disability Programs

    Office Location

    5063 Forbes Tower

    Office phone

    412-383-6727

Academic Appointment

  • Associate Dean of Disability Programs Professor of Rehabilitation Sciences and Technology
  • Co-Research Director, National Science Foundation Quality of Life Technology Engineering Center
  • Secondary Appointment, Center for Bioethics and Health Law
  • Secondary Appointment, Health Policy Institute
  • Secondary Appointment, Graduate School of Public Health
  • Faculty Associate, University Center for Social and Urban Research (UCSUR)
  • Adjunct Appointment, Xian Jiatong University

Education

  • PhD, Science Technology and Public Policy, New York University, New York City, New York, 1982
  • MA, Public Policy, New York University, New York City, New York, 1970
  • BA, History, Political Science, Hunter College, New York City, New York, 1964

Research Interests

  • Science, Technology and Public Policy
  • Disability Studies
  • International Rehabilitation
  • Technology Adoption

Recent Publications

Refereed Articles  

  • Seelman, KD (accepted chapter 2011 ). Policy Framework for Advanced Technology for Quality of Life. Eds. Schulz, Courtney, Mathews, Mecca and Seelman, Quality of Life Technology, Taylor and Francis
  • Seelman, KD (in press 6/2011). Health Information Management and Rehabilitation: Moving toward an adequate ethical framework for Telerehabilitation. Eds. S. Kumar and E. Cohen. Telerehabilitation. New York: Springer Publishing Company. 
  • Seelman, KD. US Telecommunication and Telerehabilitation Regulation: Sorting out the Pieces. International Journal of Telerehabilitation. vol. 1, (Spring, 2010).
  • Seelman, KD. Telerehabilitation: Policy Issues and Research Tools. International Journal of Telerabilitation. Vol. 1, (Spring, 2009).
  • Seelman, KD. (2008). Converging, Pervasive Technologies: Chronic and Emerging Issues and Policy Adequacy. Assistive Technology 20(3). Fall 2008.
  • Seelman, KD. Palmer, C.V., Ortmann, A., Mormer, E. Guthrie, O., Miele, J. & Brabyn, J. (2008). Quality of Life Technology for Vision and Hearing Loss. Engineering, Medicine and Biology Magazine. IEEE Engineering 27(2). March/April 2008.
  • Seelman, KD. (2007). Trends in Disability: Transition from a Medical Model to an Integrative Model. Encyclopedia of Special Education. 

Refereed Books/Chapters

  • Albrecht G, Seelman KD, Bury M. eds. Handbook of Disability Studies. Thousand Oaks, CA: SAGE Publications; 2001

Book Chapters 

  • Seelman, KD. (in press). When Cutting Edge Technology Meets Clinical Practice: Ethical Implications of eHealth.  In Kenneth Pimple Ed. Emergency Pervasive Information and Communication Technologies (PICT): Ethical Challenges, Opportunities and Safeguards.  New York: Springer Publishing Company.
  • Seelman, KD. (2012).  Facilitators and Barriers to Technology Uptake: Organizational and Societal Perspectives.  R. Schulz, ED.  Quality of Life Technology. CRC Press
  • Seelman, KD. (in press).  Health Information Management and Rehabilitation:  Moving toward an adequate ethical framework for Telerehabilitation.  Telerehabilitation.  New York:  Springer Publishing Company.
  • Seelman, KD. and Steinfeld, E. (2011).  Chapter 6: Enabling Environments. World Report on Disability. Geneva: World Health Organization.
  • Seelman, KD. (2008). Technology for Individuals with Disabilities: Government and Market Policies. In Helal, Al, Mokhtari, M. and Abdulrazak, B., Smart Technology for Aging, Disability and Independence: Computing and Engineering Design and Applications, John Wiley & Sons Wiley-Interscience, Hoboken, N.J.
  • Seelman, KD. (2006). Technology for Full Citizenship: Challenges for the Research Community. In Winters, J., et al eds., Accessibility and Usability Considerations for Medical Instrumentation, CRC Press Taylor and Francis, LLC, Boca Raton, FLA.
  • Seelman, KD., et al (2006).  Telecommunications and Information Technology. In Cooper, R. Hobson, D. and Ohnabe, H. Introduction to Rehabilitation Engineering and Assistive Technology, Taylor & Francis, Abingdon, UK.
  • Seelman KD. (2001). Science and Technology: Is Disability a Missing Factor?  In Albrecht, G, Seelman KD, Bury M. eds. Handbook of Disability Studies. Thousand Oaks, CA: SAGE Publications.
  • Seelman KD. (2006). Technology for Full Citizenship:  Challenges for the Research Community.  In Winters, J. et al (Eds.) Accessibility and usability considerations for medical instrumentation.  Boca Raton, FLA.:  CRC Press Taylor and Francis, LLC. 2006. 
  • Seelman, KD. (Accepted 2006).  Technology for Individuals with Disabilities:  Government and Market Policies In Helal, A., Mokhtari,M. & Abdulrazak, B. Smart Technology for Aging, Disability and Independence:  Computing and Engineering Design and Applications.  Hoboken, N.J.  John Wiley & Sons Wiley-Interscience. 
  • Seelman, KD. et al (Accepted 2006).  Telecommunications and Information Technology in Cooper, R., Hobson, D. & Ohnabe, H.  Introduction to Rehabilitation Engineering and Assistive Technology.   Abingdon, UK:  Taylor & Francis. 

Courses Recently Taught 

  • Ethics and the Health Sciences
  • Disability Studies
  • International Rehabilitation

Biographical Profile

Academic

  • Associate Dean Disability Programs and Professor of Rehabilitation Sciences and Technology,  School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA,   2001–present

Non-Academic

  • Director, National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research (NIDRR), U.S. Department of Education, Washington, DC., 1994–2001 
  • Director, Program Development Administration on Developmental Disabilities (ADD), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Washington, DC., 1993–94
  • Research Specialist, National Council on Disability (NCD), an independent federal agency, Washington, DC., 1989–93
  • Director, Public Education, Research and Technological Services, Massachusetts Commission for the Deaf and Hearing (MCDHH), Boston, MA., 1986–89

External Service and Assignments (Selected)

  • U.S. International Council on Disabilities, Board 
  • World Health Organization, World Report on Disability and Rehabilitation nine-member International Editorial Board and Chapter Co-author, (2006-present)
  • Co-Chair U.S. Launch World Health Organization/World Bank's first World Report on Disability.  September 12-13, 2011 Chrystal City, VA.
  • Assistive Technology:  Editorial Board 
  • National Board on Certification of Occupational Therapists 
  • Rehabilitation Engineering Society of North America:  Board 
  • Pennsylvania Rehabilitation Council:  Board 
  • City of Pittsburgh/Allegheny County Task Force on Disability:  Member 
  • Consumer Health Coalition of SW PA:  Vice Chair

Awards and Honors

Honors

  • ACHIEVA Excellence in Professional Service Award (2010)
  • University of Pittsburgh Chancellor’s Distinguished Public Service Award, (2007)
  • Senate of Pennsylvania, Special Recognition in honor of the University of Pittsburgh Chancellor’s Distinguished Public Service Award, (2007)
  • Allegheny County Council Proclamation, (in honor of the University of Pittsburgh Chancellor’s Distinguished Public Service Award), (2007)
  • Allegheny County Council Proclamation for contributions to the disability community with Three Rivers Center for Independent Living:  2006 
  • Pennsylvania Rehabilitation Advisory Council (appointment by the Governor of the State of Pennsylvania), 2004  
  • Visiting Scientist, National Rehabilitation Center for Persons with Disabilities, Tokorozawa, Japan, 2003 
  • Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry Advisory Committee for Persons Who Are Deaf and Hard of Hearing, 2003
  • City-County Task Force on Disabilities, Pittsburgh/Allegheny County (appointment by Mayor of Pittsburgh and Allegheny County Executive), 2003
  • Pittsburgh Post-Gazette "People Who Made a Difference" for 2002, 2002 
  • Isabelle and Leonard H. Goldenson Technology Award—United Cerebral Palsy Research and Education Foundation, 2002 
  • World Bank Consultant—Disadvantaged Children and Children with Disabilities Study in Vietnam, 2002  
  • Commencement Address, Duquesne University, John G. Rangos Sr. School of Health Sciences, 2001 
  • Visiting Prince Fellow—Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago, 2001 
  • Distinguished Public Service Award—American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (AAPM&R), 2000  
  • Distinguished Service Award—National Association of Rehabilitation Research and Training Centers, 2000 
  • Gold Key Award—77th Annual Meeting of the American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine (ACRM), 2000 
  • Leadership Award in Research and Training, Division 22,  Rehabilitation Psychology, American Psychology Association, 2000
    Service Award—Association of Academic Physiatrists, 2000 
  • Who's Who in Health Care and Medicine, 2000 
  • Disability Achievement Award—Disability Forum, American Public Health Association, 1999 
  • Honorary Fellow—Rehabilitation Engineering and Assistive Technology Society of North America (RESNA),1999 
  • Special Communication Access Award—Self-Help for Hard of Hearing People,1998 
  • Commencement Address, University of Pittsburgh, School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, 1998 
  • Co-Chair—Research Committee, Atlanta Paraolympic Games, 1996 
  • Hall of Fame of the Alumni Association of Hunter College, 1995 
  • National Council on Disability Service Award, 1992 
  • Mary E. Switzer Distinguished Fellowship, 1985 
  • Assistantship—National Science Foundation, 1975 
  • Fellowship—Resources for the Future, 1974

Memberships in Professional and Scientific, Societies

  • On-line Ethics Center for engineering research (managed by the National Academy of Engineering)
  • George Mason University Advisory Board of the Center for the Study of Chronic Illness and Disability, 2011-present
  • G3ict Advisory Board, 2010-present
  • Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineering (IEEE Technology and Society), 2008-present
  • American Standards Institute Committee on Education, 2006-present
  • American Telemedicine Association, Member, 2005–present 
  • Society for Disability Studies Board Member, 2003–present 
  • Advisory Committee Mitsubishi Electric America Foundation, Member, 2002–present 
  • Rehabilitation Engineering and Assistive Technology Society of North America (RESNA ) Board Member, 2002 
  • Rehabilitation Engineering and Assistive Technology Society of North America (RESNA ) Fellow and Member, Government Affairs Committee, 1999–present 
  • Board Member, National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy, Inc. (NBCOT), 2001–present 
  • Member, International Commission on Technology and Accessibility, Rehabilitation International (ICTA), 2001–present  
  • Board Member, U.S. International Council on Disabilities, 2001–present 
  • Member, American Public Health Association, 1995–present