MSc Candidate, Christina Commisso, Wins Best Early Career Poster Award at ACRM 2025
The beginning of Fall always marks a big season for rehabilitation sciences, as it signals the arrival of the American Congress for Rehabilitation Medicine (ACRM) Annual Conference, the world’s largest interdisciplinary rehabilitation research conference and publisher of the Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation.
At the 102nd Annual Fall Conference & Expo, held from October 25–30 in Chicago, RSI was proudly represented by MSc Candidate, Christina Commisso, whose poster titled “Exploring How Individuals with Dementia Self-cue During Household Tasks to Promote Independence in Daily Activities” was selected for the Best Early Career Poster in Aging Research & Geriatric Rehabilitation Award.
Commisso, supervised by Dr. Arlene Astell, shared that this recognition was both meaningful and motivating:
“With ACRM being the first international conference I’ve attended, it was an incredibly rewarding experience to represent RSI and connect with international leaders in rehabilitation sciences. Presenting my work and engaging with attendees helped me see the broader impact of my project and refine the way I communicate it to diverse audiences.”
Her research investigates how older adults with and without dementia use self-cues, such as visual or verbal reminders, to complete everyday household tasks. Using eye-tracking glasses, sensor watches, and video cameras, her study identifies how individuals guide themselves through tasks and where those with dementia may fall “off-track.”
“If we can identify where people with dementia fall off-track and require a cue, we can use this information to develop technologies that deliver targeted prompts, allowing them to stay on-task and live more independently,” explains Commisso.
Reflecting on the award, Commisso added:
“It is an honour for both me and my supervisor, Dr. Astell, to be recognized for our contributions to improving the quality of life for older adults living with dementia. My supervisor has been investigating self-cues for more than a decade, so seeing this innovative idea start to gain recognition in the research world is super encouraging. We can’t wait to see how it develops more!”
Commisso also highlighted the important role RSI played in her research journey:
“The incredible network at RSI has guided me tremendously in my early career as a researcher. My professors and collaborators always provide a safe space to ask questions, make mistakes, and critically think about the real-world impact of my work. Thank you to RSI for supporting my travel through the RSI Conference Participation Award, allowing the importance of my work to be presented on an international stage.”
This achievement underscores RSI’s commitment to supporting its trainees as they advance innovative, interdisciplinary research that improves health and well-being across the lifespan. By enabling student participation at international conferences like ACRM, RSI continues to foster global collaboration and highlight the impactful research happening within its community.