Board-Certified Neurologic PT Expert SCI, TBI, CVA

Specialties & Experience of this Expert Witness

Additional Information

Dr. Uzair "Z" Hammad, PT, DPT, NCS, ATP is a Doctor of Physical Therapy with board certification in neurologic physical therapy (NCS) through the American Board of Physical Therapy Specialties and credentialing as an Assistive Technology Professional (ATP) through RESNA; which is a combination held by very few clinicians nationally. He completed a formal Neurologic Physical Therapy Residency through the University of Central Florida and Orlando Health, one of the country's premier neurologic rehabilitation programs, and currently serves as one of three Rehabilitation Clinical Specialists at Orlando Health's nationally recognized, CARF-accredited Advanced Rehabilitation Institute in Orlando, Florida. Dr. Hammad's clinical practice focuses exclusively on medically complex neurologic populations, including spinal cord injury (SCI), traumatic brain injury (TBI), degenerative conditions, and stroke. He maintains a longitudinal outcomes database for all SCI, TBI, and stroke admissions at his facility, providing objective, data-driven analysis of functional trajectories and rehabilitation effectiveness; a foundation directly applicable to life care planning and expert witness work. He is a Principal Investigator on multiple IRB-approved clinical research studies and is the author of a peer-reviewed publication in Nursing Reports (2024) examining functional outcomes following inpatient rehabilitation for acute cerebellar stroke. In addition to his clinical role, Dr. Hammad serves as a national clinical trainer for gait rehabilitation technology, traveling to inpatient rehabilitation facilities across the United States to train interdisciplinary teams on evidence-based gait training, patient selection, contraindications, risk mitigation, and documentation standards. This role positions him as an authority on the standard of care for rehabilitation technology implementation nationally expanding his perspective past a single institution. He holds faculty appointments at two Doctor of Physical Therapy programs (University of Central Florida and Graceland University) and serves as continuing education faculty through Evidence in Motion, instructing licensed clinicians on spinal cord injury management, high-intensity gait training, vestibular rehabilitation, and neurologic outcome measures. He is also the host of two national podcasts for the Academy of Neurologic Physical Therapy's SCI Special Interest Group DISCIS (Discussions in Spinal Cord Injury Science) and CHATs (Clinical Hints and Tips) conducting interviews with leading SCI researchers and clinicians worldwide. Dr. Hammad has received the APTA Outstanding PT Resident Award, the ANPT Early Career Professional Award, and the ANPT Outstanding Service to the SCI Special Interest Group Award. He has presented at the APTA Combined Sections Meeting, the FPTA Annual Conference, and the Nicholas Dellamonico Trauma Conference, among others. Expert witness services include: standard of care analysis in neurologic physical therapy; spinal cord injury rehabilitation and functional prognosis; stroke and TBI rehabilitation outcomes; assistive technology and complex wheelchair/seating system evaluation; gait rehabilitation technology and robotic exoskeleton standards; life care planning support including therapy intensity, durable medical equipment, and long-term mobility projections; rehabilitation documentation and clinical decision-making review; and causation and apportionment of functional impairment within the scope of physical therapy practice. Dr. Hammad is available nationwide for record review, written opinions, depositions, and trial testimony for both plaintiff and defense.