Dr Pablo CRUZ GONZALEZ

Pablo



Research Fellow
Linkedln: www.linkedin.com/in/pablo-cg/
Education

Ph.D. in Rehabilitation Medicine, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University
M.S. in Neuroscience, University of Salamanca
Bachelor of Occupational Therapy, University of Salamanca 


Biography

Pablo earned his Bachelor's degree in Occupational Therapy from the University of Salamanca in Spain, where he developed a deep interest in the physiology and pathology of the brain, particularly in relation to neurological disorders like stroke and dementia. He pursued a Master's degree in Neuroscience at the same university, furthering his field knowledge. After completing his studies, Pablo sought to gain clinical experience, which led him to spend a year as an intern at the Diakoniewerk Oberlausitz Katharinenhof in Dresden, Germany. There, he gained valuable insights into the practical aspects of rehabilitation. Then, motivated by his interest in research, Pablo moved to Hong Kong to join The Hong Kong Polytechnic University as a research assistant. Over almost nine years, he held various positions, including PhD student, teaching assistant, and postdoctoral fellow. During this time, he obtained his PhD in medical rehabilitation and developed a strong interest in non-invasive brain stimulation techniques, brain-computer interfaces, mental health, and telerehabilitation..


​​​​​Research Interest

​Neurorehabilitation, Non-Invasive Brain Stimulation, Telerehabilitation, Brain-Computer Interface, Stroke, Dementia and Mental Health

 

Publication

​​Journals 

Peer-Reviewed Journal Articles
  • Toh, S. F. M., Gonzalez, P. C., & Fong, K. N. (2023). Usability of a wearable device for home-based upper limb telerehabilitation in persons with stroke: A mixed-methods study. Digital Health. https://doi.org/10.1177/20552076231153737
  • Toh, S. F. M., Fong, K. N., Gonzalez, P. C., & Tang, Y. M. (2023). Application of home-based wearable technologies in physical rehabilitation for stroke: A scoping review. IEEE Transactions on Neural Systems and Rehabilitation Engineering. DOI: 10.1109/TNSRE.2023.3252880  
  • Cruz Gonzalez, P., Fong, K. N. K., & Brown, T. (2021). Transcranial direct current stimulation as an adjunct to cognitive training for older adults with mild cognitive impairment: A randomized controlled trial. Annals of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rehab.2021.101536 
  • Ahorsu, D. K., Vidaña, D. I. S., Lipardo, D., Shah, P. B., González, P. C., Shende, S., . . . Ansari, T. Q. (2021). Effect of a peer‐led intervention combining mental health promotion with coping‐strategy‐based workshops on mental health awareness, help‐seeking behavior, and wellbeing among university students in Hong Kong. International Journal of Mental Health Systems. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13033-020-00432-0
  • Li, C. T. L., Hung, G. K. N., Fong, K. N. K., Cruz Gonzalez, P., Wah, S. H., & Tsang, H. W. H. (2020). The effects of a home-based occupational therapy telerehabilitation via smartphone for outpatients after hip fracture surgery: A feasibility randomized controlled study. Journal of Telemedicine and Telecare. http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/1357633X20932434
Conference Proceedings
  • Cruz Gonzalez, P., Fong, K. N., & Brown, T. (2020). The impact of paired cognitive training with transcranial direct current stimulation on everyday functioning for older adults with mild cognitive impairment: Beyond conventional testing [Abstract]. Neurorehabilitation and Neural Repair. https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/pdf/10.1177/1545968320988381 (P0369) Poster presentation at the 11th World Congress for Neurorehabilitation, October 2020, Lyon, France.
  • Cruz Gonzalez, P., Fong, K., & Brown, T. (2019). Is transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) an effective adjunct to cognitive training for older adults presenting with mild cognitive impairment (MCI)? [Abstract]. Brain Stimulation https://doi.org/10.1016/j.brs.2018.12.456 Poster presentation at the 3rd International Brain Stimulation Conference, February 2019, Vancouver, Canada.

Conference 

  • Cruz Gonzalez, P., Fong, K. N. (2022). Closed-looped brain-computer interface training for hemiparetic upper extremities in patients with chronic stroke: A randomized control study. Poster presentation at the 12th World Congress for Neurorehabilitation, December 2022, Vienna, Austria.
  • Cruz Gonzalez, P., Fong, K., & Brown, T. (2020). Transcranial direct current stimulation as an adjunct to cognitive training for older adults with mild cognitive impairment. Oral presentation at the 27th Annual Congress of Gerontology, November 2020, Hong Kong.
  • Cruz Gonzalez, P., Fong, K. N., Miller, T., & Brown, T. (2019). Examining the mental health crisis in doctoral students using the model of human occupation (MOHO): Evaluating occupational adaptation and participation in doctoral graduate students. Oral presentation at the 6th International Institute on Kielhofner’s model of human occupation, September 2019, Chicago, USA.
  • Cruz, P., & Fong, K. (2016). The effects of transcranial direct current stimulation on cognitive functions in older adults with mild cognitive impairment: A pilot study. Oral presentation at the 23rd Annual Congress of Gerontology, November 2016, Hong Kong.
  • Fong, N. K. K., Kwok, K. C. D., Wong, G. P. Y., Cheung, Y. W. Q., Yau, K. Y., Yeung, H. W. Y., Cruz, G. P., Tong, C. Y., & Chan, Y. W. D. (2016). Caregiver-recipient relationship closeness: Effects on people with dementia and their caregivers. Oral presentation at the 23rd Annual Congress of Gerontology, November 2016, Hong Kong.