Speaking Engagements
I speak to clinicians, researchers, sport and community organizations, and the public about concussion and vestibular rehabilitation. As a clinician and researcher, I bring current evidence into practical, case-based sessions.
Topics
Visual vertigo and dizziness after concussion
Vestibular assessment and treatment in concussion care
Exercise management for persistent concussion symptoms
Sex and concussion recovery: what the research shows
Concussion and brain injury awareness for community and sport audiences
Formats: keynotes, conference presentations, webinars and panels, in-services, hands-on workshops, podcasts and interviews.
Selected Engagements
2026
“Heads in the Game: Understanding Concussion in Sports,” BIAYR community seminar, Aurora Public Library (July)
Panellist (invited), “Let’s Talk Vestibular: Closing Fireside Chat,” Embodia (June)
Invited presentation, “The Dizzy Brain Approach: A Simple Framework for Confident Dizziness Differentials,” Embodia (March)
“ABCs of Brain Injury,” BIAYR community seminar, Aurora Public Library
2025
Invited presentation, “The Dizzy Brain: Vestibular Considerations Post-Concussion,” Impact to Recovery: Concussion in Sport Virtual Conference (December)
Course, “Infrared Video Goggles,” Toronto Rehabilitation Institute Brain Injury Program (February)
2024
Keynote, “Visual Vertigo Post-Concussion,” NVMT Congress, Rotterdam, Netherlands (April)
Oral presentations, Canadian Concussion Network 4th Annual Meeting (Ottawa) and Canadian Physiotherapy Association Congress (Vancouver)
Invited workshop, “Concussion and Vestibular Disorders,” Wellbe Family Wellness (December)
Invited webinar, “Exercise Management for Persistent Concussion Symptoms,” Brain Injury Society of Toronto (November)
2023
Webinar, “Vestibular Considerations in Concussion Management,” Advance Concussion Clinic (October)
Webinar, “Social Media Training Wheels,” Ontario Rehab Alliance (March)
Webinar, “Meet the Clinician: Neuroscience Edition,” CPA Virtual Summit Series (January)
2021 to 2022
Presentation, “Dizziness, Vertigo, and Imbalance after a Brain Injury,” Brain Injury Association of York Region (2021)
In-service, “Vestibular Issues Following a Concussion,” Propel Physiotherapy (2021)
Media and Podcasts
CBC Here and Then, “How men and women experience concussions differently” (2024)
University Health Network, “Physiotherapist returns to school to address gender gap in concussion research” (2024)
Hope Survives: Brain Injury Podcast, “Vestibular Rehab + Ways to Improve/Maintain Recovery” (2022)
Hope Survives: Brain Injury Podcast, “Dysautonomia and Beyond: Addressing Symptoms after Brain Injury” (2022)
For Event Organizers
Sonia Vovan, PT, BHSc, MScPT, PhD Candidate, is a Registered Physiotherapist and Vestibular Therapist with more than 13 years of clinical practice. She is completing her PhD in Kinesiology and Health Science at York University (co-supervised by Dr. Lauren Sergio and Dr. Jennifer Campos, KITE Research Institute). Her research examines how concussion affects the integration of cognition, vision, balance and movement, and whether recovery differs by sex. She is a Graduate Research Associate at Defence Research and Development Canada, an Adjunct Lecturer in the University of Toronto Department of Physical Therapy, and the creator of The Dizzy Brain course for clinicians. She gave the keynote “Visual Vertigo Post-Concussion” at the NVMT Congress 2024 in Rotterdam.
