Creating Spaces That Support Recovery: Hopkins Research Showcased at LBHS Symposium

The Hopkins Centre was proudly represented at the 2026 Logan and Beaudesert Health Service (LBHS) Research Symposium, with Dr Leslie Gan presenting early insights from a Hopkins Centre Seed Grant exploring how patients personalise their rooms during inpatient neurorehabilitation.

Held on 10 June under the theme Beyond Boundaries: Innovating for Better Health, the annual symposium brought together clinicians, researchers and health professionals from across Metro South Health to share research that is improving healthcare and patient outcomes.

Dr Gan presented findings from the Hopkins Centre Seed Project, "If, How and Why Patients Modify and Personalise Their Rooms in Inpatient Neurorehabilitation Environments", a collaborative study investigating how people recovering from brain injury and other neurological conditions adapt their hospital rooms to better support their rehabilitation experience.

The project is exploring whether patients personalise or modify their rehabilitation environments, why they make these changes, and how these personal touches may influence wellbeing, comfort and engagement in rehabilitation. The findings will help inform practical guidance for clinicians, patients and families on creating more supportive and enriching rehabilitation environments.

The study is led by Ms Kaitlyn Spalding and brings together researchers and clinicians from The Hopkins Centre, Griffith University, Gold Coast University Hospital and Logan Hospital, including Professor Louise Gustafsson, Dr Michael Norwood, Dr Leslie Gan and colleagues.

Presenting this work at the LBHS Research Symposium provided an opportunity to share emerging findings with clinicians and researchers working across Metro South Health, while encouraging discussion about how hospital environments can better support recovery and person-centred care.

The project reflects The Hopkins Centre's commitment to translating research into practice by developing evidence that can be readily implemented to improve the experiences of people undergoing neurorehabilitation.

Congratulations to Dr Leslie Gan and the entire research team on showcasing this important work and continuing to advance innovative rehabilitation research with real-world impact.

Watch the presentation: Dr Leslie Gan's presentation is available in the LBHS Research Symposium recording (Session 3, approximately 39 minutes). You can view the symposium recording and program via the Metro South Health event page.