Faculty and Staff

headshot of Danny Deng, PhD, OTR/L, HKROT

Danny Deng, PhD, OTR/L, HKROT

Assistant Professor, Occupational Therapy

Decker College of Nursing and Health Sciences

Background

Xue "Danny" Deng joined Decker College of Nursing and Health Sciences in September 2024 as an assistant professor in the Division of Occupational Therapy. 

Deng accomplished his OT training in the United States and Hong Kong. Driven by a passion for OT global promotion, Deng served in a variety of research institutions and clinical settings for over 10 years in Hong Kong and mainland China. He has  broad clinical exposure as an occupational therapist in various clinical settings, including acute and subacute hospitals and non-government organizations (NGOs). He participated in a variety of projects including post-disaster management for earthquake victims, OT service for community-dwelling elderly with chronic pain, and consultancy for the build-up of an OT department and sensory integration room. 

As a scholar, he has served as principal investigator (PI) and core member for various granted research projects by collaborating with other disciplines. His previous research focused on innovative approaches for managing carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) and the neural plasticity secondary to CTS, with findings published in a variety of SCI journals (highest impact factor: 6.1). In recent years, Deng has extended his research area to innovative approaches for pain management and its brain mechanism. 

Education

  • PhD, orthopedics and traumatology, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
  • MS, occupational therapy, Tufts University, Medford, Mass.
  • BSc (Hons), occupational therapy, Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong

Research Interests

  • Application of virtual reality for pain management
  • Neuroscience studies in pain management
  • Hand and upper extremities rehabilitation

Teaching Interests

  • Occupational therapy practice in hand rehabilitation
  • Occupational therapy in physical dysfunction
  • Research methodology 
  • Adult rehabilitation
  • Theory of occupational therapy

More Info