Dr. Ramona Hicks joined the NINDS in 2005 as a Program Director in Repair and Plasticity. Prior to joining NINDS, Dr. Hicks earned a B.S. degree in Biology from the University of California, a M.A. degree in Physical Therapy from Stanford University, and a Ph.D. in Neuroscience from the University of Connecticut Health Science Center. Her clinical practice focused on improving functional outcomes in children and adults with neurological impairments. During this time, she was member of a multidisciplinary team of clinicians, scientists, and engineers at Newington Childrens’ Hospital, which investigated interventions and outcomes in people with neurological gait impairments. Her Ph.D. training focused on understanding neurological structure-function relationships following experimental traumatic brain injury. For the following 12 years, Dr. Hicks continued to investigate mechanisms of brain injury and repair, first as an Assistant Professor at the University of Kentucky and then as an Associate Professor at the University of Washington. In addition to research, she taught and mentored graduate students. She also served as the Coordinator of a Research Emphasis Area in Neural Plasticity, the purpose of which was to promote interdisciplinary research in this area. As a Program Director at NINDS, Dr. Hicks is responsible for administrative and research issues related to mechanisms and interventions for brain injury.