Oakland University Professor Ali Woerner co-authors article in ‘Neurology’ journal

Oakland University faculty member Ali Woerner, associate professor of dance in the School of Music, Theatre and Dance, is a co-author - alongside 21 additional contributors - of a peer-reviewed article published Feb. 19, 2026, in Neurology, the official journal of the American Academy of Neurologyand one of the highest-ranked clinical neurology journals in the world.

Titled Behind the Curtain: Consensus Recommendations to Support University-Level Performing Arts Students' Return to the Stage After Concussion, the article outlines consensus-based guidance for helping collegiate performing arts students safely return to performance following a concussion. The interdisciplinary research team used a structured Delphi process to develop a Progressive Return-to-Performance Protocol (PRTPP), a stepwise framework tailored specifically to the physical, cognitive and environmental demands of dance, music and theatre.

The recommendations address considerations unique to performing artists, including complex choreography and staging, partner work, lighting and sound exposure, costuming, instrument use, endurance requirements and the psychological components of returning to live performance. The protocol is designed to complement existing medical return-to-play guidelines by accounting for the distinct demands of performance training and production settings in higher education.

"Reflecting on my own professional performing career, there were several instances in which I sustained significant accidental impacts-whether from another dancer, a prop, or a substantial fall," Woerner said. "Although I was fortunate that none of these incidents resulted in a concussion, at the time we did not yet have the awareness or framework to ask more specific questions.

"Today, we possess both the knowledge and the resources to approach such events with greater diligence and care. Rather than overlooking these occurrences, we have the opportunity to assess and manage them proactively and progressively. By doing so, we can prioritize students' long-term health, resilience, and career sustainability, rather than focusing solely on immediate performance readiness."

At Oakland University, Woerner's teaching, creative activity and community engagement focus on the intersection of movement, health and performance. In addition to serving as associate professor of dance, she is founder and artistic director of Take Root, a professional contemporary dance organization that partners with Oakland University on artistic and educational initiatives. She holds a Master of Fine Arts from the University of Michiganand a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Oklahoma City University.

Woerner also directs Take Root's Dance for Parkinson's Program, which offers weekly classes throughout southeast Michigan designed to support individuals living with Parkinson's through structured, research-informed movement practice. She regularly collaborates with healthcare professionals and contributes to educational programming related to neuromotor intervention and movement science.

"I am deeply grateful to have been part of the Parkinson's community for more than a decade," Woerner said. "During this time, I have developed not only a deeper understanding of the neurological complexities of the disease, but also a profound appreciation for the intricate relationship between brain function and movement. Most importantly, I have come to recognize that no two individuals share the same experience; each person's journey is distinct and uniquely nuanced.

"This perspective has broadened my focus to include the students I serve, reinforcing the importance of heightened awareness, individualized attention, and proactive care in supporting their long-term health and development."

Woerner's co-authorship in Neurology reflects Oakland University's commitment to interdisciplinary scholarship that connects the arts and health sciences. The publication contributes to ongoing national conversations about concussion management and underscores the role of arts-based expertise in advancing research that supports student health and performance.