Pioneering clinical specialist, Ph.D research guide, and regulatory policymaker bridging neurological rehabilitation, electrodiagnosis (EMG/NCV), and translational health-tech innovations. Creator of the iCreate-funded Stroke Recovery Predictor and developer of wearable real-time biofeedback rehabilitation systems.
Professor & In-Charge Principal
Dedicated academic administrator, clinician-scientist, and health-tech researcher advancing evidence-based physiotherapy across India and internationally.
Dr. Ashish Dhirajlal Kakkad serves as Professor & Principal at the Faculty of Physiotherapy, Marwadi University, Rajkot. Over a distinguished career spanning more than 15 years, he has championed excellence in physiotherapy education, neuro-rehabilitation, and clinical research governance.
Holding a Doctorate of Philosophy (Ph.D) from R.K. University focused on designing and testing predictive models for post-stroke functional recovery, Dr. Kakkad has been at the forefront of introducing modern quantitative diagnostic methodologies—notably Electromyography (EMG) and Nerve Conduction Studies (NCV)—into clinical physiotherapy curricula and daily patient rehabilitation.
Dr. Kakkad has authored four standard textbooks and chapters with Jaypee Brothers Medical Publishers, including the authoritative text "Fundamentals of Electrotherapy and Biomedical Physics" and comprehensive clinical manuals on Stroke. An active leader in statutory policy, he was appointed to the Physiotherapy Professional Council under the National Commission for Allied & Healthcare Professions (NCAHP), New Delhi in 2025, and previously served as Vice President of the Gujarat State Council for Physiotherapy (2021–2025).
Expertise in EMG/NCV diagnostic reporting, stroke recovery models, Bell's palsy electromyographic biofeedback, and complex neuromuscular pathway assessments.
Serving as Principal and HOD, steering NAAC quality standards, doctoral research mentoring, curriculum updates across Board of Studies, and state university inspections.
Committee Member on the National Commission for Allied & Healthcare Professions (NCAHP) and former Vice President of Gujarat State Council for Physiotherapy.
Principal investigator and developer for iCreate-funded mobile prediction tools and real-time biofeedback sensors measuring active knee range of motion and hand spasticity.
Guiding policy, professional standards, academic ethics, and registration frameworks at national and state levels.
Appointed by the Government to formulate nationwide allied healthcare guidelines, standardized physiotherapy education frameworks, registration criteria, and professional code of ethics across Indian states.
Elected as Vice President to lead statewide regulatory compliance, council inspections, academic curriculum benchmarking, and professional licensing across all physiotherapy colleges and clinical practitioners in Gujarat.
Served on key state council committees, deliberating on educational standards, academic boards, and ethical practices for the physiotherapist fraternity in the state of Gujarat.
Active Board of Studies member at Shri Govind Guru University, Kiran Patel Global University, and Ganpat University, shaping undergraduate and postgraduate physiotherapy curricula.
Member of Central Admission Committee for Master of Physiotherapy (Saurashtra University), university interview panels, and Local Inspection Committees (LIC) across Saurashtra and South Gujarat Universities.
Member of Institutional Ethical Committee (Shri C. U. Shah Physiotherapy College) and appointed External Examiner across Gujarat University, Saurashtra, RK University, Bhavnagar, VNSGU, Sumandeep, Charusat, and Pravara Institute.
Over 15 years of continuous academic, clinical, and institutional leadership across top tier medical and physiotherapy institutions.
Bridging computational modeling, wearable sensing hardware, and clinical trials to elevate patient rehabilitation.
A clinical decision-support mobile application developed to forecast functional outcome trajectories in post-stroke hemiplegic patients using exploratory multi-variable predictive modeling.
Concept, development, and multi-center clinical validation of an ergonomic wearable device providing real-time biofeedback for measuring active knee extension range of motion post-ACL surgery.
Comparative investigation examining user satisfaction and motor recovery between wireless wearable electromyography biofeedback versus traditional stationary clinic equipment for wrist and hand paresis.
An innovatively designed rehabilitation workstation and therapeutic splint engineered to mitigate wrist/finger flexor spasticity and facilitate functional hand grasping in subacute stroke patients.
Author of 4 medical textbooks & chapters with Jaypee Brothers and over 40 peer-reviewed papers indexed internationally.
Invited expert speaker across international congresses, neurological surgeon societies, and premier universities.
Synthesizing clinical neuro-diagnostics, health-tech innovation, institutional administration, and statutory regulatory governance.
Rigorous clinical academic training complemented by prestigious national awards.
Dissertation: "Designing and testing predictive model for post stroke recovery - An exploratory study"
Specialization: Neurological Conditions.
Thesis: "Subclinical peripheral nerve involvement in Human Immunodeficiency Virus seropositive patients - A nerve conduction study"
Comprehensive 4.5 years undergraduate clinical program with mandatory rotatory hospital internship across tertiary medical colleges.
Conferred by India's apex physiotherapy body for outstanding contributions in research, academic leadership, and clinical technological innovation at a young career stage.
Recognized for distinguished academic service, authoring standard university textbooks, and advancing physiotherapy standards across Gujarat.
Secured First Rank for research papers at Physiofest-19 (Post-stroke functional outcome), Physiosummit-19 (Predictive factors for stroke recovery), and 2nd Gujstate Conphycs (HIV NCV study).
Reach out for academic collaborations, doctoral research guidance, keynote speaker invitations, or institutional consultations.
Whether you are seeking an expert speaker for an international conference, an academic research collaboration in stroke or wearables, or guidance on physiotherapy council policies, feel free to connect directly.