Expert Witness | Life Care Planning | Vocational Evaluation

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Christina Dillahunt-Aspillaga, PhD, MSL, CRC, CVE, CLCP, ICVE-D, CBIST, FACRM, is an internationally recognized rehabilitation scientist, Fellow of the American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine (FACRM), life care planner, vocational evaluator, educator, researcher, and expert consultant.

Dr. Dillahunt-Aspillaga specializes in vocational rehabilitation, life care planning, employability assessment, earning capacity analysis, disability adjustment, and rehabilitation outcomes for individuals with diverse disabilities. Her areas of expertise include traumatic brain injury, polytrauma, spinal cord injury, neurological disorders, chronic health conditions, mental health conditions, and veterans with service-related disabilities.

Dr. Dillahunt-Aspillaga is affiliated with the University of South Florida and has built a distinguished career dedicated to advancing rehabilitation science, vocational rehabilitation, life care planning, and employment outcomes for individuals with disabilities. During her tenure at the University of South Florida, she led and collaborated on numerous federally funded research and rehabilitation initiatives, authored extensive peer-reviewed publications, and contributed to the development of evidence-based practices that improve rehabilitation, employment, and community participation outcomes. 

EDUCATION

• Master of Science in Law (MSL), Northwestern University Pritzker School of Law

• Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Rehabilitation Science

• Master of Health Science (MHS), Rehabilitation Counseling

PROFESSIONAL CREDENTIALS

• Fellow, American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine (FACRM)

• Certified Rehabilitation Counselor (CRC)

• Certified Vocational Evaluator (CVE)

• Certified Life Care Planner (CLCP)

• Diplomate, International Certified Vocational Evaluator (ICVE-D)

• Certified Brain Injury Specialist Trainer (CBIST)

• International Psychometric Evaluation Certificate (IPEC)

• International Certified Cost of Care Professional Fellow (ICCCP-F)

As a leading researcher in vocational rehabilitation, Dr. Dillahunt-Aspillaga’s studies focus on:

• Employment outcomes for individuals with disabilities, including the challenges they face in finding and maintaining jobs.
• The role of caregiving and family support in the rehabilitation process.
• Community reintegration strategies for veterans and civilians with cognitive and physical impairments.
• Vocational and economic impacts of brain injuries, influencing policy and rehabilitation practices.

Dr. Dillahunt-Aspillaga has authored more than 60 peer-reviewed publications and book chapters focused on vocational rehabilitation, traumatic brain injury, disability adjustment, employment outcomes, life care planning, and rehabilitation services. Her work appears in top-tier peer-reviewed journals including:

• Journal of Vocational Rehabilitation
• Archives of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation
• Journal of Head Trauma Rehabilitation
• Brain Injury
• Rehabilitation Research, Policy & Education
• Publications available online -  Google Scholar/ PubMed

Beyond her academic and research contributions, Dr. Dillahunt-Aspillaga is a highly sought-after expert witness in legal cases involving vocational rehabilitation and life care planning.  She has provided objective vocational evaluations and, more recently, expert testimony in legal proceedings. This work is performed on a part-time basis. 

• Evidence-based opinions
• Extensive publication record
• Academic and clinical expertise
• Experience with complex disability cases
• Strong vocational and rehabilitation foundation
• Comprehensive written reports
• Deposition and trial experience
• National consulting availability

Through her extensive research, teaching, career counseling, vocational rehabilitation, life care planning, and legal consulting, Dr. Dillahunt has made significant contributions to the landscape of rehabilitation sciences and vocational evaluation. Her work continues to influence rehabilitation professionals, legal experts, and policymakers.  

• https://health.mil/Reference-Center/Reports/2017/07/19/Longitudinal-Study-on-Traumatic-Brain-Injury-Incurred-by-Members-of-the-Armed-Forces
• https://www.hsrd.research.va.gov/research/dre_studies.cfm?DRE=Treatment%20-%20Comparative%20Effectiveness
• https://www.polytrauma.va.gov/news-and-resources/2015-11-TBIMS-IMAP-NewsletterIssue3.pdf
• https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9608154

The views expressed are her own and do not necessarily represent the views of the University of South Florida, the National Institutes of Health, or the United States Government.