Overall Project Direction

Gale Whiteneck, PhD:  Dr. Whiteneck provides global oversight of SCIREHAB activities. He is the Director of Research at Craig Hospital, where his work coordinating SCI, TBI, general disability, and outcomes research, spans nearly 30 years.  During Dr. Whiteneck’s tenure, research efforts at Craig have expanded significantly. The Research Department, under his guidance has received national recognition for both quality and breadth of  research, which has been widely disseminated at international, national, and regional professional conferences, and via print and electronic media. 

Dr. Whiteneck currently manages two NIDRR-funded Model Systems projects, one for TBI and another for SCI. He also serves as Craig PI for a collaborative study being conducted as part of the NIDRR-funded Research and Training Center on Measuring Rehabilitation Outcomes.  Dr. Whiteneck and his team are the developers of two nationally recognized disability outcome measures, the Craig Handicap Assessment and Reporting Technique (CHART) and the Craig Hospital Inventory of Environmental Factors (CHIEF). 

Dr. Whiteneck's background in research design and methodology positions him well to provide expert guidance on SCIREHAB.  He is a fellow in the American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine and received their Distinguished Member Award in 2005. He has served as a research consultant and program evaluator to a variety of health and human service agencies and has also managed several major collaborative projects such as development of the CHIEF using data from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System and the Colorado Traumatic Brain Injury Risk Factor Survey. 

Dr. Whiteneck has served on the review panel for the Model Systems Programs, on the World Health Organization’s Environmental Task Force and on numerous other professional committees and boards

Susan Charlifue, PhD:  Dr. Charlifue confirms protocol adherence and data quality for SCIREHAB. She is a highly qualified researcher, with nearly 30 years experience in SCI research and quality assurance, as well as post-graduate work focusing on research methodologies, epidemiology and a wide range of statistical techniques and qualitative methods.  She completed her doctorate in Health and Behavioral Science at the University of Colorado, Denver in 2004.  She has successfully managed and completed five major collaborative investigations of the long-term consequences of SCI in the US and Great Britain, and is Co-Principal Investigator of the NIDRR-funded U.S. Collaborative Longitudinal Outcome Study of Aging with SCI that has been on-going since.

Dr. Charlifue coordinates all SCI research clinical trials at Craig Hospital and has managed Phase I, II and III investigations.  She also serves on the Executive Committee of the International Data Sets Committee and is the Study Director and Americas Coordinator for an international project, The Development of ICF Core Sets for Individuals with SCI.  Dr. Charlifue is a member of the scientific and editorial committees of the International Spinal Cord Society, and serves on the editorial boards for the journals Spinal Cord and Topics in Spinal Cord Injury Rehabilitation.  Having played an integral role in numerous SCI clinical studies, she has authored several book chapters and manuscripts, as well been invited to make numerous presentations at national professional meetings and symposia.  She has been a NIDRR peer reviewer since 1999. 

Participating Site Teams

Craig Hospital – The Rocky Mountain Regional Spinal Injury System (RMRSIS)

Daniel Lammertse, MD:  Dr. Lammertse is Medical Director of Craig Hospital and board certified and subspecialty certified in SCI by the American Board of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation.  He is also an Associate Clinical Professor at the University of Colorado at Denver and Health Sciences Center (UCDHSC), Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation.  Dr. Lammertse has 27 years of experience in the medical, rehabilitation, and follow-up care of persons with SCI, and has served clients with SCI at the RMRSIS for 25 years.  He is the Medical Director of Craig Hospital and the Neurotrauma Unit at St. Anthony Hospital.  In addition to his commitment to direct patient care, his particular areas of professional interest and expertise include clinical research in SCI and the process of aging with a disability.  His reputation is known nationally and internationally, presenting and publishing on the topics of rehabilitation, aging with SCI, and SCI research at numerous national conferences.  In addition, he has been called upon to teach numerous classes and courses on these subjects. 

 Dr. Lammertse has served as a consultant to the RMRSIS Model System Project for more than 20 years and has been Project Director for the past 8 years.  During the current funding cycle he served as Chairman of the SCI Model System Project Directors.  Active in professional organizations, Dr. Lammertse has served on the Board of the American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) from 1991-2003, was President of ASIA from 2001-2003 and Past President from 2003-2005.  He also has served on the Board of Directors of the American Paraplegia Society from 1993-1995.  His roles as liaison to the national insurance industry and his active memberships in ASIA, American Paraplegia Society and other national and international SCI professional organizations give him the opportunity to disseminate information obtained through research and programmatic activities.  Dr. Lammertse has also served as Principal Investigator on the numerous industry-sponsored clinical trials conducted at Craig Hospital.  He assumes  responsibility for the content and clinical quality of SCIREHAB activities. 

Amitabh Jha, MD, MPH:  Dr. Jha holds degrees in both medicine and public health and specializes in health services research for individuals with disabilities and clinical research in TBI and SCI.  He completed his residency training in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at the University of Washington and completed graduate training in epidemiology and biostatistics.  Prior to joining the Craig Research Department, Dr. Jha completed a fellowship at the Center for Disability Policy and Research at the Department of Health Services School of Public Health and Community Medicine at the University of Washington in Seattle and was a Senior Fellow at the Department of Rehabilitation Medicine School of Medicine at the University of Washington.  During his fellowship he acquired significant expertise in analyzing and interpreting large data sets with multivariate statistical methods using the Medicare Current Beneficiaries Survey, a continuous, multipurpose survey of a nationally representative sample of over 19,000 aged, disabled, and institutionalized Medicare beneficiaries. 

Currently, Dr. Jha serves as Research Physiatrist at Craig Hospital as well as being an Assistant Professor at UCDHSC, Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation.  He is Co-Director of the residency training program, was awarded Teacher of the Year at UCDHSC in 2003, and is a staff physician at Denver Health Medical Center.  Denver Health is Colorado's primary "safety net" institution, and Dr. Jha's clinical practice is comprised largely of providing rehabilitation services to individuals with disabilities from diverse ethnic and racial backgrounds.  Furthermore, Dr. Jha himself is an individual with SCI from a minority background and has a demonstrated interest and commitment to ethnic diversity as indicated by his service as secretary for the Minority Student Organization as a medical student.  Dr. Jha  consults with the SCIREHAB study staff with regard to study findings and translation of findings to the clinical setting.

Joseph Coll, PhD – Biostatistician:  Dr. Coll is a Biostatistician and Assistant Research Professor in the Department of Preventive Medicine and Biometrics at UCDHSC who works under contract as a biostatistician for Craig Hospital.   He has worked in the medical community as a Biostatistician for more than 12 years, ten of those with researchers at Craig Hospital.  Prior to joining the Biometrics faculty at the University of Colorado, Dr. Coll was the senior Biostatistician at the Colorado Prevention Center, a clinical research organization, where his responsibilities included assistance in hypothesis formulation, study design, protocol development, statistical analysis and reporting of results.  Dr. Coll has also served as the Biostatistician for the General Clinical Research Center (GCRC) at the Children’s Hospital in Denver where his primary role was consulting with new investigators to design pilot studies required for submission of larger scale study grants.  His work has included studies of Pediatrics (including pediatric Rehabilitation Medicine), Diabetes, Cardiovascular Disease, SCI and TBI.  His expertise is in longitudinal analysis and the design and conduct of clinical trials.  He has experience in analyzing research questions supported by large datasets in general and Model System datasets in particular.  He has significant expertise in statistical issues relevant to this study, as well as expertise in the field of SCI and TBI, and has served as Biostatistician for a majority of Craig studies and clinical trials.   Dr. Coll consults on the analysis of SCIREHAB study data.

Kendra Noble, BA – Follow-up Interviewer:  Ms. Noble is a highly-trained interviewer currently working as a Research Assistant for the Rocky Mountain Regional Brain Injury System (RMRBIS), and has completed interviews with more than 1,000 individuals with TBI on various projects.  She is currently responsible for all follow-up interviews for the RMRBIS, which she has done for the past 3 years.  Due to her efforts, the RMRBIS has the best follow-up rate for all the TBIMS.  She has worked in health care for 20 years, 10 of those at Craig Hospital, and in addition to research interviewing has experience in Health Information Management.  Ms. Noble, serving as a participant interviewer,  will begin capturing outcome information for SCIREHAB during the study’s second year.

Denise Hart, RHIT – Medical Record Abstractor:  Ms. Hart has an Associate of Applied Science degree in medical record technology and is a Registered Health Information Technologist.  She has 17 years of experience and specializes in the area of record abstraction.  She has been a Research Assistant at Craig Hospital for 8 years and has been involved in both SCI and TBI studies.  For the past 5 years, Ms. Hart has been responsible for all Form I data collection and Quality Control activities for the RMRBIS.  Ms. Hart works with SCIREHAB as medical record abstractor, and performs data quality control.

Nancy Kamenoff - Administrative Assistant:  Ms. Kamenoff has worked for Craig Hospital for six years, four of those in the research department as an office manager and administrative assistant.  She supports the SCIMS and TBIMS projects as well as a number of other studies.  In her role, she provides comprehensive clerical support including coordination of participant appointments and correspondence.  She also assists with research projects by performing data entry, forms development, and scheduling and coordination of Consumer Advisory Board meetings.  Ms. Kamenoff provides administrative support to SCIREHAB project staff.

Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago

 David Chen, MD, is Medical Director of the Spinal Cord Injury Program and an attending physician at the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago in Chicago, Illinois. He is an Associate Professor of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine and a consulting staff member in the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at Northwestern Memorial Hospital.

 Dr. Chen earned his BA in finance summa cum laude at the University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign and his MD with honors at the University of Illinois College of Medicine in Chicago. After graduating, he completed his residency in physical medicine and rehabilitation at Northwestern University Medical School/Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago, where he served as Chief Resident.

Dr. Chen’s research interests include fertility in spinal cord injured men, the prevention of pressure ulcers after spinal cord injury, and exercise and diet for improving physical fitness, independence, and overall health in adult paraplegics. He has authored or coauthored more than 160 articles, abstracts, editorials, book chapters, and invited presentations in his field. His articles have been published in journals such as Archives of Internal Medicine, American Journal of Physical Medical Rehabilitation, and Fertility and Sterility. He is a fellow of the American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation and a member of the American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine, the American Spinal Injury Association, the Association of Academic Physiatrists, and the Illinois Society of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. Dr. Chen is the inaugural holder of the George M. Eisenberg Chair in Spinal Cord Injury Rehabilitation at the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago.

Shepherd Center

David Apple, Jr, MD. is Medical Director of Shepherd Center in Atlanta, Georgia.  In addition, he is Associate Clinical Professor of Orthopedic Surgery and Clinical Assistant Professor in Rehabilitation Medicine at Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia.  He is also Clinical Professor, Orthopedics at Georgia State University, Department of Allied Health.  Dr. Apple’s research interests include spinal cord injury in patients with pre-existing ankylosing spondylitis, the development of a management protocol for patients paralyzed by spinal column or spinal cord malignancy, platelet derived growth factors in the management of pressure ulcers, behavior management to promote prevention of pressure ulcers, and locomotor therapy trial for spinal cord injury.  He has authored or coauthored articles concerning these and related topics which have been published in journals such as American Journal of  Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Journal of Applied Physiology, and Paraplegia.    Dr. Apple has been the recipient of the American Spinal Injury Association Lifetime Achievement Award, the Humanitarian of the Year Award by the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons, and the Distinguished Service Award by the Georgia Hospital Association. 

Deborah Backus, PhD, PT is an experienced physical therapist clinician, educator, and researcher whose primary objective is to facilitate interaction between basic scientists, clinical researchers, and clinicians interested in improving the care of people with neurological dysfunction.  Dr. Backus holds a BS in Physical Therapy, and has several years of experience treating individuals with movement disorders primarily due to neurological injury and disease.  She completed her doctoral studies in Neuroscience at Emory University, where she participated in basic science research in animals to further her understanding of the control of movement.  As Director of Spinal Cord Injury Research at Shepherd Center, Dr. Backus is responsible for facilitating collaborations between basic science and clinical researchers at Shepherd, and within the SCI community nationally and internationally.  She is currently director of the Christopher Reeve Foundation NeuroRecovery Network at Shepherd Center, overseeing the implementation of a locomotor training program. Dr. Backus’ research efforts are centered on gaining a greater understanding of activity based interventions for SCI, particularly functional electrical stimulation, locomotor training and upper extremity robotics. She is primarily interested in facilitating the translation of this research into efficacious and cost-effective treatment interventions and programs as appropriate to maximize the potential for lifelong recovery in people with neurological injury and disease.

Mount Sinai  

Rose-Marie Faotto PT joined the rehabilitation team at Mt. Sinai in 1984 and in 1996 became the Program Manager of the 25-bed SCI rehabilitation unit.  Ms. Faotto has attended numerous conferences and is certified in NDT as well as in Feldenkrais.  Many of these educational conferences involved training in the delivery of various treatment techniques for the care of neurologically involved patients; including SCI.  She is a regular participant in the annual Model Systems SCI PT/OT leadership meeting which brings together the directors of PT and OT from the various Systems throughout the country.  This past year Mt. Sinai was the host of the conference which was coordinated by Ms. Faotto.

Marcel Dijkers, Ph.D., is Associate Professor of Rehabilitation Medicine at MSSM.  Dr. Dijkers joined the faculty in 1999, from Wayne State University in Detroit, where he was an Associate Professor of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation.  He also was manager of research at the Rehabilitation Institute of Michigan (RIM).  Between 1982 and 1999 he was involved with RIM’s Model SCI System in various capacities, the last being Project Director.  Dr. Dijkers has published more than 70 papers and chapters on research methodology issues, and on rehabilitation processes and outcomes, with a primary focus on SCI and quality of life.  He has served on the editorial board of Rehabilitation Psychology, Journal of Head Trauma Rehabilitation, and Journal of Rehabilitation Outcomes Measurement, and on NIDRR’s standing peer review panel for Field Initiated Research.  For the last ten years, he has served as the chair of the Data Committee of the SCI Model Systems.  Dr. Dijkers currently is Vice-President of the American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine, the country’s pre-eminent multidisciplinary rehabilitation research organization.

NRH/WHC

Suzanne L. Groah, MD MSPH: Dr Groah is board certified in both PM&R and SCI Medicine by the American Board of PM&R.  She is the director of the National Capital Spinal Cord Injury Model System at NRH. Dr. Groah also oversees the NIDRR-funded RRTC on SCI, is integrally involved in the clinical SCI program at WHC through her role as Director of the SCI Consultation Liaison Service, and is Director of SCI Research at NRH. She is also directly involved with the NSCIA, SCI Network, SCI Consortium, and PVA through grant funded research or on a volunteer basis.

Gerben DeJong, PhD:  Dr. DeJong  co-directs the NCSCIMS with Dr. Groah and serves as Principal Investigator on the NCSCIMS’ site-specific CPI (PBE) project. Dr. DeJong has 30 years of experience working on large and complex multi-site research studies including those that cross national boundaries.  He has served as a research director and a center director in university, hospital, and governmental settings.  He has also been the director or research director on several federally funded rehabilitation research centers since the 1970s. 

Carolinas Rehabilitation

Flora McConnell Hammond, M.D. is Director of Research at Charlotte Institute of Rehabilitation, and also Principal Investigator and Project Director for Carolinas Traumatic Brain Injury Rehabilitation and Research System.  Dr. Hammond is board certified in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation and fellowship trained in brain injury rehabilitation.  She is a 1995 graduate of the NIDRR-sponsored Research Enrichment Program for Physiatrists, and since 1997 has served on Carolinas HealthCare System Research Review Committee. Dr. Hammond's research areas include treatment efficacy, outcome measurement, prognostication, change in function over time, depression, and family needs.  Her excellence in research, teaching, and administration was recognized by the 2001 Young Academician Award from the Association of Academic Physiatrists, and she received its 2001 Best Faculty Paper Presentation Award.      

Transdisciplinary Team Members

Craig Hospital – The RMRSIS

Audrey Natale, PT, DPT has worked at Craig Hospital as a staff physical therapist since graduating from Regis University, Denver in 2004.  She serves on committees for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) and for the High Tetra program and has recently developed a journal review club for the PT department.  Audrey has certifications in Dialogue Education and Kinesiotaping.  Audrey is also a member of Neurology Section of the American Physical Therapy Association.

Wendy Gordan, MA, CCC-SLP received her Bachelor of Science degree in Speech and Hearing Therapy and her Master of Arts in Speech/Language Pathology from Kent State University.  She worked at Colorado Hearing and Speech Center for one and a half years where her client caseload consisted primarily of children with language and learning disabilities.  Ms Gordan left Colorado Hearing and Speech Center in order to take a position as a SLP at Craig Hospital so that she could pursue her primary interest in adult neurological disorders.  She worked as the Assistant Director and staff SLP for 26 years. She has most recently served as Director of the Speech/Language Pathology Department since 2002.  During the past 30 years, she has worked exclusively with patients who have sustained a spinal cord and/or acquired brain injury.  Her experiences range from the Neurotrauma setting to outpatient status.  Ms. Gordan’s therapy experiences include evaluation of dysphagia as related to these populations, use of neuromuscular electrical stimulation in treating dysphagia, teaching of glossopharyngeal breathing, and cognitive-communicative rehabilitation.

Jeanine Rundquist, RN, BSN has been a registered nurse since 1995 and with Craig Hospital since 2000.  Jeanine obtained her BSN from North Dakota State University and her MSN from the University of Phoenix.  Jeanine is currently the Magnet Coordinator and Clinical Nurse Scholar at Craig Hospital.  She has been the primary catalyst for implementing evidence based practice in the nursing department and has been instrumental in initiating research in nursing at Craig.  Jeanine has published in professional nursing journals and presented at local and national conferences.

Nichola (Niki) Abeyta, M.A. has worked in the Patient & Family Services Department for Craig Hospital since January of 1989.  She has a Masters Degree in Education and B.A. in Social Work.  Prior to working at Craig, Niki was employed in the field of case management with an emphasis on vocational rehabilitation.  Niki is an active participant on Craig’s Complementary and Alternative Medicine committee and assists with the Reentry Education Program. 

Toby A. Huston, Ph.D. is a Licensed Clinical Psychologist and Primary Clinical Rehabilitation Psychologist on a dedicated SCI treatment team at Craig Hospital.  Prior to his current position at Craig Hospital, he worked as a Rehabilitation Psychologist at University of Colorado Hospital and held a clinical appointment of Assistant Professor in the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at the University of Colorado at Denver and Health Sciences Center.  He currently holds an appointment of Assistant Clinical Professor at UCDHSC.  He has served as a consultant and as a site investigator in previous multi-site research projects.  He is a member of various professional organizations, including the American Association of Spinal Cord Injury Psychologists and Social Workers, and Division 22 (Rehabilitation Psychology) of the American Psychological Association.

Claire Cahow, CTRS is a graduate of the University of Colorado with a degree in Therapeutic Recreation.  She has worked at Craig Hospital since 1984, and obtained her CTRS certification in 1991.  Claire maintains not only a regular SCI patient load, but also coordinates in-house Therapeutic.Recreation activities, community outings, speaking at universities, working with community programs, developing the Adventure Program which serves both our own alumni as well as other individuals with disabilities in the community.  Claire also helps coordinate the Therapeutic Recreation Internship program at Craig which now draws students from a number of states as well as Colorado.  On a regular basis she speaks to volunteers at the Winter Park and Breckenridge ski areas, where she demonstrates to them the skills they need to work effectively with individuals with disabilities.

Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago

Catherine S. Wilson, PsyD. has been a Staff Psychologist at the RIC Spinal Cord Injury Unit, and an academic affiliate of Northwestern University Medical School: Multidisciplinary staff member on rehabilitation and medical teams.  She provides psychological assessment and treatment of inpatients within the hospital, completes neuropsychological assessment and screenings of inpatients, and provides staff consultation regarding patient care issues and patient/staff education through scheduled in-services and group programs.  Dr. Wilson facilitates an inpatient Spinal Cord Injury Group and a family/significant other group.  She is Co-principal investigator with Allen Heinemann, PhD under the Midwest Regional Spinal Cord Injury Care System on a five year project to implement and evaluate a substance abuse prevention and intervention training program, designed to heighten awareness of alcohol and other drug abuse.  Dr. Wilson is Co-principal investigator with Mark B. Mycyk MD,  Daniel S. Heller MD, Martha Vungkhanching PhD, and Eric Larson PhD in a study of new drug use in patients with traumatic brain and spinal cord injuries.

Dr. Wilson has also been at the Performance Enhancement Institute since 1993, which is a private clinical practice of psychology specializing in performance enhancement at work and the treatment of trauma, stress and anxiety disorders with psychotherapy, hypnotherapy and EMDR.  She has provided clinical supervision for EMDR, cognitive-behavioral and hypnotic therapeutic interventions.

Since 1997 Dr. Wilson has been an Instructor at Northwestern University Medical School (Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation track) providing presentations to residents on Substance Abuse Prevention and Adjustment Issues for patients with Spinal Cord injury.

Beverly Dale, MA, CCC, L-SLP is a Clinical Speech Language Pathologist at the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago providing services to the Spinal Cord Injury Unit and inpatient population. She has extensive clinical experience with long term acute care and especially with the adult rehabilitation patient with a primary diagnosis of traumatic brain injury, spinal cord injury, and ventilator dependency.  She provides cognitive-communication, augmentative communication, and dysphagia services to these populations.  She is training clinical speech pathologists at RIC in OPSS.  Ongoing, she offers inservices in dysphagia and cognition and communication to the staff.  She was previously, a clinical instructor at the Hahnemann University in Speech and Hearing as well as a clinical supervisor for graduate students.  She has supervised a clinical fellow.  Presently, she is a member of the Dysphagia Council at RIC, the American Speech and Hearing Association, and the Spinal Cord Injury Association.

Kim Eberhardt, MS, OTR/L is an occupational therapist and program specialist in the spinal cord injury program at the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago.  She is a clinical instructor at the University of Illinois-Chicago where her emphasis is on technology and the environment and the therapeutic management of spinal cord injury.  She has published articles on home modifications for people with spinal cord injuries and multiple sclerosis in publications such as OT Practice, OT Advance, and the International Journal of Multiple Sclerosis. In addition, she has written chapters on funding for assistive technology when she was on the adjunct faculty at Boston University.   Her research interests pertain to assistive technology access and funding for persons with disabilities, functional outcome scales for individuals with spinal cord injury, and home modifications with an emphasis on universal design.  In addition to her teaching and research interests, she is vice president of  the Illinois chapter of the National Spinal Cord Injury Association. 

Donna L Primack, MSSW,ACSW, LSW is the Social Work/Care Manager at the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago, on the spinal cord injury unit. She has prior experience in Child and Adult protective services.  She has worked on the spinal cord injury unit for the past 16 years, primarily focusing on supportive counseling with pts/family; education/advocacy regarding community resources; coordinating information with third party payors; and assisting patients, families, and therapists in developing and coordinating comprehensive discharge plans.  Presented at Institute spinal cord injury courses as well as regularly presenting at the patient/family education series.  Ms. Primack is a member of the NASW and the AASCIPSW.

Ivy Anne R. Reyes, BSN,RN,CRRN, is a charge nurse in the Spinal Cord Injury Program at the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago.  She acts as preceptor for the allied health and nursing spinal cord education program and resource nurse in the unit where her focus is on the respiratory management of the spinal cord injury patient. She has submitted abstracts to the Association of Rehabilitation Nurses where she is currently a member. Additionally, she is a member of the American Spinal Injury Association and the Respiratory Committee of the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago.

Sally Taylor, PT is the Allied Health Manager for the Spinal Cord Injury Program at the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago.  She has presented at various courses including “Practice, Research, and Trends for Management of Patients with Spinal Cord Injuries: An Interdisciplinary Approach,” “The 27^th Annual SCI Model Centers OT/PT Leadership Forum,” the “Western Social Science Association Session on Chronic Disease and Disability” and the “Midwest Sociological Society Session on Using Sociology to Move Disability into the Mainstream.”  She recently published an article in the International Journal of Multiple Sclerosis Care Special Issue: Wheeled Mobility- Evidence and Expertise titled “Ethical Principles Involved in Wheeled Mobility Decisions.”  In 2000, she graduated from the Medical College of Ohio in Consortium with Bowling Green State University with her Bachelor’s Degree in Physical Therapy.  Her research interests fall in the area of ethics and therapy interventions. 

Shepherd Center

John Lin, MD, past Director of Spinal Cord Injury Service of the Veterans Administration Medical Center in Atlanta, Georgia, and board certified in both spinal cord and internal medicine, brings a wealth of experience to the development of any program related to SCI.  Since joining Shepherd in January 2005, Dr. Lin has been the primary physician for over 40 inpatients, and 335 patients with chronic SCI and secondary complications.  Dr. Lin is the primary physician involved in the development of Shepherd’s innovative Beyond Therapy program.  Furthermore, Dr. Lin’s experience as an individual with paraplegia secondary to SCI allows him a perspective that assists in identifying goals that are meaningful to the clients at Shepherd Center.

Joy Bailey, MSN, CRRN, BC is the Unit Manager of the Spinal Cord Injury Rehabilitation Unit of Shepherd Center in Atlanta, Georgia.  She is a certified rehabilitation nurse and board certified in Gerontological nursing.  She has practiced as a registered nurse for over 35 years, and gained experience in SCI nursing when she served as Associate Head Nurse of the SCI Rehabilitation Unit of UM/Jackson Memorial Hospital in Miami, Florida.  She participated in data collection for several research protocols while at JMH, and developed nursing teaching modules for spinal cord injury patients.  She is a member of the American Association of Spinal Cord Injury Nurses and an active member of the Georgia chapter of the Association of Rehabilitation Nurses.

Jane A. Johnson, RN, BSN, CRRN received her BS in Nursing from Medical University of SC in Charleston, SC in 1983.   She has practiced as an RN for 23 years in the areas of medical-surgical nursing for 2 years and Spinal Cord Injury / Neuro nursing for 21 years.  She has been at Shepherd Center for 21 years and worked with SCI patients for this entire time in various capacities including  staff RN on  SCI rehab  and in the intensive care unit;  charge RN on both SCI rehab  and ICU; staff and patient educator for SCI Rehab and ICU.   She has been in her present position as unit manager for ICU for 4 years and added unit management for a 32 bed SCI Rehab / medical surgical unit in 2005.    Jane has maintained her certification in rehabilitation nursing from the American Rehabilitation Nurses’ Association for 10 years.  She has been a certified ACLS Instructor (Advanced Cardiac Life Support / American Heart Association) since 2004 and co-presents and coordinates ACLS certification classes for all disciplines at Shepherd Center.  I was just involved in the initial screening process for the catheter - but it is only for 2nd floor, not 3rd.   In addition to her clinical and management activities, Jane also participates in the growing research program at Shepherd Center.  She has participated in the development of two clinical research trials, and the implementation of three trials that involved her nursing staff.

Teresa A Foy, BS, OTR/L has worked as an OT in physical rehabilitation for 18 years.  Her experience has been with neurologically impaired individuals such as ABI, CVA and SCI.  Teresa was a contributing author to Traumatic Spinal Cord Injury in Umphred, D (ed): Neurological Rehabilitation, 5^th ed. 2006.  Teresa has presented at the National AOTA meeting, the Great Southern OT conference, and Shepherd’s SCI Conferences as well as served as the conference chairman for the Southeastern SCI conference in South Carolina in 1994 and 1995.  Teresa has been at Shepherd Center for 4 years.  She is currently a SCI Therapy Manager for the inpatient spinal cord injury population.  Teresa has also been instrumental in developing the SCI research program at Shepherd Center, participating in planning and implementation of educational sessions for clinicians and supporting staff interested in participating in research activities.

Shari McDowell, PT received her degree in Physical Therapy from Georgia State University in 1986.  For the past 20 years, her clinical practice has focused in the areas of cardiopulmonary rehabilitation, acute management of patients with cardiac and pulmonary impairments, intensive care management of medically complex patients and trauma, intensive care management of persons with SCI and SCI rehabilitation.  Shari is the Inpatient Program Manager for the SCI Program at Shepherd Center.  She co-authored "Traumatic Spinal Cord Injury" in Darci Umphred's Neurological Rehabilitation and served as a clinical expert for the Clinical Guidelines for Upper Extremity Preservation after SCI sponsored by the Paralyzed Veterans Of America.   Shari is an active member of the APTA and serves as the co-chair for the programming committee for the Neurology Section of the APTA.  Shari also has extensive experience in staff education and training and has been instrumental at Shepherd in developing and implementing many innovative programs. 

Jill Koval, PhD received her doctorate from the George Washington University in 1990.  She has over sixteen years of clinical experience at Shepherd Center working with patients and their family members as they begin grieving and emotionally adjusting to the devastating effects of spinal cord injury and mild brain injury.  Additionally, Jill has the unique opportunity of monitoring adjustment after initial rehabilitation since she also sees patients and family members while they are undergoing continued rehabilitation after their inpatient discharge. Finally, Jill works closely with the rehabilitation staff to facilitate effective communication and teamwork so that patients can attain the most successful rehab outcomes possible.

Dorothy Corbin Terry, M.Ed., CCC-SLP is the SLP Clinical Educator at the Shepherd Center, serving the Spinal Cord Injury Unit, Inpatient Acquired Brain Injury Unit, Outpatient and Pathways Post-Acute Acquired Brain Injury.  With 17 years of experience in the rehabilitation field and 10 years in the Shepherd Center system, she is responsible for coordination of education, staffing and program development for the Speech-Language Pathology Department at Shepherd Center.  This includes coordinating competency training, formal and informal education for in-house staff and continuing education courses.  Dorothy has served in a primary role in developing the Shepherd Center’s Summer Study Skills program for adolescents and young adults with acquired brain injuries.  Dorothy has previously served as a case manager for clients with brain and spinal cord injuries, coordinating their services during post-acute treatment and post-discharge from the Shepherd Center.  Additional responsibilities include program development throughout all programs in the Shepherd Center continuum; Chair, MS Wellness Committee; Member of ABI Leadership Committee and center wide JCAHO Committee.  

 Gregory D. Horneber, C.T.R.S. has been practicing as a Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist (C.T.R.S.) for over 7 years.  During that time he had the opportunity to work with spinal cord injuries in a variety of settings through guided wilderness trips, camps, hunting and fishing trips, the clinical setting and in the general community.  Over the last 5 ½ years Greg has worked as a Recreation Therapist, Sports Specialist, Outdoor Specialist, and now as the Clinical Supervisor of the Therapeutic Recreation Department at Shepherd Center.

Mount Sinai

Emil Euaparadorn, MS PT is a Senior Physical Therapist (PT) on the inpatient spinal cord unit.  He has four year experience in SCI care, which includes rotations through the inpatient and outpatient services.  Mr. Euaparadorn graduated from Touro College, Cum Laude. He is currently working on his Doctor of Science in Physical Therapy degree.  In addition Mr. Euaparadorn is on the faculty of the Touro College Physical Therapy program.  He teaches courses on the uses of modalities, spinal cord injury and cardiopulmonary.  His specialty is in electric stimulation, seating, body weight support gait therapy, manual therapy and neuro-reeducation.

Jessica Daigle, MAOTR/L is a Senior Occupational Therapist (OT) on the spinal cord injury (SCI) unit. Ms. Daigle attended New York University and received a Masters Degree in OT and has been practicing a total of six years.  She completed a student affiliation in SCI and has a total of four years experience in working with individuals with SCI.  Ms. Daigle’s areas of specialty include wheelchair seating and positioning, and assistive technology.  She is currently working towards certification as an Assistive Technology Practitioner.

Dana Spivack David, M.S. CCC-SLP is the Chief of the Speech Language Department at Mount Sinai Medical Center.  She has 11 years experience with 5 years working directly with the SCI population.  With this patient group, Ms David is experienced in administering Modified Barium Swallow and blue dye swallow tests, as well as utilizing speaking valves and treating patients with dysphonia.  She graduated from Adelphi University with her MS in Speech Pathology in 1995, and completed her clinical fellowship year at Burke Rehabilitation Hospital in White Plains.

Beth Rosenfeld MS,CTRS  is a Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist with four years experience, two of them working with the SCI Program at Mount Sinai Rehabilitation Center.  She is involved in both the inpatient and outpatient SCI programs, focusing on leisure education, community re-integration and recreation participation.  Ms. Rosenfeld received her Master of Science Degree from Southern Connecticut State University in 2003, in Recreation and Leisure Studies with a focus on Therapeutic Recreation. 

Angela Riccobono, Ph.D. is the Senior Psychologist on the SCI unit.  She has a total of 14 years experience in SCI care, and has served on both the inpatient and outpatient services.  Dr. Riccobono received her doctorate in Clinical Health Psychology from Yeshiva University in 1993, and completed a Clinical Internship in Rehabilitation Psychology and Clinical Neurology at the famed Rusk Institute of Rehabilitation Medicine.  Her area of main interest is Adjustment/adaptation and coping with Spinal Cord Injury.

Jessica Leventhal MS, RD, CDN is the senior clinical dietitian in the acute rehabilitation center.  Specializing in SCI, she ensures that adequate nutrition is provided during therapy and appropriate diet restrictions for chronic disease are met.  She also maintains a private practice, in which she provides nutrition counseling to clients, focusing on obesity, sports nutrition, pregnancy, and eating disorders.  Ms Leventhal graduated from the University of Michigan with a B.A in psychology.  She completed her dietetic internship at New York University, where she received her Master’s degree in Clinical Nutrition and Dietetics.

Sandy Starr M.A. is the Senior Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor. She has a total of 14 years experience in SCI care, and has served on both the inpatient and outpatient services.  Ms Starr received her masters in Psychology in 1993 from Villanova University.  Her area of main interest is adjustment/adaptation to SCI via the facilitation of a return to vocational activity.  She also provides computer education and exposure to assistive computer technology.   

Lynn Kurland MSW is the licensed clinical social worker on the SCI unit.  She has a total of 14 years experience at Mount Sinai Hospital, with 8 of those years dedicated to the care of SCI individuals.  Ms Kurland received her masters of social work at Hunter College in 1997 and completed a Clinical Internship at the narcotic rehabilitation Center at Mount Sinai Hospital.  Her focus is discharge planning and providing resource information to patients and families.

Audrey Schmerzler, RN, M.S.N., CRRN, has been involved with SCI care for over 25 years.  Currently, she is the MSH Rehabilitation Center Education Coordinator.  Previously she was the Nurse Manager on the MSH inpatient unit and SCI Unit Coordinator at Kessler Institute of Rehabilitation.  She has participated in research projects with pharmaceutical companies, involving Sygen, Tizanidine and platelet-derived growth factor, been a peer reviewer for NIDRR, presented at numerous conferences on SCI, and coauthored a book on Nursing management of individuals with disabilities.

Howard Choi, M.D., M.P.H., is board certified in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, having completed his residency at Johns Hopkins University in 2001.  He joined the faculty of the Department of Rehabilitation Medicine in 2005 after completing a three-year research fellowship at the Laboratory of Spinal Cord Injury and Neural Stem Cells of the Department of Neurosurgery, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School.  He received his M.P.H. from the Harvard School of Public Health in 2004.  Dr. Choi has (co-)authored articles related to clinical and experimental SCI or neurodegenerative disorders in the Archives of PM&R, Journal of Neuroscience, Muscle and Nerve, Neuroscience Letters, and Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.