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Effective July 1, Jacob Schultz, M.D. and Brea Willeford, D.O. became the 2022-2023 PM&R Resident Chiefs. Dr. Schultz is now our Education Chief, and Dr. Willeford is our Administrative Chief.

Dr. Schultz earned his undergraduate degree from the University of Kentucky and his MD from the University of Louisville School of Medicine. “It's a privilege to be leading and representing an incredible group of residents,” said Dr. Schultz. “UAB PM&R is a special program because not only do these residents have incredible academic pedigree, more importantly they are hard-working, caring, and virtuous people. I'm excited for my chief year alongside Dr. Willeford!”

Dr. Willeford earned her undergraduate degree from Coastal Carolina University and DO from the Alabama College of Osteopathic Medicine. “I'm excited for this opportunity to lead and advocate for an incredible group of residents,” said Dr. Willeford. “Our UAB PM&R program has a great culture of teamwork, scholarship, work ethic, and wellness. It's an honor to represent my peers and faculty alongside Dr. Schultz as we aim to continue promoting these core values. It's going to be a great year!”

Dr. Willeford likes to stay active with lots of hobbies including running, hiking, tennis, water-sports, traveling, live music, and time with family and friends Her career interests are in interventional pain management and is in the process of applying for fellowship training.

Dr. Schultz enjoys hiking with his wife and dog, tennis, weightlifting, discovering new restaurants and breweries, bourbon, and Rocket League. His career interests is inpatient neurorehabilitation.

Dale Colorado, DO, MPH, is joining the UAB Heersink School of Medicine Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation as Associate Professor and Vice Chair of Education. He will also serve as PM&R Residency Program Director and Director of Sports/Musculoskeletal Medicine.

Dr. Colorado is board certified in PM&R, sports medicine, brain injury medicine, electrodiagnostic medicine, and neuromuscular ultrasound. He is also certified in musculoskeletal ultrasound.

Prior to joining UAB, Dr. Colorado was Associate Professor in the Departments of Orthopedic Surgery and Neurology at Washington University in St. Louis. He served as Program Director for the Sports Medicine Fellowship, Associate Program Director for the Interventional Spine Fellowship, Medical Director for the Orthopedic Regenerative Medicine Program, EMG Medical Director, and Co-Director of Ultrasound. He served as a Team Physician for Washington University Athletics, Lindenwood University Athletics, St. Joseph’s Academy, and Francis Howell Central High School.

“UAB is one of the top academic medical centers in the country,” says Dr. Colorado. “The Department of PM&R and Spain Rehabilitation Center are nationally recognized, especially in the areas of spinal cord injury and traumatic brain injury. I am very excited for the opportunities for growth, especially in the areas of education and sports/musculoskeletal medicine. This incredible potential, combined with amazing departmental culture and leadership, are what solidified my decision to come to UAB.”

Dr. Colorado’s clinical interests include the evaluation and non-operative management of all musculoskeletal injuries, with special interests in sports and spine related injuries, therapeutic spine and peripheral joint injections, regenerative medicine treatments, musculoskeletal and neuromuscular ultrasound, and electrodiagnostics. He has research interests in the use of musculoskeletal and neuromuscular ultrasound, electrodiagnostics, sports concussion, adaptive sports, and regenerative medicine.

Robert Brunner, M.D., Professor in the UAB Heersink School of Medicine Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation as Associate Professor and Vice Chair of PM&R Development.

Dr. Brunner has long served in leadership as the Medical Director of the Spain Rehabilitation Center Inpatient Hospital, Principal Investigator of the Traumatic Brain Injury Model System and current Assistant Chief of the UAB Medical Staff. Additionally, he has been a driving force in the recently announced $156.7M, 350,000-square-foot development that will replace the existing Spain Rehabilitation Center. The new, 11-floor facility is scheduled to open in 2025 and will offer 78 rehabilitation beds, 28 acute care beds, and state-of-the-art technology specifically designed to provide comprehensive rehabilitation care for patients from across Alabama and beyond.

“I look forward to this new role within our department. I think this is an exciting time for us.” Dr. Brunner expresses. “Along with our new building we will have many new faculty joining us as we look to a very bright future.”

Vu Nguyen, M.D., chair of the Department of PM&R, is excited about the department’s future development under Dr. Brunner’s leadership. “Dr. Brunner is an experienced clinician and a highly articulate leader. When I created the Vice Chair of PM&R Development, I wanted an individual who has the experience to see the strategic global picture of growth for the department but also the critical analytical ability to optimize the integration of the various divisions in the department to increase synergy, efficiency, and effectiveness. Dr. Brunner possesses the rare combination of skills that can do just that. I am excited to see where he can take our growth and development.”

In this American Board of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (ABPMR) Podcast episode, Professor and Chairman, Vu Nguyen, M.D., MBA,  and Dr. Sunil Sabharwal (Harvard Medical School) present on preparing physiatrists for the Oral Boards by dispelling myths or misunderstandings about the examination process.

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UAB Department of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation Assistant Professors Sean Hollis, Ph.D., and Elaine Mahoney, Ph.D., recently led an Alabama Head Injury Foundation Q&A session. In this episode, they joined a group of caregivers to provide insight into TBI and answer some specific questions our caregivers had about what a neuropsychologist does and how to better work with their TBI survivor.  

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 UAB Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Associate Professor, Danielle Powell, M.D., has been elected Vice-Chair of Clinical Operations.

 UAB Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation is thrilled to welcome Assistant Professor Rachel Teranishi, M.D., effective September 1, 2022.

The UAB Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation  welcomes Assistant Professor Elizabeth Twist, M.D., effective September 1, 2022. Dr. Twist joins the department as a Physiatrist with specialization in spinal cord injury after completing her fellowship in Spinal Cord Injury Medicine, Case Western in Ohio, where she also graduated residency. Prior to that, she completed her internal medicine internship at Ohio’s MetroHealth Medical Center.

 Amy Knight, Ph.D., ABPP, recently received a lovely painting from a patient as an expression of gratitude.

 Assistant Professor Amber Clark, M.D., received her second pilot grant from the Resource Centers for Minority and Aging Research (RCMAR) to study the post-stroke continuum among African American stroke survivors in Alabama.

 The UAB Department of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation Assistant is thrilled to welcome our new education coordinator, Savannah Tinsley!

 UAB Department of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation Assistant Professor, Casey Azuero, Ph.D., MPH, recently presented “Standardization of care for patients with SCI across care continuum: A pilot study” at the 24th Annual Rehabilitation Psychology Conference in February. 

My name is Gloria Bennett, niece of Theresa Peagler, one of the former patients at UAB Spain Rehabilitation Center.  Ms. Peagler had part of her leg amputated (up to her knee), so she was transported to UAB Spain for rehabilitation and extra care from the hospital.  In addition, my aunt has experienced an abundant number of losses in life; she lost her parents, all her siblings, her daughter, and recently lost her husband several months ago.

 During severe weather season, families make plans for what they need to do in the case of a severe weather threat. When making your plans, University of Alabama at Birmingham’s Rachel Cowan, Ph.D., wants to remind you to remember your neighbors with disabilities. 

 Jereme Wilroy, Ph.D., was recently featured on the "2021 CCTS Year in Review Kudo Board".

 The UAB Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation is thrilled to welcome assistant professor, Dr. Elizabeth Richardson.

 Burnout is on the rise across the United States. In a survey of 1,500 U.S. workers conducted by the online job site Indeed, 52 percent of respondents said they were experiencing burnout, with 67 percent of respondents saying that burnout worsened during the pandemic.

 James Lo, medical student mentee of Dr. Yu-Ying Chen, recently received "AAP Best Paper Award" for their project titled "Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Substance Use Behaviors in People with Spinal Cord Injury." The study aimed to understand the correlation between COVID-19 and substance use behaviors for people with spinal cord injury.

 Join us today on Resident Appreciation Day in thanking all of our residents. Our residents are often the first face seen by most of our patients/families and they represent us exceedingly well – days, nights, weekends, and holidays.

Danielle Powell, M.D., is one of three selected to receive the UAB Marnix E. Heersink School of Medicine Office for Diversity and Inclusion 2022 Professional Excellence Award.