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Associate Professor Danielle Powell, M.D. has been appointed Vice Chair of Clinical Affairs in the UAB Heersink School of MedicineDepartment of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation.

The American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine (ACRM) recently held the largest annual conference in the world for interdisciplinary rehabilitation research. It was the 100th annual conference, and it brought together researchers, clinicians, administrators, and others to learn about cutting-edge research and its translation into clinical practice.

The UAB Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation welcomes Assistant Professor Radhika Sharma, M.D., effective November 2023. 

Professor Yuying Chen, M.D., Ph.D. was awarded the prestigious Dr. Margaret Nosek Award by the American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine’s (ACRM) Spinal Cord Interdisciplinary Special Interest Group. 

Megan Hays, Ph.D., associate professor and clinical psychologist in the UAB Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation was selected to join the Class of 2024 Healthcare Leadership Academy (HLA).

Jereme D. Wilroy, Ph.D., assistant professor for the University of Alabama at Birmingham Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, was awarded a $3.3 million R01 grant from the National Institutes of Health for his study, “Examining the effects of live telehealth exercise training on cardiometabolic outcomes in wheelchair users." 

Spina bifida is the most common permanently disabling birth defect that is associated with life. Each year approximately 1,400 babies born in the United States have spina bifida, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Spina bifida, usually apparent at birth, is a type of neural tube defect in which the neural tube does not completely close during development in the womb resulting in damage to the spinal cord and nerves.

The UAB Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation is pleased to announce the promotion of three faculty members, including two researchers and one neuropsychologist effective Oct. 1, 2023.

Rachel Cowan, Ph.D., associate professor at the University of Alabama at Birmingham’s Department of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation and program co-director for UAB’s Spinal Cord Injury Model System, co-chaired the World Health Organization (WHO) Global Wheelchair Service Guidelines Develop Group (GDG) and co-authored the Wheelchair Service Guidelines alongside Kylie Shae and Sarah Sheldon. The Guidelines were official launched at the April 2023 meeting of the International Society for Prosthetics and Orthotics in Guadalajara, Mexico.

UAB Marnix E. Heersink School of MedicineDepartment of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation's residency program ranks in the top 25 by reputation in Doximity’s Residency Navigator.

The UAB Traumatic Brain Injury Model System (UAB-TBIMS) conducts independent and collaborative research projects. The UABTBIMS was part of a recent collaborative research study on the resilience of caregivers at six months following traumatic brain injury (TBI). The Virginia Commonwealth Traumatic Brain Injury Model System led the multi-center study, and other participating centers included Mayo Clinic Traumatic Brain Injury Model System, Indiana Traumatic Brain Injury Model System, Rocky Mountain Regional Brain Injury System, and the Northern New Jersey Traumatic Brain Injury System.

The University of Alabama at Birmingham’sDepartment of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, a prosthetics and orthotics patient care provider, has joined the Limb Loss & Preservation Registry (LLPR).

Past research suggests that an imbalance of gut bacteria develops after spinal cord injury (SCI). This imbalance can lead to cardiometabolic diseases like obesity, diabetes, insulin resistance, and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.

Good leadership is key to any organization, and UAB is no exception. UAB’s Department of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation is proud to announce that Administrative Director Tracy Brewer joins the FALL 2023 cohort of the UAB Medicine Institute for Leadership.

Dr. Andre’ McShan, Assistant Professor in the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, and Medical Director for the Occupational Medicine program at The Workplace-UAB Highlands, was selected to serve on the American Heart Association 2023-2024 Southeast Board of Directors.

McShan is a longtime advocate for the American Heart Association. He has served on the board at the local level including his role as past president. In this new appointment, McShan will serve a 3-year term for the Southeast regional board of directors as well as a member of the Health Equity and Workplace Health Steering Committees.

“Heart disease remains the number one cause of death in the United States and disproportionately effects minority communities,” said McShan. “Like many others, I’ve experienced personal loss due to heart disease and stroke. I’m honored to be a part of this organization, and I’m excited to use my expertise to expand the efforts of the American Heart Association.”

The board will meet quarterly and rotate to different host cities around the southeast. Their current regional initiatives include topics such as addressing teen vaping, helping to decrease food insecurity, and reinforcing blood pressure guidelines.

The American Heart Association is a nonprofit organization in the United States that funds cardiovascular medical research, educates consumers on healthy living and fosters appropriate cardiac care in in an effort to reduce disability and deaths caused by cardiovascular disease and stroke.

The Center for Engagement in Disability Health and Rehabilitation Sciences (CEDHARS) selected Fedora Biney, Ph.D. and Huacong Wen, Ph.D. as recipients of its spring 2023 pilot grant funding opportunity, “Secondary Data Analysis to Advance Health or Rehabilitation Outcomes Research in People with Disabilities.”

The University of Alabama at BirminghamDepartment of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Residency Training Program welcomed a group of eight new residents in July.

Professor Yuying Chen, M.D., Ph.D. has been promoted to Vice Chair of Research for the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation  (PM&R) in the UAB Marnix E. Heersink School of Medicine (HSOM). Chen served as Research Director prior to her promotion.

Dr. Chen joined the department of PM&R faculty in 2000 and has served as Project Director of the National Spinal Cord Injury Statistical Center since 2005. She has gained international recognition for her research involving epidemiology, mortality, and secondary conditions after spinal cord injury (SCI), including obesity, racial health disparities, and social determinants of health. Chen’s most recent honors include being selected to serve on the American Spinal Injury Association Board of Directors, awarded The American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine’s (ACRM) SCI Interdisciplinary Special Interest Group Margaret Nosek Award, selected for the UAB Healthcare Leadership Academy Class of 2023, and recognized by The Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation with the Most Cited Original Research Article Award.

“It is my privilege and honor to promote Dr. Chen to the Vice Chair of Research role. She is a passionate researcher who, through her work, has greatly advanced the worldwide standard of care for those living with spinal cord injury,” states Vu Nguyen, M.D., chair of the Department. We are very fortunate to have had her leadership over the years. It is my hope that we can capture her energy and brilliance to elevate the level of research in the department and at UAB. It’s a great day for UAB PM&R research,” exclaims Nguyen.”

Dr. Chen is a board-certified physiatrist from Taiwan and epidemiologist with extensive training and experience in database management, research methodology, and statistical analysis. She has led a number of studies and published more than 94 manuscripts in peer-reviewed journals, many of which involved the use of the National SCI Database.

“I look forward to this new chapter of my research career, leading a team of remarkable researchers to expand the Department’s research portfolio and advance rehabilitation science,” said Dr. Chen.

Dr. Chen is the Co-Director for the UAB Center for Engagement in Disability Health and Rehabilitation Sciences. She also serves on the Heersink School of Medicine Faculty Council and Committee on Responsible Research Practices as well as PM&R’s Promotion and Tenure, Finance, Journal Club, and Grand Rounds Committees.