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As another year comes to a close, we look to the role of UAB’s clinicians, researchers, residents, and team members and how they shape the future of rehabilitation at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. UAB Rehabilitation is among the largest, integrated rehabilitation systems in the nation that serves the full spectrum of disability, musculoskeletal, and sports care.

The Department of PM&R is excited to share some highlights from a very successful year. We kicked off 2022 with new leadership. In January, Vu Nguyen, M.D., MBA was named the sixth chairperson of the department. Dr. Nguyen’s vision for the department has been instrumental in the PM&R team’s many accomplishments.

Clinical:
• UAB Medicine Rehabilitation was ranked number 20 in the nation by U.S. News & World Report.
• Recruited 6 physiatrists, 2 neuropsychologists, 2 certified orthotists/prosthetists, and 1 occupational medicine provider.
• Broke ground on the new state-of-the-art UAB Inpatient Rehabilitation Hospital. It will be an 11 floors freestanding rehabilitation hospital connected to UAB Hospital via skywalks. The facility will feature a rooftop courtyard, rehabilitation gyms on each floor, outdoor terrain park, office meeting space, parking for more than 200 vehicles, and will be our tertiary-referral flagship rehabilitation hospital.
• Developed a new leadership team - Danielle Powell, M.D. named Vice Chair of Clinical Operations; Robert Brunner, M.D., named Vice Chair of PM&R Development; Yuying Chen, M.D., Ph.D. promoted to PM&R Director of Research; and Dale Colorado, D.O., M.P.H. named Vice Chair of PM&R Education, Medical Director, Sports and Musculoskeletal Medicine, and Program Director for the PM&R Residency Program.
• Orthotist Antwaun Burroughs appointed to the Alabama State Board of Prosthetists & Orthotists.
• Vu Nguyen, M.D. named as the North American representative to the executive committee of the International Society of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine and member of the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Review Committee.
• Megan Hays, Ph.D., associate professor, awarded the 2022 Dean’s Excellence Award for Service as a junior faculty member.
• Dale Colorado, D.O., MPH selected for AAPM&R Future Leaders Program.

Research:
• Renewal of our $3.4 million National Spinal Cord Injury Statistical Center 5-year grant. UAB Rehabilitation has held the distinction of being the only NSCISC in the nation continuously since 1983.
• Renewals of our $2 million Spinal Cord Injury Model System grant and a $2.2 million Traumatic Brain Injury Model Systems grant.
• Dr. Jereme Wilroy, Ph.D. named Director of Research for Lakeshore Foundation.
• Rachel Cowan, Ph.D. joined Veteran Affairs Rehabilitation Engineering & Prosthetics/Orthotics Scientific Merit Review Board.
• Xiaohua Zhou, M.D. and Cassandra Buchanan Renfro, D.O. authored the book “Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Clinics of North America: Wound and Skin Care”.
• Fedora Biney, Ph.D. received a NIH supplement in diversity grant to support the research project “Transferring Speed of Processing Gains to Everyday Cognitive Tasks after Stroke”.
• Dr. Jereme Wilroy, Ph.D. named co-director and Rachel Cowan, Ph.D. name director of the UAB Spinal Cord Injury Model System.
• PM&R medical student Hunter Soleymani received first place in the research category for his poster, "Accuracy and precision of actigraphy and SMARTwheels for measuring push counts across a series of wheelchair propulsion trials in able-bodied young adults."
• Yumi Kim, Ph.D. received 3rd place in ACRM's poster competition for “Qualitative exploration of tele-exercise program to inform adaptive intervention design for adults with multiple sclerosis”.
• Wendy Wen, Ph.D. received an Outstanding Achievement Award for her poster presentation “Experiences with COVID-19 pandemic in the spinal cord injury community in Alabama” at the UAB Interdisciplinary Research Symposium.

Academic:
• Dale Colorado, D.O., M.P.H. named Program Director for the PM&R Residency Program.
• Successfully achieved ACGME approval for transitioning the PM&R residency program to a Categorical 4-year PM&R residency training program. We are recruiting for 4 new PGY-1 positions this year.
• Re-established our Orthotics and Prosthetics residency program and are recruiting for this training program.

The UAB Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation leads the way in meeting the needs of individuals with disabilities through compassionate care, cutting-edge research, and training the next generation of professionals. To further this mission, PM&R residents spent the day at the Lakeshore Foundation as part of their annual retreat.

Over the years UAB PM&R and Lakeshore Foundation have developed a partnership with the shared goal of promoting opportunities for a healthy and active lifestyle for individuals with disability through research and advocacy. This educational visit allowed the residents to learn about the resources Lakeshore offers people with disability in and around the Birmingham area.

Lakeshore is as an Olympic and Paralympic Training Site, and the home of USA Wheelchair Rugby strengthening the ongoing commitment to the development of adaptive sports. PM&R residents have had the opportunity to learn from UAB PM&R faculty members with a passion for adaptive sports, but this visit allowed them to experience it for themselves.

One highlight of the day for residents was learning how to play wheelchair basketball. They also had the honor of being courtside with the USA men’s wheelchair rugby team holding practice onsite. The rugby coaches spoke to the residents about their experiences that led them to their coaching role, what a day in the life of a wheelchair rugby player is like, and how physiatrists can better help and understand what these players are going through.

Chief residents Jacob Schultz, M.D. and Brea Willeford, D.O. knew their visit to Lakeshore would be beneficial to the group of 12 PM&R residents, but the experience exceeded even their expectations.

“As a physiatrist, understanding disability in all its stages is key to providing excellent patient care. Since residents frequently see it in the early stages during an acute hospital stay, it is enlightening and inspiring to see people flourish in spite of it as time passes. I believe we can use our experiences from our Lakeshore visit to encourage our future patients to access these amazing resources so readily available here in Birmingham,” stated Schultz.

Casey Azuero, Ph.D., MPH, Associate Professor in the University of Alabama at Birmingham’s Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, has been named Interim Division Director of Rehabilitation Psychology at Spain Rehabilitation Center (SRC). She replaces Dr. Amy Knight who previously held the position.

Dr. Azuero joined the Department of PM&R as an assistant professor in 2017 following her postdoctoral training at UAB in Rehabilitation Psychology under J. Scott Richards, Ph.D., ABPP. She is Board Certified in Rehabilitation Psychology by the American Board of Professional Psychology.

In addition to her role in PM&R’s psychology department, she also consults for other specialties with the UAB Health System, including Trauma (TBICU, TBNU) Service, Surgery and Neurosurgery (NICU) Services, and Special Care Unit (SICU) Services.

Dr. Azuero received her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from the University of Alabama and her Master in Public Health in Health Behavior and a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB). She completed an internship in clinical psychology at the UAB/Birmingham Veterans Administration Medical Center consortium.

Dr. Azuero’s clinical practice involves the assessment and treatment of adults with chronic conditions including spinal cord injury and other medical conditions. Her research has focused on understanding the utilization of mental health services and designing and testing novel intervention delivery methods.

Dr. Azuero’s passion for psychology can be noted nationally. She is currently a Spinal Cord Injury Medicine Consortium representative for American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine; a member of the Paralyzed Veterans of America Clinical Practice Guideline Committee; and an American Board of Rehabilitation Psychology (ABRP) Board practice sample reviewer. On the university level, Dr. Azuero is the Director of Wellness and Resident Professional Development as well as Training Director for the Rehabilitation Psychology Post-Doctoral Fellowship.

“I am very excited to take on this new leadership role in the department and have been humbled and hold deep gratitude for all of the support I have received from my colleagues so far. Under her leadership, Dr. Knight has grown our division and I look to continue the work of expansion and diversification moving forward,” stated Azuero.

Stephanie Walters, Human Resources Manager for the Department of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, has been selected for the Developing Emerging Administrative Leaders (DEAL) Program.

This program takes a multidisciplinary approach in exposing key UAB staff members to the essential components of administrative and management positions across UAB including human resources, finance, research, education, and clinical. Participants will have the opportunity for personal development through mentoring, networking, and first-hand experiences with existing administrative leaders from multiple UAB schools.

Walters is among 25 participants selected for the program. The program consists of 10 sessions beginning in Feb. 2023 and concluding in Nov. 2023.

Rachel Cowan, Ph.D, Assistant Professor in the University of Alabama at Birmingham’s Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation and program director for the UAB’s Spinal Cord Injury Model System, is co-chairing the World Health Organization (WHO) Global Wheelchair Service Guidelines Develop Group (GDG) and co-authoring the Wheelchair Service Guidelines alongside Kylie Shae and Sarah Sheldon.

In recent decades substantial progress has been made within the wheelchair sector; however, the need to develop global policy and standards for wheelchair provision remains. The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) led a Wheelchair Stakeholders’ Meeting held in Bangalore, India in 2018, and identified establishing global service standards as one of 10 key priorities for the sector. In the same year the World Health Assembly provided specific calls for the development of policy on assistive technology, requesting Member States to contribute to and engage in the development of minimum standards for priority assistive products and services, in order to promote their safety, quality, cost-effectiveness, and appropriateness in Resolution 71.8 (2018) “Improving access to assistive technology”. The new Guidelines will promote, inform, and support planning, delivery, and evaluation of wheelchair services within health systems, in order to strengthen equitable access to wheelchair services in diverse contexts by people of all ages with a mobility impairment.

Guideline development at WHO follows a rigorous process of developing PICO (person, intervention, comparator, outcome) questions, performing systematic reviews, and following an Evidence to Decision (EtD) process to ensure the resulting recommendations are based on the best available scientific and practice-based evidence. Due to Dr. Cowan’s extensive scientific knowledge and experience in the area of wheelchair seating and mobility, she has played a substantial role in leading the Guidelines Development Group through the Evidence to Decision (EtD) process. After much research and discussion, she then took the group’s collective input and drafted the recommendations section of the Guidelines.

There were obstacles along the way to compiling data for the guidelines. “The group process was particularly challenging because the GDG members were largely non-academics without scientific training. And, because of COVID, we had to do the majority of the work virtually rather than in person limiting ease of communication and consultation with key stakeholders,” Cowan stated.

By the time the group officially met in person at WHO Headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland in October 2022, draft guidelines had been developed, following an in-depth two-year process. These guidelines provide a set of evidence-based recommendations and best practice guidance to support countries in developing or improving essential wheelchair services. Adoption of these guidelines will support governments in fulfilling their obligation to implement the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) which places responsibility on governments to prioritize the provision of assistive technology for personal mobility. The guidelines will also aid Member States in meeting the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), in particular the goal to ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages.

The goal is to provide the final guidelines to use in assisting any government to develop or enhance national policies, plans, and programs for the provision of essential wheelchair services. The official launch of the Guidelines will take place at the April 2023 meeting of the International Society for Prosthetics and Orthotics in Guadalajara, Mexico.

Fedora Biney, Ph.D., Assistant Professor in the University of Alabama at Birmingham’s Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, received a diversity supplement grant from the National Institute on Aging (NIA) supporting ongoing research on the topic “Transferring Speed of Processing Gains to Everyday Cognitive Tasks after Stroke”.

These federal funds are provided under the National Institutes of Health (NIH)’s research supplement program to promote diversity in health-related research and support emerging researchers with mentor-directed opportunities that foster and expand their research capabilities, knowledge, and skills in diverse aging research areas.

Dr. Biney conducts her research with the Constraint-Induced (CI) Therapy Research Group and centers around CI Therapy, a well-known therapeutic approach to rehabilitation after stroke, multiple sclerosis (MS) and traumatic brain injury (TBI). CI Therapy consists of a family of treatments that teach the brain to “rewire” itself following an injury to the brain. CI therapy is based on research by Edward Taub, Ph.D., UAB Professor in the Department of Psychology, which shows patients can “learn” to improve movement of the weaker parts of their bodies and their speech. CI Therapy has been instrumental in updating previously held beliefs in rehabilitation regarding limits of brain recovery and neuroplasticity. It has impacted even the terminology used by rehabilitation professionals as the well-known term ‘learned non-use’ was coined as part of Dr. Taub’s work on somatosensory deafferentation in primates.

CI Therapy utilizes a collection of behavioral techniques including intensive training, shaping, and a transfer package that is designed to generalize laboratory gains in function to real-world functioning. Constraint-Induced Movement Therapy (CIMT) has been successful in improving upper and lower extremity motor functioning following stroke, traumatic brain injury, multiple sclerosis, and other neurological conditions. Constraint-Induced Aphasia Therapy (CIAT) has been used to improve communication in individuals with aphasia following stroke.

At this time, the CI Therapy Research Group is actively recruiting participants for an NIA-funded project looking at adults that are more than one year post-stroke with mild-to-moderate cognitive difficulties who are experiencing difficulties with instrumental activities of daily living (IADLs). The intervention will compare CICT to an equal dose of state-of-the-art brain fitness training. Given the past success of previous applications of CI Therapy, CICT is expected to foster improvements in IADL performance. In addition, MRI data is being collected to evaluate changes in brain structure and function. The CI Therapy Research Group is also running a pilot, randomized control trial of CICT in adults with long COVID experiencing brain fog and cognitive difficulties. This research aims to improve functional independence and brain fog symptoms.

Dr. Biney is proud to be a part of this life-changing research. She added, “Given that cognitive deficits often hinder an individual’s ability to fulfill vocational, social, and family roles, it is exciting to be at the forefront of an intervention aimed at improving functional independence.”

The UAB Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation is leading the way in meeting the needs of individuals with disabilities through compassionate care, cutting-edge research, and training the next generation of professionals. We sat down with the Vice-Chair of PM&R Development, Robert Brunner, M.D. to discuss the department's continued growth and excellence in patient care.

Q: Dr. Brunner, you’ve been a faculty member in UAB’s Department of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation for over 20 years. Tell us more about your role and how it has evolved.
A: I’m proud to represent the work of UAB Medicine Rehabilitation. We’ve served and advocated for people with disability since UAB Spain Rehabilitation opened its doors in 1964. Over the years, my roles have changed. I have been involved with clinical, research, educational and operational activities. With our new Chair, Dr. Vu Q. C. Nguyen came a vision of an expanded leadership structure. My current leadership focus is on the development of our department within our health care system, faculty, and grateful patients all of whom want to help support us in our future vision.

My roles in the department include: Vice-Chair of Professional Development & Professor; Medical Director, Spain Rehabilitation Center; Project Director, UAB Traumatic Brain Injury Model System; Director, Traumatic Brain Injury Patient Services.

Q: What sets UAB Medicine Rehabilitation apart from other rehab hospitals?
A: UAB Medicine Rehabilitation is among the largest, integrated rehabilitation systems in the nation that serves the full spectrum of disability, neurorehabilitation, musculoskeletal, prosthetics, and sports care. In addition to traditional PM&R diagnostic groups, unique divisions within our department include inpatient and outpatient rehab and neuropsychology, comprehensive orthotics and prosthetics laboratory, and industry-leading occupational medicine practice. We have several unique interdisciplinary clinics such as wound care, transverse myelitis, and spina bifida. We are connected with The Children’s Hospital of Alabama and have transition clinics at UAB for those special populations that need on going care as an adult with disabilities.

On the research front, we are excited to share the renewal of our $3.4 million National SCI Statistical Center 5-year grant. UAB Rehabilitation has held the distinction of being the only NSCISC in the nation continuously since 1983. We were also successful in achieving renewals of our $2 million SCI Model Systems grant and a $2.2 million TBI Model Systems grant.

Q: I know it’s a priority to promote continued growth within the department. What’s been the focus to make that happen?
A: It takes the dedication from everyone that contributes to the success of UAB Medicine Rehabilitation - clinicians, researchers, residents, and team members. This past year we successfully recruited 6 physiatrists, 2 neuropsychologists, 2 certified orthotists/prosthetists, and 1 occupational medicine provider.

We also developed a new leadership team - Danielle Powell, M.D. named Vice-Chair of Clinical Operations; Yuying Chen, M.D., Ph.D. promoted to PM&R Director of Research; and Dale Colorado, D.O., M.P.H. named Vice-Chair of PM&R Education, Medical Director, Sports and Musculoskeletal Medicine, and Program Director for the PM&R Residency Program. This team will work with other faculty to set plans in motion for continued growth.

We initiated this process at a recent faculty retreat. In the coming year, the department is going to focus on recruiting additional researchers and clinician scientists to further our mission of expanding knowledge and training future clinicians.

Q: What was the goal of this year’s PM&R faculty retreat?
A: We always enjoy coming together as a group to focus on ways to offer the best patient care. This year our partner Lakeshore Foundation hosted our event. Being the home of U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Training Site, Lakeshore and UAB Rehabilitation share a mission to work with individuals with disabilities. We even had the opportunity to play wheelchair basketball. These were important team building exercises especially given our new faculty.

During the retreat we focused on three pillar goals: engagement, quality, and advancement of knowledge. We engaged in a robust discussion around wellness. Wellness is particularly important because of all the challenge health care workers face on a daily basis. As physiatrists we tend to focus on the health of the whole person, and that includes our team members.

Q: You talked about the department’s pillar goals. Can you walk me through what those goals entail?
A: Our group discussions focused on three pillar goals: engagement, quality, and advancement of knowledge.

1. Engagement- Develop and strengthen satisfying relationships and outreach between the department of PM&R and its patients, care teams, and community.
2. Quality- Implement standards and systems to continue achieving the best possible outcomes in clinical care and research.
3. Advancement of Knowledge - Support a learning health system that fosters and shares innovation and transforms care delivery for our patients.

Q: What excites you most about the future of UAB Medicine Rehabilitation?
A: UAB Medicine Rehabilitation continues to be ranked in the top 20 by US News & World Report. We’re thrilled that we’ll have the ability to serve more patients. In May, we broke ground on a new state-of-the-art UAB Inpatient Rehabilitation Hospital. It will be an 11-floor rehabilitation hospital connected to UAB Hospital via skywalks. The facility will feature a rooftop indoor/outdoor courtyard and therapy section, rehabilitation gyms on each floor, outdoor terrain park, multiple relaxing spaces for family and patients to explore, office and conference meeting space, parking for more than 200 vehicles, and will be our tertiary-referral flagship rehabilitation hospital. This new facility will provide limitless opportunities for exceptional patient care.

The University of Alabama System Board of Trustees appointed Laura B. Kezar, M.D., Professor Emerita in the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at The University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) Marnix E. Heersink School of Medicine.

Dr. Kezar received her Doctor of Medicine degree from Emory University before serving her country as a member of the United States Navy Medical Corps. Following her military service, she completed a residency in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at UAB where she served as Chief Resident.

Dr. Kezar joined the faculty in 1995. She consistently demonstrated her passion for medical education, professionalism, and lifelong learning throughout her career, serving as a mentor to students, residents, faculty and other SOM professionals; PM&R Residency Program Director; and Associate Dean for Students in the UAB School of Medicine from 2007 to 2018.

Dr. Kezar received many accolades for her teaching and mentoring, including having an award named in her honor entitled the “Laura B. Kezar Faculty Excellence Award” which is given annually at the discretion of PM&R residents to a faculty member who displays outstanding dedication and commitment to improvement of the UAB PM&R Residency Program.

Dr. Kezar served on many university councils and committees, including the Executive Committee for LCME Accreditation, the UAB SOM Medical Education Committee, UAB Deans Council for Graduate Medical Education, the UAB Heersink School of Medicine Admissions committee among many others.

Dr. Kezar was also active in numerous national and international professional societies, including the Association of American Medical Colleges, where she served in multiple leadership positions; the American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation; and the Association of Academic Physiatrists, where she served as on many different subcommittees and ultimately as a member of the Board of Trustees.

Dr. Kezar’s interests included complex musculoskeletal rehabilitation, pain medicine and academic and vocational support for people with disabilities. She retired from UAB’s Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation on September 30, 2019, following 23 years of loyal and dedicated service.

Huacong Wen, M.D., Ph.D., Statistical Analyst for the National Spinal Cord Injury Statistical Center (NSCISC) located within the University of Alabama at Birmingham Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation in the UAB Marnix E. Heersink School of Medicine has received a $100,000 grant from the Paralyzed Veterans of America's Research Foundation.

Dr. Wen was award the grant for her project, “Advance Traumatic Spinal Cord Injury Research through Data Harmonization, Curation, and Integrative Data Analysis: Spinal Cord Injury Model Systems and Veterans Health Administration Spinal Cord Injury.” The aim of this research is to match and organize the data from the Model Systems’ and VHA’s databases and demonstrate the use of the matched and organized dataset to answer two research questions. First, this study will project the demographic and health profile of people currently living with traumatic spinal cord injury (tSCI) in the U.S. to help project needs and allocate resources for health care and social supports. Second, the study will estimate life expectancy and associated factors for people with tSCI in the U.S. to help clinicians target high-risk groups for treatment to improve life expectancy.

“This study will provide a foundation for further expanding with other tSCI databases, linkage with other data sources, and probabilistic matching with data collected from other clinical settings. Also, building on my previous research experience with SCIMS Database, I will be able to advance my knowledge in different SCI systems of care, large dataset research, epidemiology, and biostatistics. I’m very excited that this study is funded and look forward to learning from the mentors,” stated Dr. Wen.

Dr. Wen began her work with the NSCISC as a pre-doctoral fellow in 2016 before becoming a post-doctoral fellow and Statistical Analyst in 2019.

“I am very excited about this project. It’s the first time in 53 years of SCI Model Systems history that the two largest tSCI registries in the U.S. will be linked and together provide a more complete picture of people living with tSCI in this country,” says Professor Yuying Chen, M.D., Ph.D., Director of Research in the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation.

Dr. Wen was trained as a physiatrist in China and earned a Ph.D. from UAB in Rehabilitation Science with an emphasis on large dataset research. She has been involved in many projects as a statistician, applying advanced technique in longitudinal research and survival analysis.

Sarah Lopes, D.O. and Nelson Santos Agosto, D.O. were selected as the 2023-2024 Chief Residents for the University of Alabama at Birmingham’s Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Residency Program. Effective April 1, 2023, Dr. Lopes will serve as Administrative Chief and Dr. Santos Agosto will serve as Education Chief.

Dr. Lopes earned her undergraduate degree from Mississippi State University and her D.O. from William Carey University College of Osteopathic Medicine. “I look forward to learning more about how our residency operates and serving my co-residents through this period of change as we change to a categorical program,” said Dr. Lopes.

Dr. Santos Agosto earned his undergraduate and graduate degrees from the University of Central Florida and D.O. from Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine. “First and foremost, I am humbled to have been selected as Education Chief for the upcoming year. It is truly an honor to be placed in this role. As a position of leadership, what excites me the most is the opportunity to serve others and assist them in reaching their goals. I wholeheartedly believe that through acts of service, outstanding results can and will follow.” Santos Agosto added, “I also look forward to closely working with the leaders of the department to further advance the residency program to newer heights. The future is bright for the UAB PM&R department and residency program."

When not working with patients, both doctors enjoy various hobbies. Dr. Lopes enjoys volunteering, riding and showing horses, global travels, volleyball, and outdoor activities. Dr. Santos Agosto enjoys spending time with wife and daughter in the outdoors, playing basketball, and working out.

“Chief Residents play a vital role in most, if not all, aspects of the Residency Program. We are so thankful for the amazing leadership of the Dr. Willeford and Dr. Schultz and for their many contributions this past year. Congratulations to incoming Chief Residents Dr. Lopes and Dr. Santos Agosto. I know they will both do an amazing job,” Dale Colorado, D.O., PM&R Residency Program Director.

University of Alabama at Birmingham was awarded a $290,000 RO3 grant from the National Institutes of Health to examine the benefits of virtual reality gaming on cardiometabolic health among youths with cerebral palsy.

The project’s principal investigator is Byron Lai, PhD is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Pediatrics, and holds a secondary appointment within the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. Dr. Lai has focused on this type of research for over a decade with the UAB/Lakeshore Collaborative where he has focused on clinical exercise training among various groups with physical and cognitive disabilities.

This pilot program, currently working with 17 participants ages 13-19 from the Children’s Hospital of Alabama, includes 12 weeks of virtual reality active video gaming using immersive consumer available low-cost equipment, with games adapted for people with limited mobility.

Kids with mobility disabilities have very few options for cardiovascular exercise, especially if they're in a wheelchair. This may lead to an inactive, sedentary lifestyle placing them at greater risk for cardiovascular disease and mortality than the general population. This study hopes to identify an enjoyable method for promoting health enhancing therapeutic exercise among this group. Additionally, the study utilizes low-cost telehealth and gaming equipment so that it can readily implemented on a larger scale.

“One benefit unique to this study is that it’s a completely home-based intervention. Increased isolation during the pandemic led to a need for remote connection and community engagement. Access to participate in VR gaming through tele-exergaming may promote sustainable exercise options among large groups of youth,” says Lai.

The virtual reality exergaming includes the Oculus Quest, a heart rate monitor, blood pressure cuff, and mobile application. The games include rhythmic movements to music, sports, and recreation activities that prompt increased activity. Participants are required to do 300 minutes of low intensity exercise or 150 minutes of moderate to vigorous exercise per week. The program also includes behavioral, physical education coaching through videoconference, which aims to enhance participation, provide basic exercise knowledge, and increase mastery playing the games.

This study is intended to improve overall blood related health in participants compared to a waitlist control group, while incorporating healthy habits that will sustain into adulthood.

Amy Knight, Ph.D. recently completed her year-long term as President of the American Association of Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Rehabilitation at the National Conference in West Palm Beach. Knight spearheaded health equity initiatives during her time in leadership, working closely with CDC Million Hearts Health Equity workgroup. She advocated for the creation of a health equity statement for the organization; appointed a health equity advisory team; added topics in equity to the annual meeting; and facilitated the adoption by the Board of Directors of three-year strategic plan pillar around health equity objectives and goals for patients, members, and programs.

The American Association of Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Rehabilitation (AACVPR) is a multidisciplinary professional association comprised of health professionals who serve in the field of cardiac and pulmonary rehabilitation. Members include cardiovascular and pulmonary physicians, nurses, exercise physiologists, physical therapists, behavioral scientists, respiratory therapists, dieticians and nutritionists.

Knight is an Associate Professor in UAB’s Department of Physical Rehabilitation & Rehabilitation. She also serves as the Division Director of Rehabilitation Psychology at Spain Rehabilitation Center (SRC). Knight. Knight received her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. She completed an internship in behavioral medicine at West Virginia University and a postdoctoral fellowship in Neuropsychology at UAB in the Department of Neurology.

The University of Alabama at Birmingham Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation has received a five-year $2.2 million grant from the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research to continue its Traumatic Brain Injury Model System.

A TBI Model System is awarded based on demonstrated excellence in research and knowledge translation that promotes health and quality of life for people with TBI, their families, and professionals. UAB has been continually funded as a TBI Model System since 1998 and is currently one of 16 other Model Systems around the country.

Professor, Robert Brunner, M.D., who was recently named Vice Chair of PM&R Development, is again leading the UAB Traumatic Brain Injury Model System as Project Director.

“We have been fortunate to have a strong team of Traumatic Brain Injury researchers over the years within the Department of PM&R that has allowed us to maintain this grant over the last 25 years. We are grateful that we have been awarded this grant for the next five years,” said Dr. Brunner.

Over the next 5 years, UAB looks to accomplish two research priorities. First, UAB aims to validate methods to assess return to driving decisions after TBI and develop a driving intervention. Additionally, UAB looks to collaborate with other TBI Model Systems to examine the role geriatric syndromes play on the course of rehabilitation outcomes.

“We have a great team in place and look forward to the next five years of collaboration. Of all the centers that have been involved with the Model System over the years, we have recruited and contributed the largest number of patients of any center,” adds Dr. Brunner. “This is a testament to the department for their support and all the individuals that have been a part of this grant over the years.”

“This grant award speaks volumes about the Department’s outstanding TBI research and also exemplary system of care,” said Yuying Chen, M.D., Ph.D., research director in the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation in the UAB Marnix E. Heersink School of Medicine. “It truly attests to our commitment to the TBI community in the State of Alabama and beyond.”

Jereme D. Wilroy, Ph.D., Assistant Professor for the University of Alabama at Birmingham Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, has been named Director of Research for Lakeshore Foundation. In this role, Dr. Wilroy will partner with Lakeshore staff to create research opportunities and capacities. He will also support the application of research in Lakeshore’s programs and services, specifically towards sports performance.

Dr. Wilroy began his research career at the University of Alabama as a master’s student surveying collegiate adapted athletes about topics of interest for a holistic health website. As a doctoral student he developed and validated a theory-based instrument to predict physical activity among people with spinal cord injury as part of his dissertation and funded with a fellowship through the graduate school. As a post-doc, he obtained a fellowship from the Craig H. Neilsen Foundation and developed an online program for increasing physical activity behavior among people with spinal cord injury and became project lead for an R01-funded home-based exercise trial.

Dr. Wilroy’s relationship with Lakeshore Foundation began in 2011 as a fitness intern. He then returned to Lakeshore in 2016 as a postdoc. “Jereme’s outstanding credentials and long association with Lakeshore uniquely qualify him for this leadership role,” said Lakeshore Foundation President and CEO John D. Kemp. “We could not be more excited to have his expertise contributing to our research work.”

Dr. Wilroy’s philosophy is to conduct research that centers on the needs of the patient and improves the capacity of clinicians to recommend specific exercise routines. The focus of his research is on the psychosocial aspects of adherence to exercise trials among people with physical disabilities. Looking forward, his research goals are in the designing, implementing, and evaluating home-based physical activity interventions, using telehealth technology, behavioral coaching support, and adaptive intervention designs.

“I’ve always had a passion for adapted sports both through research and experience. Playing collegiate wheelchair basketball at the University of Alabama followed by getting into wheelchair racing as a member of Lakeshore Foundation, I’ve always thought sports were an opportunity to be engaged and active,” said Wilroy. “My goal as director is to make Lakeshore a hub for clinical exercise trials and sports science research. This will inform the development of services to make Lakeshore the nation’s premier training institute for Paralympic hopefuls.”

Lakeshore Foundation is a leader in sports science for athletes with disabilities with the U.S. and around the world. Utilizing expertise in exercise physiology, biomechanics, sport psychology, and nutrition, they provide services for our own athletes as well as U.S. National team members in sports including wheelchair rugby, wheelchair basketball, sailing, swimming, power soccer, wheelchair tennis, and equestrian.

Professor Yuying Chen, M.D., Ph.D. has been promoted to Director of Research in the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation in the UAB Marnix E. Heersink School of Medicine. Chen served as Interim Director prior to her promotion.

Dr. Chen is a board-certified physiatrist from Taiwan and epidemiologist with extensive training and experience in database management, research methodology, and statistical analysis. Since 2005, she has served as Project Director of the National Spinal Cord Injury Statistical Center, which is within the department of PM&R, and has led a number of studies and published more than 87 manuscripts in peer-reviewed journals, most of which involved the use of the National SCI Database.

“We are tremendously fortunate to have a researcher with Dr. Chen’s stature. She is a well-respected national leader in the arena of spinal cord injury care and research,” states Vu Nguyen, M.D., chair of the Department. “I am pleased that she has accepted the responsibility of leading our research team to the next level and very much look forward to seeing all of the great things that they will accomplish over the next five years.”

Dr. Chen has gained international recognition for her research involving epidemiology, mortality, and secondary conditions after SCI including obesity, racial health disparities, and social determinants of health. Among her most recent honors, Dr. Chen was selected for the UAB Healthcare Leadership Academy Class of 2023, nominated for the UAB 2022 Dean’s Excellence Award in Service for Senior Faculty, received the Best Paper Award at the 2022 Annual Meeting of Association of Academic Physiatrists, and recognized by The Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation with the Most Cited Original Research Article Award.

“I am very excited about this new role and grateful for the opportunity to work collaboratively with the Department’s high-caliber research team to expand our research portfolio and advance rehabilitation sciences”, said Dr. Chen.

Dr. Chen also serves the department as Chair of the Promotion and Tenure Committee and a member of the Finance, Journal Club, and Grand Rounds Committees.

Dear Friends of UAB Medicine Rehabilitation,

On January 1, 2022, I was honored to begin my journey as the sixth chair of the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. UAB Medicine Rehabilitation has had a rich and deep history of serving and advocating for people with disability since UAB Spain Rehabilitation opened its doors in 1964 with a dedication attended by Dr. Howard A. Rusk. UAB Medicine Rehabilitation is among the largest, integrated rehabilitation systems in the nation that serves the full spectrum of disability, musculoskeletal, and sports care. In addition to traditional PM&R diagnostic groups, unique divisions within the department include inpatient and outpatient rehab and neuropsychology, comprehensive orthotics and prosthetics laboratory, and industry-leading occupational medicine practice. I am proud to share with you our year in review.

This was a banner year for UAB Medicine Rehabilitation. Clinically, we successfully recruited 6 physiatrists, 2 neuropsychologists, 2 certified orthotists/prosthetists, and 1 occupational medicine provider. On May 6, we broke ground on the new state-of-the-art UAB Inpatient Rehabilitation Hospital. It will be an 11 floor freestanding rehabilitation hospital connected to UAB Hospital via skywalks. The facility will feature a rooftop courtyard, rehabilitation gyms on each floor, outdoor terrain park, office meeting space, parking for more than 200 vehicles, and will be our tertiary-referral flagship rehabilitation hospital.

On the research front, we are excited to share the renewal of our $3.4 million National SCI Statistical Center 5 year grant. UAB Rehabilitation has held the distinction of being the only NSCISC in the nation continuously since 1983. We were also successful in achieving renewals of our $2 million SCI Model Systems grant and a $2.2 million TBI Model Systems grant. We successfully achieved a Nielsen Foundation grant, a Department of Defense grant, and are expecting a NOA for an NIH R01 in a few weeks. We capped the year off with an exciting visit to UAB by NIDILRR Director Dr. Anjali Forber-Pratt to discuss ways we all can advocate and support disability research.

Academically, we successfully achieved ACGME approval for transitioning our UAB Medicine PM&R residency program to a Categorical 4-years PM&R residency training program. We are recruiting for 4 new PGY-1 positions this year. We have re-established our Orthotics and Prosthetics residency program and are recruiting for this training program as well. UAB Medicine Rehabilitation is ranked in the top 20 in the nation and 1st in Alabama by U.S. News & World Report. I look forward to watching PM&R continue to grow and excel in providing exemplary patient care.

Sincerely,
Vu Nguyen, M.D., MBA

Dear Friends of UAB Medicine Rehabilitation,

As another year comes to a close, I look to the role of UAB’s clinicians, researchers, residents, and team members and how they shape the future of rehabilitation at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. UAB Medicine Rehabilitation is among the largest, integrated rehabilitation systems in the nation that serves the full spectrum of disability, musculoskeletal, and sports care. In addition to traditional PM&R diagnostic groups, unique divisions within the department include inpatient and outpatient rehab and neuropsychology, comprehensive orthotics and prosthetics laboratory, Sports and Exercise Science, and industry-leading occupational medicine practice.

UAB Medicine Rehabilitation is a nationally recognized institution with progressive medically oriented leadership. Currently, UAB Medicine Rehabilitation is ranked 20th in the nation and 1st in the state by U.S. News & World Report.

Our success as a program focuses on providing exemplary patient care. Our quality data consistently surpasses the national average. Our flagship programs - Spinal Cord Injury, Traumatic Brain Injury, Stroke, UAB Sports and Exercise Science, UAB Pain, Prosthetics, and Cancer Rehabilitation have established us as a leader in rehabilitation care and preferred provider in Alabama. The UAB Spinal Cord Injury Model System is the longest continually funded Model System of Care. It is one of 18 national SCI Model Systems Programs located throughout the US. The UAB Traumatic Brain Injury Model System is 1 of 16 national TBI Model Systems Programs located throughout the US and has been continually funded since 1998. The National Statistical Center for Spinal Cord Injury is the world's largest and longest active SCI research database and the world’s most extensive source of available information about the characteristics and life course of individuals with SCI. Our expansive research footprint includes NIDILRR, NIH, PVA, Nielsen, DOD, and industry trials funding sources.

In 2022, UAB Medicine Rehabilitation received over $3 million in grant funding to further our groundbreaking research. We broke ground on a state-of the-art 11-story rehabilitation hospital. I am proud to lead this dedicated staff in continuing to be a leader in restoring functional ability and quality of life to people with physical impairments or disabilities through patient care, research, and education. This February, please remember to vote for UAB Medicine Rehabilitation in the U.S. News and World Report Survey. 

Sincerely,
Vu Nguyen, M.D., MBA

The UAB Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation welcomes Assistant Professor Johan Latorre, M.D., effective October 1, 2022. Dr. Latorre joins the department as a Physiatrist with specialization in adaptive sports after completing his Sports Medicine Primary Care fellowship and Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation residency from the University of Michigan. Prior to that, he completed his Internal Medicine internship at Penn State Hershey Medical Center.

"I chose to join UAB because of my interest in sports medicine with an emphasis on adaptive sports. The university's high research level and relationship with the Lakeshore Foundation were a natural fit for my experience as a coach for the University of Michigan wheelchair tennis team. In my new role at UAB, I strive to provide medical care to all athletes, become a part of the local adaptive sports community, and create new opportunities for exercise and wellness for all individuals," says Latorre.

The PM&R department is happy to have Dr. Latorre as a part of the team. Dr. Latorre aims to pursue both clinical and research interest in adaptive sports, musculoskeletal issues, and concussion protocols.

UAB Department of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation postdoctoral fellow, Jordan Kennon, PsyD,  discussed mental health at the Transitioning to Adulthood with a Disability event.

The STEP program (Staging Transition for Every Patient) is committed to assisting with this process through providing primary care services, identifying adult specialists when necessary, communicating with other areas of your care team, and finding additional services for your unique needs.

On May 7, our STEP program hosted a Transitioning to Adulthood with a Disability event in partnership with United Ability. 

"The transition period into adulthood is a time when people with disabilities and their caregivers experience new challenges. Hopefully, this presentation made people more aware of the mental health resources available as well as important referral reasons during this phase of life transition", says Kennon.

Rachel Cowan, Ph.D., who is an ad hoc member of the Department of Veterans Affairs Rehabilitation Research and Development Service Scientific Merit Review Board, has been selected to join the Boards’ Subcommittee on the Rehabilitation Engineering & Prosthetics/Orthotics. Her appointment as a Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA) member of this Subcommittee for a four (4)-year term, begins August 1, 2022.

Dr. Cowan is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation in the UAB Marnix E. Heersink School of Medicine. “What I value most about this opportunity is providing the scope and depth of feedback that I would value as someone who submits grants,” said Dr. Cowan.

The Board objectives are to provide for the fair and equitable selection of the most meritorious research projects for support by VA research funds and to offer advice for research program officials on program priorities and policies. The goal is to ensure that the VA Rehabilitation Research and Development program promotes functional independence and improves the quality of life for Veterans with disabilities and impairments.

Vu Nguyen, M.D., chair of the Department of UAB PM&R, knows Dr. Cowan is continuing to earn much deserved respect for her work. “I am proud to have Dr. Cowan in our department. Her energy and compassion for disability research is unmatched. Because of this, I am excited to follow her development as a national leader in rehabilitation research,” expressed Dr. Nguyen.