McShan appointed to the American Heart Association 2023-2024 Southeast Board of Directors
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.
PM&R Welcomes PGY1 and PGY2 Residents
The University of Alabama at BirminghamDepartment of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Residency Training Program welcomed a group of eight new residents in July.
Read moreChen Promoted to PM&R Vice Chair of Research
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.
2023 UAB PM&R Resident Graduation
Congratulations to our newest class of graduating residents on their completion of the UAB Heersink School of Medicine Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation residency program. Our 2023 graduates include Lendrum Morrow, M.D., Jacob Schultz, M.D., Ashley Steffens, M.D., and Brea Willeford, D.O.
The department is excited to watch each graduate create their own path for success in medicine. Lendrum Morrow, M.D. is doing an Interventional Spine and MSK Fellowship at OrthoAlabama Spine and Sport in Birmingham, AL. Jacob Schultz, M.D. will continue as an assistant professor and attending physician at Frazier Rehabilitation Institute Dept. of Neurosurgery in Louisville, KY. Ashley Steffens, M.D. is relocating to Mobile, AL to be an attending inpatient physician at JL Bedsole Rotary Rehabilitation Hospital. Brea Willeford, D.O. will remain at UAB to do a Pain Medicine Fellowship with UAB Department of Anesthesia.
The graduation ceremony took place on July 15, 2023 at The Fennec in downtown Birmingham. In addition to celebrating our graduates, awards were given to staff and residents who have gone above and beyond in PM&R.
Resident Anchor Award - This annual award is given to a non-faculty member who goes above and beyond their regular duties to best support the residents. This person exemplifies a high level of dedication to the residents, as well as their normal role and responsibilities. This award is voted on by the residents and given annually to a non-faculty member that the residents feel best exemplifies the spirit of this award in all that they do in their daily role.
Recipient: Savannah Tinsley, PM&R Residency Program Education Coordinator
Laura B. Kezar Award for Dedication and Commitment to the Residency Program - This annual award is named for Dr. Laura B. Kezar who served as a valued member of the PM&R Faculty as well as the PM&R Residency Program Director from 1996 to 2007, and the Assistant Program Director from 2007 to 2014. Throughout her tenure with the department, Dr. Kezar has always made the PM&R Residency Program and education for all a top priority. Her dedication and commitment was noted by every residency class. She served not only as a teacher and educator, but also mentor to a countless number of residents over the years. This award is voted on by the residents and given annually to a faculty member that the residents feel best exemplifies the spirit of this award in all that they do in their daily practice.
Recipient: Berdale Colorado, D.O.
Samuel L. Stover Excellence in Teaching Award - This annual award is named for Dr. Samuel L. Stover who served as a valued member of the PM&R Faculty as well as Chair of the Department of PM&R from 1976 to 1994. Dr. Stover was known as a lifelong learner and throughout his career placed great emphasis on education. He felt the education of our residents should be a top priority for the department and instilled this expectation in all of our faculty members through the years. This award is voted on by the residents and given annually to a faculty member that the residents feel best exemplifies the spirit of this award.
Recipient: Vu Nguyen, M.D.
C.T. Huang Award - This award is intended to go to the resident that the department feels best exemplifies high clinical excellence during their training.
Recipient: Ashley Steffens, MD
Outstanding PGY2 Award - This award is given to a deserving second year resident who consistently displays excellence in professionalism, patient care, accountability, integrity and leadership during his or her initial year of training at Spain Rehabilitation Center.
Recipient: Cynthia Francis, M.D.
Matthew T. Smith Humanism in Medicine Award - This award is given to a PM&R Faculty Member and a PM&R Resident who has excelled in service to others during his/her tenure with the Department of PM&R. It is intended to honor those who exemplify Dr. Smith’s qualities of compassionate caring, support for others, teamwork, involvement in community and UAB activities and upholding the highest standards of practice.
Resident Recipient: Brea Willeford, D.O.
Faculty Recipient: Cassandra Renfro, D.O.
Resident Research Award - This a newly developed award collaborated by the Research department and Residency Education Office. This award is given to a resident who has demonstrated exemplary overall research efforts. Recipient: Daniel McBride, M.D. PGY 4 Research Presentation Award – This a newly developed award collaborated by the Research department and Residency Education Office. This award is voted by attendees of Grand Rounds following the PGY4 poster presentations and is given to the senior resident with the most outstanding research poster.
Recipient: Lendrum Morrow, M.D.
Highest SAE Score Award Recipients
PGY2 – Darien McNeill, M.D.
PGY3 – Sarah Lopes, D.O.
PGY4 – Brea Willeford, D.O.
Crash Risk Following Return to Driving After Moderate-to-Severe TBI: A TBI Model Systems Study
The UAB Traumatic Brain Injury Model System (UAB-TBIMS) led a collaborative research study on crash risk following return to driving after moderate-to-severe TBI. Collaborative centers included the Virginia Traumatic Brain Injury Model System, Mayo Clinic Traumatic Brain Injury Model System, University of Washington Traumatic Brain Injury Model System, Moss Traumatic Brain Injury Model System, Rocky Mountain Regional Brain Injury System, Southeastern Michigan Traumatic Brain Injury System, and JFK Johnson Rehabilitation Institute.
All eight TBI Model Systems sites conducted a phone survey to interview a total of 438 adults with TBI who returned to driving. The aim was to look at the number of motor vehicle crashes and risk factors of crashes for people after moderate-to-severe TBI. Participants were asked about their confidence in driving, driving ability, and history of crashes. Those interviewed were of different ages, time since injury, injury severity, sex, employment status, marital status, education levels, location, family income, and seizure history in the year prior to survey.
The study found that the people with TBI who participated in this study were 1.5 to 2.5 times more likely to be in crashes over a one-year timeframe when compared to the general population. Although the crash risk is higher following TBI than the general population, the results do not justify restricting people from driving after TBI as most people reported not having any crashes after their injury. However, there remains a need to identify and address factors that increase crash risk after TBI.
This study was funded by the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research and published in the Journal of Head Trauma Rehabilitation .
Latorre and Cowan elected to represent Heersink School of Medicine on the UAB Faculty Senate
Johan Latorre, M.D. and Rachel Cowan, Ph.D., both faculty members in the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, have been elected to represent Heersink School of Medicine on the 2023-2025 UAB Faculty Senate.
The Faculty Senate represents UAB’s faculty in matters of shared governance. The Senate is made up of faculty representatives from all of UAB’s academic units, as well as four officers elected at large by the faculty. Through participation in various councils and committees, the senators will convey the faculty’s views and concerns in matters that affect our University.
“I have been a part of multiple large organizations within institutions such as the Resident Physician Union at the University of Michigan that helped improve the lives of the residents. Now as faculty at UAB, I want to do the same. Being a Senator allows me to have a say in the direction UAB takes and not just the health system/medical school community but the campus as a whole,” Dr. Latorre said.
The incoming Chair of the Faculty Senate, Karen Cropsey, will assign every Senate member to serve as a member of a Faculty Senate Standing Committee. Some senate members may also be asked to serve on University-wide Committees. This two-year service term begins September 1, 2023, and ends August 31, 2025.
“I’m honored to serve as a faculty senator for UAB. It gives me the opportunity to learn more about university operations at a higher level outside my area of research. I’m glad I can be a voice for the concerns of researchers not heard outside Heersink School of Medicine.” Dr. Cowan stated.
UAB PM&R set to launch its latest research study into the importance of microbiome on health and function after spinal cord injury
Most people have no idea what microbiome is. Yet, it is one of the most important contributors to our health and wellness.
Simply put, microbiome is all of the microscopic microbes that live on and in our bodies. This includes bacteria, fungi, viruses, and their genes.
The UAB Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation has been at the forefront of the emerging research into the importance of microbiome on health and function after spinal cord injury (SCI). With its latest research, UAB aims to look specifically into the impact of gut microbiome on metabolic and bowel function during the first year after SCI.
“There’s typically slower intestinal movement of waste after SCI that leads to leakage of bile and harmful bacteria into the bloodstream,” says Jereme Wilroy, Ph.D., principal investigator and assistant professor in the Department. “Harmful bacteria in the blood can damage the body’s organs and lead to metabolic disorders and associated complications like obesity, insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes, all conditions that people with chronic SCI are at an increased for developing.”
For the study, patients will be enrolled in the first few weeks after injury and followed for a year. During that time, periodic blood and stool samples will be collected along with surveys of their bowel function. Samples will be analyzed for microbiome changes. Finding changes may lead to the development of an inexpensive, non-invasive diet- or supplement-based treatment option for improving the health and quality of life for persons with SCI.
This study is the site-specific research project of the UAB Spinal Cord Injury Model System.
UAB Spina Bifida Program shines on a global stage
At the largest World Congress on Spina Bifida Research and Care (SBWC) in event history, representatives from the University of Alabama at Birmingham and Children’s of Alabama made up 17% of the total platform presentations, with 23 oral and 13 poster presentations.
Read moreColorado selected for national expert panel on orthobiologics
Dale Colorado, D.O., M.P.H. was selected to serve on the American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (AAPM&R) Technical Expert Panel for orthobiologic management of osteoarthritis of the knee. The panel will develop and author a clinical practice guidance statement to advance knowledge and promote standards of care and best practices based on the best available evidence.
"While the research on orthobiologics is ever-expanding, there is still a lot that we don't know. I am excited to help guide and inform healthcare providers regarding the use of orthobiologics for knee osteoarthritis," stated Colorado.
Dr. Colorado has been using orthobiologics in his clinical practice for approximately 10 years. He was Founder and Medical Director of the Orthopedic Regenerative Medicine Program in the Department of Orthopedic Surgery at Washington University in St. Louis. He has given numerous lectures/presentations on regenerative medicine.
Dr. Colorado is Associate Professor and Vice Chair of Education in the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (PM&R) at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB). He serves as PM&R Residency Program Director and Medical Director of Sports and Musculoskeletal Medicine. Dr. Colorado is also a team physician for UAB Athletics and a part of the UAB Sports & Exercise Medicine program.
PM&R researchers using simulator to assess return to driving after traumatic brain injury
Driving is one of the hallmarks of a person’s independence, but people who experience moderate-to-severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) often have physical and cognitive deficits that limit their ability to return to driving. Such deficits might include response speed, maintenance of lane position, vehicle speed and stopping, response to distraction, attention to the roadway, identification of road hazards, and crash risk.
A new study launched by researchers at the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation aims to look at the value of using a driving simulator to predict on-road driving performance after TBI.
“We know that most people who return to driving after a TBI do so safely, and it has an enormously positive impact on mental wellbeing, sense of independence, community reintegration along with health and function,” says Instructor Jenny Marwitz, project co-director and the department’s Director of TBI Research. “And we know that the most common driving assessments are typically not designed to identify specific safety concerns that a person with TBI might have. We want to see if a driving simulator built to identify deficits is a good option. Then, we can work with therapists to develop strategies to target deficits.”
The driving simulator chosen for the study is a compact and economical option for most rehabilitation centers to implement into clinical practice. It offers a series of driving scenarios designed as distinct modules to simulate a specific driving task, environment, or situation that increases in visual and strategic complexity of the environment and strategic control. Participants have a first-person point of view of the interior rearview mirror and dashboard, along with full left to right exterior field of view, with side mirrors.
“Another goal is the development of guidelines for clinicians to help people with TBI return to driving, and do it safely,” adds Marwitz. “We think the compact simulator can be a more accessible and affordable way to make that happen.”
This study is the site-specific research project of the UAB Traumatic Brain Injury Model System.
Chen to serve on the American Spinal Injury Association Board of Directors
The American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) selected Yuying Chen, M.D., Ph.D. to serve on the organization’s board of directors.
Professor Yuying Chen, M.D., Ph.D. is the Director of Research in the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation in the UAB Marnix E. Heersink School of Medicine. Since 2005, she has served as Project Director of the National Spinal Cord Injury Statistical Center, which is within the department of PM&R. She has led a number of studies and published over 100 manuscripts and book chapters, most of which involved the use of the National SCI Database.
Chen is well-known for her commitment to advancing research in spinal cord injury research. Her exemplary leadership within the American Spinal Injury Association, overall contributions to the field, as well as being a well-respected thought leader, are among the reasons for her nomination.
As a member of the ASIA BOD, Chen will serve the organization in multiple capacities, including engaging as a board liaison to committee(s); contributing to organizational development and membership,; and promoting the vision of the organization.
The American Spinal Injury Association’s mission is to advance care, education, and research to improve the lives of persons affected by spinal cord injury. ASIA is governed by a Board of Directors, whose membership composition is reflective of the multidisciplinary nature of its members. There are 10 Directors, three of whom also serve as elected Officers. Board members may serve up to 3 two-year terms, for a total 6 years.
Yuying Chen, M.D., Ph.D. selected to receive the ACRM 2023 SCI-ISIG Margaret Nosek Award
The American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine’s (ACRM) Spinal Cord Interdisciplinary Special Interest Group selected Yuying Chen, M.D., Ph.D. to receive the Margaret Nosek Award.
The Award is given each year as part of the Margaret Nosek Lecture series presented by ACRM SCI-ISIG. This Award recognizes an individual who demonstrates drive and commitment to advancing scientific knowledge, developing standards of clinical practice, raising awareness, and advocating for appropriate health care and community support for women with disabilities.
Dr. Margaret Nosek was an internationally recognized authority on the health of women with disabilities and the Margaret Nosek Award recognizes her contributions through more than 30 years of sharing and disseminating knowledge as a researcher and advocate of disability rights.
“I am so very proud of Dr. Chen for having received this most prestigious award. Dr. Margaret Nosek was a strong champion of rehabilitation research, independent living, and the rights of women with disability. To be an awardee reflects on Dr. Chen’s national stature as a researcher and a leader,” states Vu Nguyen, M.D., chair of the UAB PM&R Department. “Dr. Chen is well recognized in the world of spinal cord Injury (SCI) research and has been the PI of our NIDILRR National SCI Statistical Center 5-year grant currently in its fourth cycle. As impressive as that fact is, it is even more incredible to recognize that UAB PM&R has been the sole holder of this national grant continuously since 1983! Dr. Chen has earned our thanks and will no doubt be recognized among the greatest rehabilitation researchers in our specialty. She is truly deserving of the Margaret Nosek Award.”
Dr. Chen will be recognized as the award winner at the upcoming ACRM Annual Conference in October in Atlanta, GA. This event is the premier interdisciplinary conference for rehabilitation research. Dr. Chen will give a lecture on her research and the future of Spinal Cord Injury rehabilitation.
“I am thrilled to be honored with this award of Dr. Nosek’s namesake. She was such a hero in advocating for the health and wellness of women with disability. I am certainly standing on the shoulder of many giants, including the former chair of the Department, Dr. Amie McLain. Dr. McLain built the first reproductive health clinic for women with disabilities at UAB and has inspired me in research to ensure equitable and quality health care for women with disability,” said Chen.
Professor Yuying Chen, M.D., Ph.D. is the Director of Research in the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation in the UAB Marnix E. Heersink School of Medicine. Since 2005, she has served as Project Director of the National SCI Statistical Center, which is within the department of PM&R, and has led a number of studies and published over 100 manuscripts and book chapters, most of which involved the use of the National SCI Database.
PM&R Welcomes Class of 2027 PGY1 Residents
After a successful interview season and Match process, we are excited to welcome four new PGY1 residents to the Dept. of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation at the end of June. The incoming PGY1 PM&R residents are Victoria Christian (Campbell University Jerry M Wallace School of Osteopathic Medicine), Charlotte DeRose (Alabama College of Osteopathic Medicine), Katharyn Lindborg (Florida State University College of medicine), and Casey Pierce (UAB Heersink School of Medicine).
This incoming class will be the first group of residents to participate in a 4-year categorical residency program within UAB PM&R. Previously residents completed their intern year in a different program before joining UAB. This change to a 4-year program has been a priority for PM&R leadership.
This extensive process began over two years ago following the approval for funding of four additional resident positions. This allowed PM&R to apply to the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) for the addition of a PGY1 training year to our already accredited 3-year residency program.
Obtaining full ACGME approval was a 15-month project from start to finish. The design, planning, and project management for the PGY-1 year started under the leadership of Danielle Powell, M.D., Interim Chair & Associate Program Director and Conley Carr, M.D., Interim Residency Program Director, in January 2021. Lauren Hanhauser, Education Administrator, handled all documentation and submission organization for this project.
The Graduate Medical Education Office at UAB Hospital, the sponsoring institution, and the UAB Marnix E. Heersink School of Medicine supported the program in this application and confirmed that there is adequate educational opportunities and funding for 4 PGY1 positions.
Dale Colorado, D.O., Vice Chair of Education and Residency Program Director, is excited about the direction and growth of the program, “Transitioning to a 4-year program allows our residency program to have oversight of all 48 months of training. Our leaders were able to create a PGY1 rotation schedule that incorporates training from many different departments within UAB.” He added, “Many applicants prefer to complete all of their residency training in one location. We are very excited to offer this comprehensive training within the UAB system starting from day one.”
The PM&R team is proud of the work everyone put into making this a success and to create this training pathway at UAB for future learners and trainees. The program will benefit from this opportunity and resources for training these additional residents from the following Divisions and Departments within UAB: Family & Community Medicine, Sports and Exercise Medicine, Hospital Medicine, Occupational Medicine, Surgery and Trauma, Neurology, Immunology and Rheumatology, Critical Care Medicine, Gerontology, Palliative Care, and others.
The department looks forward to the growing opportunities in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation and supporting the development of and maintenance of accreditation for the full 48-month PGY1-PGY4 PM&R residency program at UAB.
Kim named recipient of CEDHARS pilot program Funding
The Center for Engagement in Disability Health and Rehabilitation Sciences (CEDHARS) is pleased to announce the recipients of its FY23 pilot grant funding opportunity, “Inclusive Research in Health and Wellness in Adults or Children with Disabilities.”
Yumi Kim, Ph.D., Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Postdoctoral Researcher, is one of four recipients to receive funding for her research “Effects of Dietary Protein Intake and Resistance Training on Retention of Fat Free Mass During Weight Loss in Adults with Obesity: A Cohort of People with Mobility Limitations”.
CEDHARS’ overarching mission is to advance scientific discovery, translational research, education and engagement in the fields of disability health and rehabilitation sciences. This pilot program aims to support the advancement of disability health research, and this specific funding cycle intended on increasing the field of inclusion sciences, adapting traditional research to be inclusive of people with disabilities. Applications were highly competitive and were peer reviewed using the NIH scoring framework. Four proposals were chosen for $50,000 of funding.
Learn more and read the abstract for Dr. Kim’s project below.
Effects of Dietary Protein Intake and Resistance Training on Retention of Fat Free Mass During Weight Loss in Adults with Obesity: A Cohort of People with Mobility Limitations
• Principal Investigator: Dr. Yumi Kim, Postdoctoral Researcher, Heersink School of Medicine Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
• Co-Investigators: Dr. Drew Sayer Assistant Professor, Heersink School of Medicine Department of Family and Community Medicine; Dr. Jereme Wilroy, Assistant Professor, Heersink School of Medicine Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
This study is nested within an ongoing multimodal intervention (high protein [HP] diet and/or resistance exercise training [RT]) aimed at preserving fat free mass (FFM) during weight loss among adults with obesity (≥ 50 years old), using a sequential multiple assignment randomized trial (SMART) design [NCT04014296]. The study protocol of the main trial was adapted for a cohort of people with mobility limitations to
1. examine the feasibility of a 16-week RT and HP diet program (separate and combined) for FFM retention during weight loss; and
2. obtain preliminary estimates of the first and second stages of intervention efficacy and their variances.
In this study, 15 adults with self-reported mobility limitations (based on the perceived difficulty of walking/climbing stairs and use of assistive devices) will participate in an 8-week self-directed RT intervention (1st stage). The response criteria at week 8 are a greater than 5.5% reduction in fat mass (FM) and less than 1.5% reduction in FFM. Participants meeting FM and FFM mass criteria will be identified as “responders” and continue with self-directed RT for the remainder of the study. Participants not meeting both criteria will be identified as “non-responders” and randomly assigned to either an intensified program with supervised RT or a combined program with HP supplements and supervised RT for the remaining 8 weeks intervention (2nd stage). All participants will receive a weekly, group-based, remotely delivered weight loss counseling session (State of Slim [SOS]) during the 16-week intervention, in addition to the RT and/or HP diet prescription. Outcomes include four domains of feasibility metrics (i.e., process, resources, management, and scientific outcomes). The scientific outcomes include body weight and composition (FFM, fat mass) using dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) and participant feedback via semi-structured interviews.
The long-term goal of this research is to inform the inclusion of cohorts of disability in multimodal interventions addressing diet and exercise. The feasibility component will explore general problem areas in the recruitment, enrollment, and engagement of the program among adults with mobility limitations and identify characteristics of those who have the greatest response to the program. Most importantly, this trial will allow for increased detail on all feasibility metrics to provide valuable information for the design and implementation of larger trials.
Wilroy awarded $3.3 million R01 Grant
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."
There are roughly 5.5 million wheelchair users in the United States, and most live predominantly sedentary lifestyles, which leads to substantially higher cardiometabolic risk factors when compared to the general population.
“We are building on our previous success with a Movement-to-Music (M2M) program that is proven effective in improving health,” explains Wilroy. “We are adapting the M2M telehealth delivery method to develop a program with a cardio emphasis (M2M-C).”
The 24-week M2M-C program includes a remote training system with built-in videoconferencing and real-time monitoring of vital sign data (e.g., heart rate, respiratory rate). The primary aim is to examine the average treatment effects of the M2M-C program on core indicators of major cardiometabolic risk factors.
“We are thrilled that NIH has recognized the need funded Dr. Wilroy’s exercise interventions for health improvement through innovative design and telehealth technology,” states Yuying Chen, M.D., Ph.D., Professor and Director of Research for the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. “If successful, this project would be a game changer for optimizing exercise dosing and prescription for wheelchair users,” states Chen.
Dr. Wilroy is excited to discover the project’s potential. ”There are limited exercise options available for wheelchair users to improve their health,” he says. “This project has the potential to improve exercise options with a sustainable and scalable solution to improving health outcomes for wheelchair users.”
This grant will provide $660,000 per year for the next five years.
Colorado selected for Sports Medicine Assessment Committee
Dale Colorado, D.O. was selected to serve on the American Board of Family Medicine (ABFM) Sports Medicine Assessment Committee. This committee is comprised of representatives from Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Pediatrics, Emergency Medicine, Internal Medicine, and Family Medicine.
The Sports Medicine Assessment Committee develops and reviews items for the Sports Medicine subspecialty examination. Dr. Colorado will serve a three-year term on the Committee.
Dr. Dale Colorado is Associate Professor and Vice Chair of Education in the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (PM&R) at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB). He serves as PM&R Residency Program Director and Director of Sports, Musculoskeletal Medicine. Dr. Colorado is also a team physician for UAB Athletics and a part of the UAB Sports & Exercise Medicine Program.
Cowan working with the World Health Organization to co-author Global Wheelchair Service Guidelines
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.
Building on the Foundation of UAB Medicine Rehabilitation: An Interview with Robert Brunner, M.D.
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.
Biney receives NIA Diversity Supplement Grant
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.”
Laura B. Kezar, M.D. appointed Professor Emerita
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.