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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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Dale Colorado, D.O., MPH, Associate Professor and Vice-Chair of Education in the UAB Heersink School of Medicine Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, was one of 10 physiatrists recently selected by the American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (AAPM&R) for the AAPM&R Future Leaders Program.

The AAPM&R Future Leaders Program (formerly the Academy Leadership Program) was established by the Board of Governors in 2012 to identify a select number of diverse, emerging member leaders and to prepare them for specialty leadership and volunteerism, to encourage pursuit of future leadership positions, and to empower the specialty through the changes occurring in the health care environment.

As members of the 2022-2024 leadership class, participants go through a two-year curriculum that introduces them to association leadership, strategic planning, media skills, advocacy, and Academy governance, products and services.

The American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (AAPM&R) is the national medical specialty organization representing more than 10,000 physicians who are specialists in physical medicine and rehabilitation (PM&R). PM&R physicians, also known as physiatrists, treat a wide variety of medical conditions affecting the brain, spinal cord, nerves, bones, joints, ligaments, muscles, and tendons. Physiatrists utilize cutting‐edge as well as time‐tested treatments to maximize function and quality of life.

The UAB Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation welcomes Assistant Professor Lisa Koplik, M.D., effective November 1, 2022. Dr. Koplik joins the department as a Physiatrist with a specialization in pain management.

In her prior role as pain medicine physician at Alabama Anesthesiology and Pain Consultants in Pell City, Alabama, she performed interventional pain procedures and evaluated patients suffering from pain due to a variety of conditions.

Dr. Koplik received her medical degree from the Universidad Central del Caribe School of Medicine in Bayamon, Puerto Rico followed by an Internal Medicine internship and Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Residency at the VA Caribbean Healthcare System in San Juan, Puerto Rico. She completed her pain medicine fellowship at the University of Alabama at Birmingham.

“UAB is one of the top medical institutions in the country. Having the opportunity to train here made me want to return to UAB and join the academic faculty. I am excited for the opportunity to grow the area of pain management at UAB and look forward to serving patients in our community. Having an institution and department that values leadership, teamwork and fosters cultural diversity were some of the important factors of why I chose to join UAB,” says Dr. Koplik.

Any injury or illness that affects the spinal cord can cause spasticity, an increase in muscle stiffness that can lead to immobility.

In this podcast, physiatrist Bobby Brunner, M.D. discusses some common disorders that result in spasticity and the wide spectrum of its severity. He walks listeners through the considerations a physiatrist would make in determining how to address spasticity. Dr. Brunner explores a progression of treatment options for spasticity: physical therapy, injection therapies, pump system implantation, and surgery.

UAB MedCast is a weekly series of continuing medical education (CME) podcasts that highlights the latest clinical and research innovations at UAB Medicine.

Listen to the podcast.

Orthotist Antwaun Burroughs was recently appointed to the Alabama State Board of Prosthetists and Orthotists.

The Board's mission is to safeguard the health, safety, and welfare of the people of Alabama against the unauthorized, unqualified, and improper administration of prosthetic and orthotic care. Given that, it is necessary to provide for the licensing and regulation of persons offering prosthetic and orthotic services to the public.

Burroughs position takes effect immediately and runs through September 2024.

We are excited to introduce our newest providers in the UAB Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. Click here to schedule an appointment.

Dale Colorado, D.O., M.P.H.

Dr. Colorado joins UAB Medicine PM&R as an associate professor and vice chair of education. He also serves as the director of the residency program and director of sports & musculoskeletal medicine. His specialities include orthopedic sports medicine, non-operative orthopedics, musculoskeletal medicine, and adaptive sports. 

Learn more about Dr. Colorado.

Rachel Teranishi, M.D.

Dr. Teranishi joins UAB Medicine PM&R as an assistant professor. Teranishi has specialized training and interest in the field of brain injury medicine, including traumatic brain injury (TBI), anoxic brain injury, and stroke. Her goal is to provide individualized care, education, and compassion to patients and families recovering from illness or injury.

Learn more about Dr. Teranishi.

Elizabeth Twist, M.D.

Dr. Twist joins UAB Medicine PM&R as an assistant professor specializing in the field of spinal cord injury and spinal disorders. Dr. Twist is involved in direct patient care for spinal cord injury consults and inpatients at UAB and the Spain Rehabilitation outpatient clinic spinal cord injury service.

Learn more about Dr. Twist.

Johan Latorre, M.D.

Dr. Latorre joins UAB Medicine PM&R as an assistant professor specializing in sports medicine, adaptive sports, and musculoskeletal issues. Dr. Latorre’s clinical practice will assess patients’ needs suffered during athletic events such as musculoskeletal issues and concussion protocols.

Learn more about Dr. Latorre.

Lisa Koplik Humphries, M.D.

Dr. Koplik Humphries joins UAB Medicine PM&R as an assistant professor with a specialty in pain management. Dr. Koplik Humphries’s clinical practice will assess treatment for patients who suffer from pain due to a variety of conditions.

Learn more about Dr. Koplik Humphries.

The UAB Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation welcomes Assistant Professor Fedora Biney, Ph.D. effective December 1, 2022. Dr. Biney joins the department as a neuropsychologist with specialization in neuropsychological interventions for individuals with strokes and traumatic brain injury. Dr. Biney earned her doctorate degree in Clinical Psychology from the University of Houston.

"I am very excited to join the faculty and staff in the PM&R department. I chose to come to UAB because of its solid reputation in rehabilitation research and for the opportunity to both learn from and contribute to research that helps individuals with acquired brain injuries return to meaningful and purposeful life activities," says Biney.

Julie Baker, RN, BSN was selected to participate in UAB Medicine’s highly competitive Wound Scholar Advanced Program. Julie has been a member of the University of Alabama in Birmingham’s Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation for five years. As a clinical care coordinator for the department’s Vice Chair of Clinical Operations, Danielle Powell, MD, Julie’s role at Spain Rehabilitation Center allows her to extend wound care to patients in the adult spina bifida clinic as well as the cancer rehabilitation program.

Because UAB is passionate about continuing to develop a culture of clinical excellence in all aspects of patient and family care services, one area identified for having tremendous potential to impact quality of care is with adults who have wound or skin care needs. As a result, the Wound Scholar Program was developed by UAB Hospital’s Wound Ostomy and Continence Team (WOCT) to empower frontline staff to meet the growing need for wound care prevention and treatment at the bedside.

“Many of my patients have wounds or are at risk for developing skin care needs. This program will train me to assist my team and support patients and their families on the path to a quicker recovery. Ultimately, the knowledge I gain will equip me to disseminate new and best practices regarding wounds to additional providers and staff here in PM&R. I look forward to being a resource in wound care for my colleagues,” stated Baker.

This 18-month professional development program has been designed to identify champions in wound care, formally develop an in-depth knowledge of caring for the hospitalized adult requiring wound care treatment or prevention, and implement evidence-based principles as part of care for this target population. The program provides formal education for participants and challenging opportunities for improving the care of adults with wounds, pressure injuries, and preventive needs at UAB Hospital.

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.