Dr. Mary Fischer is a Physical Therapy Clinical SpecialistinAcute Care at NYU Langone Medical Center and aboard-certifiedGeriatric Clinical Specialist. Her Masters degree inPhysicalTherapy is from Columbia University and she has a DoctorateinPhysical Therapy from Stony Brook University.
Dr. Kristine Josef is a Physical Therapy Clinical Specialist intheMedically Complex and Cardiac Adult Inpatient Rehabilitationunitat Rusk Rehabilitation and a board-certified NeurologicClinicalSpecialist. Her doctorate in Physical Therapy is fromRutgersUniversity.
In this special edition two-person interview, Dr. Fischer andDr.Josef discuss over two parts the factors contributing to therisk of falling by patients recently discharged from the hospitalandthe role that gait speed plays in falls.

Dr. Allen Brown from the Mayo Clinic Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation studies the process of providing medical rehabilitation care to individuals after their brain function has been altered by injury or disease. The long term goal of his research is to improve participation in roles meaningful to these individuals through testing of rehabilitation models of care in the real world. His research team works within the communities of the upper Midwest to study population-based epidemiology of brain injury (such as incidence, cost, survival), new interventions for improving walking after stroke and negotiating public transportation using smart phone technology, and community-based randomized clinical trials of complex clinical interventions to improve advocacy skill and quality of life after brain injury. His team has investigated the benefit of using personal activity monitors to provide detailed feedback about physical activity and progress during inpatient rehabilitation after stroke. A graduate of the University of Minnesota Medical School, his work has been published widely in prestigious journals. In this interview, Dr. Brown discusses enhancing advocacy skill attainment by patients, their family members, and caregivers to obtain community-based services; headache classification and development of standardized approaches; characteristics of inpatient traumatic brain injury patients that influence discharge location; key rehabilitation research topics; transforming patterns of workforce training; and fostering patient-centered care.

Dr. Allen Brown from the Mayo Clinic Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation studies the process of providing medical rehabilitation care to individuals after their brain function has been altered by injury or disease. The long term goal of his research is to improve participation in roles meaningful to these individuals through testing of rehabilitation models of care in the real world. His research team works within the communities of the upper Midwest to study population-based epidemiology of brain injury (such as incidence, cost, survival), new interventions for improving walking after stroke and negotiating public transportation using smart phone technology, and community-based randomized clinical trials of complex clinical interventions to improve advocacy skill and quality of life after brain injury. His team has investigated the benefit of using personal activity monitors to provide detailed feedback about physical activity and progress during inpatient rehabilitation after stroke. A graduate of the University of Minnesota Medical School, his work has been published widely in prestigious journals. In this interview, Dr. Brown discusses enhancing advocacy skill attainment by patients, their family members, and caregivers to obtain community-based services; headache classification and development of standardized approaches; characteristics of inpatient traumatic brain injury patients that influence discharge location; key rehabilitation research topics; transforming patterns of workforce training; and fostering patient-centered care.

Dr. Katie Ann Sheeran is a senior Physical Therapist in the neurologic outpatient physical therapy department at Rusk. She has worked at NYU since June 2010 and rotated through acute care and acute rehabilitation before becoming a permanent senior physical therapist in the outpatient department. Along with treating patients with neurologic, medically complex, and orthopedic conditions, she runs the Facial Reanimation Program, which focuses on restoring symmetry and spontaneous functional facial movement in patients with facial nerve palsy and synkinesis, a condition that can develop in patients after an episode of Bell’s palsy and other diagnoses, including acoustic neuroma resection, Guillain-Barre, and Ramsey Hunt syndrome. Her bachelor’s degree is from the University of Vermont and she has a Doctorate in Physical Therapy from New York Medical College. In this interview, she discusses several neurologic conditions that require physical therapy and provides additional details on the importance of this area.  

Claribell Bayona is a senior occupational therapist who has been working at New York University Langone Medical Center for 11 years. At Rusk, her responsibilities are in the outpatient service providing occupational therapy to individuals with neurological conditions where she specializes in limb loss rehabilitation of upper and lower limb amputees. She has provided multiple in-services to staff and interdisciplinary team members on the role of occupational therapy and limb loss rehabilitation and works closely with the rehab team to help limb loss clients achieve independence with their everyday activities. She has written chapters in rehabilitation textbooks and made presentations at national conferences. One of her bachelor’s degrees is in Anthropology from the University at Buffalo and a second one is in Occupational Therapy from Stony Brook University. She currently is pursuing a doctorate in occupational therapy at Quinnipiac University. In this interview, she discusses the kinds of conditions and situations  that result in amputation as well as a number of other elements of amputation and functional ability. 

Jeffrey M. Cohen, MD is a Clinical Professor of Rehabilitation Medicine at New York University School of Medicine and an Attending Physician in the Department of Rehabilitation Medicine at, NYU-Langone Medical Center. He is the Chief of the Medically Complex Specialty Program, Director of the Limb Loss Program, and Rehabilitation Director of the Neuromuscular Disease Center and the Diabetic Foot and Ankle Clinic at NYU. In this two-part interview, Dr. Cohen discusses kidney and liver transplant and the process for rehabilitation. 

Jeffrey M. Cohen, MD is a Clinical Professor of Rehabilitation Medicine at New York University School of Medicine and an Attending Physician in the Department of Rehabilitation Medicine at, NYU-Langone Medical Center. He is the Chief of the Medically Complex Specialty Program, Director of the Limb Loss Program, and Rehabilitation Director of the Neuromuscular Disease Center and the Diabetic Foot and Ankle Clinic at NYU. In this two-part interview, Dr. Cohen discusses kidney and liver transplant and the process for rehabilitation. 

Dr. Miguel Escalón is an Assistant Professor and Attending Physician in the Department of Rehabilitation Medicine at Mount Sinai since 2014. He is the Director of Critical Care Rehabilitation at Mount Sinai and the Associate Residency Program Director of the PM&R residency program. He was voted teacher of the year by the residents during his first year as an attending physician. He specialized in cellular and molecular biology at The University of Chicago before obtaining his medical degree and a Master’s in public health from the University of Illinois. After medical school, he  completed a Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation residency at The Alliance Program of the Baylor College of Medicine and University of Texas at Houston. Following residency, he completed a Spinal Cord Injury fellowship at Mount Sinai in NYC in 2014. He is a board member of Wheeling Forward, a non-profit organization dedicated to bettering the lives of persons with disabilities. In this interview, Dr. Escalon provides background on Wheeling Forward, post-stroke spasticity management, the use of robotic exoskeletons, stem cell implantation, and the role of technology in helping to improve care among other exciting topics. 

Dr. Mia Palazzo is the Program Manager of Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy, and the Sports Performance Center at NYU Langone’s Center for Musculoskeletal Care. Her areas of specialty and interest include concussion related neck pain, mechanical spine disorders, and running related injuries. As Program Manager of the Sports Performance Center, Mia has been an integral part of the development and implementation of the internationally known Running Lab at NYU Langone. Mia is a Board Certified Clinical Specialist in Orthopedics through the American Board of Physical Therapy Specialties. She also is certified by the McKenzie Institute in the Mechanical Diagnosis and Treatment of the Spine.  She earned her Master’s degree in Physical Therapy from Long Island University and went on to receive her Doctorate in Physical Therapy from Temple University. In this interview, Dr. Palazzo discusses the Running Lab, the role of the neck in concussion patients, whiplash injuries, and broader market trends in the field of physical therapy. 

Dr. Michael D'Agati is a Clinical Specialist at The Center for Musculoskeletal Care at NYU Langone Medical Center and a Clinical Instructor, at NYU’s School of Medicine. The Rusk Institute has given him advanced skills and research awards and two substantial grants to support his research. He is the current Chairperson of the NYU Rusk Physical Therapy Research Committee. He is a Board Certified Clinical Specialist in Orthopedics through the American Board of Physical Therapy Specialties and a Certified Orthopedic Manual Therapist through Maitland Australian Physiotherapy Seminars. Dr. D’Agati graduated Summa Cum Laude with his clinical doctorate in physical therapy from NYU. In 2013, he won the Clinical Educator of the Year Award from The New England Consortium of Academic Coordinators of Clinical Education. He currently is a Ph.D. candidate at Rutgers University, pursuing a second doctorate leading to a teaching and research career. In this interview, Dr. D'Agati reviews the literature supporting orthopedic manual therapy, factors determining what interventions may be most appropriate for patients, prevention, and low technology approaches. 

Tina Tan is the Supervisor, Pediatric Speech/Swallowing Services, at Tisch Hospital and Ambulatory Care Center. Her particular area of interest and role at Rusk is in providing diagnosis and management of pediatric feeding and swallowing impairments.  She has a special interest in the feeding and swallowing skills of medically complex infants and swallowing impairments in children with aero-digestive disorders.  She and her pediatric speech pathology colleagues participate in the Interdisciplinary Nutrition and Feeding Program and the GUARDS (Gastrointestinal, Upper Airway, Respiratory Disease and Sleep) Program. Her bachelor’s degree in communication disorders is from the Honors College at Southern Connecticut State University and her master’s degree in Speech-Language Pathology is from Emerson College. She is a Board Certified Specialist in Swallowing & Swallowing Disorders. In this interview, Tina discusses what sorts of medically complex issues lead to feeding and swallowing problems in children as well as management considerations when providing care. 

Megan Rochford is a certified aging in place specialist who is the barrier free design clinical specialist at Rusk Rehabilitation.  She has over 10 years’ experience as an occupational therapist, working in inpatient rehabilitation, sub-acute rehabilitation, and outpatient therapy. Within the Barrier Free Design program, she works with children and their families as well as adults, in the New York City metropolitan area, with varying medical conditions, to modify their home environments.  The goal is to provide individualized design solutions to promote safety, independence and decrease burden of care. She has both her Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees in Occupational Therapy from the University of Scranton. She frequently presents to disease-specific organizations and provides community lectures on Aging in Place through NYU Langone Medical Center. In this interview, Megan provides personal stories of some of her most challenging cases as well as the daily decisions that must be made to maximize patient care and to ensure safety. 

Dr. Jonathan Whiteson is Assistant Professor, Department of Rehabilitation Medicine; Assistant Professor, Department of Medicine; Medical Director of Rusk Outreach and Growth; and Medical Director of Cardiac and Pulmonary Rehabilitation. His research interests include: cardiac rehabilitation for patients with advanced congestive heart failure and after left ventricular assist device placement, pulmonary rehabilitation of individuals exposed to world trade center dust, and recognizing encephalopathy and delirium in the cardiopulmonary rehabilitation setting. His medical degree is from the University of London and he completed his residency at NYU Langone Medical Center in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation where he also completed a fellowship in cardiac and pulmonary rehabilitation. He is certified by the American Board of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. In this second interview with Dr. Whiteson, he discusses the importance of communication, how different provider roles are central to care, and continuous learning and application of techniques to improve patient outcomes. 

Laurie Kilmartin is Clinical Specialist for the Women’s and Men’s Health Outpatient Physical Therapy program where she works with a diverse population of patients including individuals with pelvic floor dysfunction, prenatal/postpartum related pathology, post-surgical cancer rehabilitation, osteoporosis, and lymphedema. A practicing Physical Therapist for over 11 years, she received her Doctoral Degree in Physical Therapy from New York University. An American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) certified Women’s Health Clinical Specialist, she is an adjunct faculty member at New York University’s Doctor of Physical Therapy Program. She lectures frequently on the topic of lymphedema, cancer rehabilitation, osteoporosis, and Women’s & Men’s Health physical therapy to physical therapists, allied healthcare professionals, students, and the community. In this interview, Laurie discusses treatments for women's health and breast cancer as well as education in this important area. 

Dr. Gerard Francisco is Chairman and Clinical Professor in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at the University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston. He also serves as Director of the NeuroRecovery Research Center and Chief Medical Officer at TIRR Memorial Hermann Hospital. He currently is President of the Association of Academic Physiatrists and Chairperson of the Brain Injury Medicine Committee of the American Board of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. The recipient of a great many honors and awards, his medical degree is from the University of the Philippines College of Medicine. He also had a postdoctoral fellowship for training in brain injury rehabilitation at the Baylor College of Medicine. He has obtained several research grants and his work has been published extensively in peer-reviewed journals and as chapters in books on medicine. Dr. Francisco's interview is divided into two parts, please access Part One through iTunes. In Part Two, Dr. Francisco continues his discussion by examining current research endeavors, technology, education, and challenges in PM&R. 

Dr. Gerard Francisco is Chairman and Clinical Professor in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at the University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston. He also serves as Director of the NeuroRecovery Research Center and Chief Medical Officer at TIRR Memorial Hermann Hospital. He currently is President of the Association of Academic Physiatrists and Chairperson of the Brain Injury Medicine Committee of the American Board of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. The recipient of a great many honors and awards, his medical degree is from the University of the Philippines College of Medicine. He also had a postdoctoral fellowship for training in brain injury rehabilitation at the Baylor College of Medicine. He has obtained several research grants and his work has been published extensively in peer-reviewed journals and as chapters in books on medicine. Dr. Francisco's interview is divided into two parts. In Part One, he discusses patient-provider communication in long-term post-stroke spasticity management, brain machine interfaces, the role of technology, and prognostication in TBI. Next week Dr. Francisco will be back for Part Two. 

Dr. Steven Kirshblum serves as Medical Director of the West Orange campus and Co-Project Director of the Northern New Jersey Model Spinal Cord Injury System, one of only 14 federally-designated model systems in the United States. Dr. Kirshblum has delivered more than 500 lectures nationally and internationally. He also is a prolific writer and researcher who has written and co-authored more than 120 articles in peer-reviewed publications and completed over 40 book chapters, 80 abstracts, and monographs on his major research interests in spinal cord injury and education issues. He is editor of the textbook, Spinal Cord Medicine and has written a children's book on spinal cord injury. Dr. Kirshblum received his medical degree from the University of Health Sciences/Chicago Medical School and completed a residency in physical medicine and rehabilitation (PM&R) at Mt. Sinai Hospital in New York City, where he was a chief resident. He became board certified in 1991. Serving as a professor of rehabilitation medicine at Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, he most recently was President of the Academy of Spinal Cord Injury Professionals while also currently being a member of numerous advisory boards and foundations for spinal cord research. In this interview, Dr. Kirshblum provides excellent insights into spinal-cord injury-related medical needs that require follow-up care, the notion of collaboration in care, communicating prognosis, workforce and postgraduate training, and what the future of PM&R might hold. 

Alberto Esquenazi is chairman of the Department of Medicine and Rehabilitation and chief medical officer for MossRehab. As chairman of physical medicine and rehabilitation at Albert Einstein Healthcare Network, he also serves as a professor at Temple University School of Medicine. His specialties are amputee rehabilitation, mobility evaluation and treatment, and gait analysis. Dr. Esquenazi was instrumental in the development of ReWalk T, the first commercially viable upright device that enables wheelchair users to stand, walk, and climb stairs. His career has been characterized by high productivity in the area of research, which has been accompanied by his work being widely published in books and journal articles that have garnered awards for excellence. Active both nationally and internationally, he has lectured widely throughout the United States, Latin America, Europe, and Asia. Apropos of his participating in this Rusk podcast series, it is worth noting that earlier in 2015 he was the recipient of the Rusk Award for Leadership and Innovation in Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation. In this interview, Dr. Esquenazi discusses the many ways technology is leading to dramatic effects on patient care as well as his work with Amputee Coalition of America among multiple other great insights into rehabilitation medicine. 

Dr. Kathleen Bell is Chairperson of the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center. She also plays a significant role as a leading investigator with the Texas Institute for Brain Injury and Repair. A nationally recognized leader in rehabilitation medicine, she is a specialist in neuro-rehabilitation. As a clinician, Dr. Bell focuses on rehabilitation after acquired brain injuries; traumatic brain injuries including concussions, strokes, and brain tumors; and anoxic and metabolic brain injuries. A nationally acknowledged researcher in the field of traumatic brain injury, she has been funded continuously by the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research and the Department of Defense, among other sources. She has been published extensively and has given presentations all over the world about her work. In 2014-15, she served as President of the Executive Board of the American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. A graduate of the University of Pennsylvania, her medical degree is from Temple University Medical School. This interview is split into two parts. In Part Two, Dr. Bell continues her discussion around EMRs as well as ICD-10, best practice guidelines, professional education, and the future of PM&R. 

Dr. Kathleen Bell is Chairperson of the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center. She also plays a significant role as a leading investigator with the Texas Institute for Brain Injury and Repair. A nationally recognized leader in rehabilitation medicine, she is a specialist in neuro-rehabilitation. As a clinician, Dr. Bell focuses on rehabilitation after acquired brain injuries; traumatic brain injuries including concussions, strokes, and brain tumors; and anoxic and metabolic brain injuries. A nationally acknowledged researcher in the field of traumatic brain injury, she has been funded continuously by the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research and the Department of Defense, among other sources. She has been published extensively and has given presentations all over the world about her work. In 2014-15, she served as President of the Executive Board of the American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. A graduate of the University of Pennsylvania, her medical degree is from Temple University Medical School. This interview is split into two parts. In Part One, Dr. Bell provides excellent insights on unique characteristics of PM&R, the AAPM&R, how the ACA is influencing care, and EMRs. Please listen next week for Part Two. 

​Divya Mathur is the Program Manager of Physical Therapy at the Hospital for Joint Diseases where her primary responsibility is to oversee all physical therapy operations at this site in three programs:  Acute Medical Surgery, Adult Inpatient Rehabilitation, and both inpatient and outpatient Pediatrics. She is actively involved in all the various changes occurring in acute care. She also has a primary role as the Epic champion for rehab at the Hospital for Joint Diseases, which involves being the liaison for therapy services and the Epic team for all Epic upgrades. A related duty includes serving as an extension of the Coordinator of Clinical Education for PT. She is a graduate of Stony Brook University with a Bachelor’s of Science in Physical Therapy and has a Master’s Degree in Public Administration from NYU’s Wagner School of Public Service. In this interview, Divya delves into multiple aspects of physical therapy, the changing healthcare environment, and the future of this discipline. 

Dorra Blacker is the Clinical Supervisor in the department which encompasses clinical, supervisory, and managerial duties. For the past thirty-one years she has been in the Vocational Rehabilitation department at Rusk Institute, providing vocational counseling to both adult and pediatric in- and outpatients who have physical, orthopedic, neurological and psychiatric disabilities to address  return-to-work issues that may include career alternatives,  academic planning, career exploration, accessibility and job modifications, employer contact and identifying transferable skills. A graduate of Hunter College with a Master’s degree in Rehabilitation Counseling, she is both a certified vocational rehabilitation counselor and licensed mental health counselor. She is a member of the NYU Langone’s Concussion Center and the liaison counselor to the NYU Langone Multiple Sclerosis Center and the Laura and Isaac Perlmutter Cancer Center at NYU Langone.​ In this interview, Dorra shares her experiences in vocational therapy and provides amazing insights to this critical component of rehabilitation. 

Carie Sumida is the program manager for pediatric inpatient and outpatient therapies at the Hospital for Joint Diseases where she oversees programming for pediatric physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech/ language pathology, psychology, child life, therapeutic recreation, and creative arts therapies throughout the hospital. She also serves as a resource for pediatrics at other Rusk campuses. A physical therapist by training, both her Master of Science in Physical Therapy and Doctor of Physical Therapy degrees are from Columbia University. Her current areas of interest and practice are in infant care in the neonatal intensive care unit and pediatric concussions. In this interview, Carie provides an in-depth look at pediatric care and the challenges/opportunities for children in rehabilitation. 

Alicia Esposito is a clinical specialist in Rusk’s adult inpatient rehabilitation unit at the Hospital for Joint Diseases where she is responsible for coordinating patient care, training programs, and research endeavors for the inpatient physical therapy department.  She also is a clinical instructor in the Department of Rehabilitation Medicine at the School of Medicine and the Residency Coordinator for Rusk’s Neurological Physical Therapy Residency Program. She specializes in the evaluation and treatment of patients with a variety of neurological conditions including stroke, brain injury, spinal cord injury, degenerative neurological diagnoses and vestibular and balance dysfunction.  In this interview, Dr. Esposito discusses the role of physical therapy as one kind of intervention to drive neuroplastic changes in the brain after an injury, the impact of a residency program on physical therapy education, and the activities of a Parkinson’s Disease Edge Task Force.

In this special edition interview, April O'Connell, clinical specialist in the Hand and Upper Extremity Therapy Department, and Melissa Hirsch, a Senior II physical therapist with her Doctorate in PT credentialed in Mechanical Diagnosis and Therapy, describe an exciting project ongoing at Rusk. Working in collaboration with proprietary 3D motion sensing technology leader Extreme Reality and Aetna's Innovation Labs, the team at Rusk continues to explore the best ways to provide extraordinary patient care.