UPMC Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Celebrates Recent Milestones

With a staff of award-winning physicians, researchers, and faculty, the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (PM&R) treats patients at UPMC Rehabilitation Institute inpatient units, as well as on an outpatient basis. The Department's reputation for the science and practice of rehabilitation attracts top doctors and investigators who continue to make advances in both clinical and research environments.

Read about recent milestones, including staff awards and research breakthroughs.

• Amy Houtrow, MD, PhD, MPH, was named to the Board of Scientific Counselors of the NIH Clinical Center for a 2023-2027 term.
  
  
• Amy Wagner, MD, was awarded a grant from The Beckwith Institute with Katya Hill, PhD, to fund a new program at the Center for Assistive Technology (CAT) to support using brain-computer interface (BCI) for people with disorders of consciousness titled “Unlocking Functional Communication for Patients with Disorders of Consciousness with Innovative Brain Computer Interface Technology.”
  
  
• Brad Dicianno, MD, and Ryan Nussbaum, DO, received the inaugural Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Most Downloaded Review Article Award for their paper titled, “Systematic Review of Mobile Health Applications in Rehabilitation.”
  
  
• Corina Bondi, PhD, was awarded a Childrens’ Neuroscience Institute Interdisciplinary Neuroscience Award entitled “Neurobehavioral and Physiological Effects of Traumatic Brain Injury in Spontaneously Hypertensive Rats” together with Safar Center colleague and co-PI, Mioara Manole, MD. This competitive UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh Neuroscience Institute seed grant will further their study investigating the effect of hypertension on TBI long-term recovery.
  
  
• Kerry DeLuca, MD, and Amit Sinha, MD, participated in the AAPM&R Health Policy and Legislation Committee (HP&L) Hill Day in Washington, DC, on April 25. The HP&L is responsible for advocating for AAPM&R's priorities on Capitol Hill and to federal executive agencies, such as the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS).
  
  
• Melissa Sutcliffe, PhD, and Sarah Laughlin, PhD, were voted to the Board of Directors for the Pace School in Allegheny County. The Pace School provides an alternative learning environment for students with autism, behavior difficulties, and/or significant cognitive challenges.