Adil Ali, MD
University of Medicine & Dentistry New Jersey

I have published two articles: Managing Glenohumeral Joint Osteoarthritis in The Journal of Musculoskeletal Medicine and also Common Shoulder Problems: A "Hands-On" Approach to Osteoarthritis in The Consultant: Peer-Reviewed Consultations in Primary Care. I just finished two other projects that are in the process of publication submission. One project involved caudal anesthetic and steroid epidurals for intractable back pain in the hospitalized patient; this was a retrospective chart review to determine epidural efficacy and trends in medical management. As part of my other project I examined pain relief with percutaneous thoracic vertebroplasty using a unipedicular approach; this was a case series. I am now in the process of starting two projects involving the flexion-relaxation phenomenon in chronic low back pain and ambulation assessment in patients with chronic low back pain pre and post epidurals.

Michael Ellenberg, MD
Wayne State University

Indra Lim, MD
University of Wisconson

My Ph.D. research focused on the structural underpinnings of synaptic transmission and plasticity.  Neuron to neuron communications take place at specialized structures called synapses.  The ability of a synapse to modulate its response based on prior activity at the synapse is called synaptic plasticity.  This process is believed to underlie higher cortical functions such as learning and memory, and  may also play a role in the pathogenesis of chronic pain.  The discreet placement of synaptic vesicles, voltage and ligand-gated ion channels and the underlying signal transduction machinery is essential for synaptic plasticity.   I specifically studied the interaction between the N-Methyl-D-Aspartate (NMDA)-type Glutamate receptor and a cytoskeletal protein called Post-synaptic density protein 95 (PSD-95).  Both of these proteins are critical for synaptic plasticity.  I developed peptide competitors that could disrupt this interaction and used electrophysiological methods to demonstrate that acute disruption does not alter ability of the synapse to undergo synaptic plasticity.  This suggests that this interaction may be more important for development of the synapse rather than its function.

Based on this work, I am interested in research regarding chronic pain, its mechanisms and novel therapeutics, including the interaction between mind and body (e.g. the placebo effect), although I am still open to other avenues of research as I learn more about PM&R.

Selected Publications:
Lim I.A. et al.  Disruption of the NMDA receptor-PSD-95 interaction in hippocampal neurons with no obvious physiological short-term effect.  Neuropharmacology. 2003 Nov;45(6):738-54.

Lim I.A. et al. Selectivity and promiscuity of the first and second PDZ domains of PSD-95 and synapse-associated protein 102.  J Biol Chem. 2002 Jun 14;277(24):21697-711

Chijioke Nwagwu, DO
Midwestern University

Chi-Tsai Tang, MD
University of North Carolina

Research Interests:
Fistulous Communication Between Right and Left L4-5 Zygapophyseal Joints During Arthrography: A Case Report. Chi-Tsai Tang, MD, Matthew Smuck, MD. Abstract accepted for poster presentation at the 68th Annual Assembly of the AAPM&R in September 2007.

Influence of Bipedal Stance Width on Successful Weight Transfer and Maintenance of Clinical Unipedal Stance. Chi-Tsai Tang, MD, Chijioke Nwagwu, DO, Joseph Nnodim, MD, James K Richardson, MD. Ongoing research.

Percutaneous Puncture of Lumbar Zygapophyseal Joint Synovial Cysts by a Transforaminal Approach. Matthew Smuck, MD, Chi-Tsai Tang, MD. Ongoing research.

Venous Thrombotic Events in the Rehabilitation Setting. Brian Yoder, MD, Brian Kelly, DO, Chi-Tsai Tang, MD, Thomas Wakefield, MD. Ongoing research.

Tiffany Williams, MD
University of Missouri

Edmund Chadd, MD
University of Michigan

Burton Engel, MD
Wayne State University

David Fitch, DO
Ohio College Osteopathic Medicine

Clinical Interests: Low back and neck pain; Osteopathic Manual Medicine; geriatrics; general PM&R

Research Interests: 1. Diagnostic strategies regarding determining the pain generator in low back pain
2. Low back pain in general

Publication: The interrater reliability among physical therapists newly trained in a classification system for acute low back pain. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther. 2004 Aug;34(8);430-9. Heiss DG, Fitch DS, Fritz JM, et al

Michael Harris, MD
Tulane School of Medicine

Olusola Olowe, MD
University of Illinois College of Medicine

Ryan Topham, MD
University of Texas San Anitonio

Andrea Aagesen
Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine of Midwestern University

Elite Ben-Ozer
Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California

Jennifer Kendall
Des Moines University Osteopathic Medical Center

Micheal Louwers
Wayne State University School of Medicine

Stephen Ou
Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine & Science Chicago Medical School

Devon Shuchman
Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine & Science Chicago Medical School