Team
Project Directors:
Denise G. Tate, Ph.D., ABBP, FACRM
Project Co-director: University of Michigan Spinal Core Injury Model System
Professor, Clinical Psychologist and Associate Chair for Research, Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, University of Michigan
Dr. Tate has been with U-M SCIMS since 1986. Her primary research interests are health outcomes, quality of life and adaptation to injury. She has more than 70 peer-reviewed publications. Dr. Tate has overseen the post-doctoral fellowships of more than 50 post-doctoral and physician research fellows. Among her many research awards is the Stanley J. Coulter Lecturer award from the American Congress of Rehabilitation. Dr. Tate is also the principal investigator for two National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research grants and a National Center for Medical Rehabilitation Research grant.
Project Co-director: University of Michigan Spinal Cord Injury Model System
Clinical Associate Professor, Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, University of Michigan
Dr. Chiodo is co-director for U-M SCIMS and has been the clinical director of Spinal Cord Injury Medicine at the University of Michigan since 2002. He has worked on the U-M SCIMS research projects, Wellness in SCI and Predictors of Health, and Quality of Life in Persons with Ventilator Assistance after SCI. He has published several manuscripts on pain management, wellness in SCI, and is preparing several manuscripts on ventilator weaning after SCI. He has served as a co-investigator for two clinical trials of Fampridine’s efficacy after SCI: as treatments for spasticity and for restrictive lung disease.
Dr. Chiodo is the primary attending physician for SCI services in the UMHS Adult Rehabilitation Unit, coordinating all clinical services.
Co-Investigators
Martin Forchheimer, MPP
Senior Research Associate and Co-investigator
Mr. Forchheimer has been with U-M SCIMS since 1989 and is director of Research. He is the principal investigator for two site-specific research projects, and the coordinator for collaborative study led by Craig Hospital. Mr. Forchheimer is primarily interested in the areas of outcomes research, community integration and measurement. He has written more than 35 peer-reviewed publications.
Claire Z. Kalpakjian, Ph.D.
Project Manager and Co-investigator
In addition to her administrative duties, Dr. Kalpakjian plays a key role in research. Previously, Dr. Kalpakjian was a post-doctoral fellow with the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. She is particularly interested in women’s health and spirituality. She is the principal investigator for a three-year study on menopause and SCI, and is in the second year of a National Institutes of Health Career Development Award for research into women’s health and SCI.
Michelle Meade Ph.D.
Assistant Professor and Co-Investigator
Dr. Mead is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation and the Center for Managing Chronic Disease at the University of Michigan and a Co-Investigator in the UM SCI Model Systems. Dr. Meade is a rehabilitation psychologist who works and conducts research with individuals with spinal cord injury. Her primary research interests focus around improving the health and participation of individuals with spinal cord injury from traditionally underserved populations. Dr. Meade’s current projects include developing an electronic game to promote self-management skills among underserved individuals with SCI, assessing the efficacy and feasibility of an in-person administration of the Health Mechanics Program, and serving as co-PI of the NIDRR funded UM-AACIL Advanced Rehabilitation Research Training Program. Dr. Meade is active in numerous professional associations and scientific boards, serving as Past-President of Section 2 (Women’s Issues in Rehabilitation) of Division 22 (Rehabilitation Psychology) of APA, editorial board member for Topics of Spinal Cord
Gianna Maria M. Rodriguez M.D.is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (PM&R). She is Board Certified in SCI medicine and is on the PM&R SCI Consultation Team. Her research interests include SCI, musculoskeletal rehabilitation and traumatic brain injury (TBI). She was Chief Resident in PM&R at Rush Presbyterian St. Luke’s Medical Center in Chicago, and Advanced Fellow in SCI Medicine at the Veterans Affairs North Texas Health Care System in Dallas. Dr. Rodriguez is the PM&R Administrator and Manager for the Michigan Bowel Control Program and on staff for the Adult Ventilator Program here at the University of Michigan Health System.
David S. Tulsky, Ph.D. is the Director of Research for the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (PM&R) at the University of Michigan (UM) Medical School. In addition, he directs the Center for Rehabilitation Outcomes and Assessment Research. Dr. Tulsky has significant experience leading large-scale, federally funded, multicenter studies of rehabilitation outcomes. Dr. Tulsky received his M.A. and Ph.D. degrees from the University of Illinois at Chicago with specializations in Clinical Psychology, Psychometrics, Research Methods, and Statistics. He also completed a post-doctoral fellowship in Health Psychology at Rush-Presbyterian St. Luke’s Medical Center in Illinois.
Dr. Tulsky also has extensive experience developing patient reported outcomes measures. He has co-authored more than 10 peer-reviewed articles and book chapters related to the measurement of quality of life. He has also served as the editor of two journal supplements of the Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation devoted to the improvement of Quality of Life in Rehabilitation Medicine as well as organizing and chairing a special international conference on the topic. Currently, Dr. Tulsky is involved in six federally funded, multi-site projects related to the development of Quality of Life instruments for a rehabilitation population.
Associated Faculty:
Anne Kathleen Pelletier Cameron, M.D.
Jon-Kar Zubieta, M.D., Ph.D.
Lisa A. Diponio M.D.
Staff:
Linda Berlin, MSW- Research Associate, Project Coordinator
Linton Cuff, BS- Research Assistant, Project Coordinator and Recruitment
Kathleen Donnelly, BSN, RN- Research Assistant, Model Systems Data Management and Recruitment
Lisa Konkol, MPH- Research Assistant, Model Systems Data Management
Kay Morefield, AGS- Research Secretary
Connie Pines, RN, CCM- Research Assistant, Community Outreach and Recruitment
April Saval, PA-C -Physician Assistant
Melissa Wright- Physical Therapist
