Congratulations to PGY-4 Dr. Hagar Elgendy and PGY-1 Dr. Heather Lystad on their induction into the Alpha Omega Alpha Medical Honor Society!

Alpha Omega Alpha (AOA), established in 1902, is dedicated to the belief that advancing healthcare for all begins with recognizing academic excellence, celebrating exceptional teaching, fostering leadership in both academia and the community, upholding the values of humanism, and encouraging a spirit of service. Being elected to AOA signifies a lasting commitment to scholarship, leadership, professionalism, and service. Membership in the society confers recognition of someone’s dedication to the profession and art of healing. The University of North Carolina’s AOA chapter, founded in 1954, proudly welcomes new members each year—including medical students, residents, fellows, faculty, and alumni.

We are proud to celebrate Dr. Hagar Elgendy and Dr. Heather Lystad for their outstanding achievements and dedication to the highest standards in medicine!

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We thank Dr. Prakash Jayabalan, MD, PhD and all our residents and fellows who presented at the ������ PM&R 2025 Research Day!

Physician-Scientist Director of the Nancy W. Knowles Strength + Endurance Lab, Dr. Jayabalan directs clinical care and research for inpatients, outpatients and research participants working on building stamina and resilience following illness or injury. In this capacity, he collaborates with Shirley Ryan AbilityLab Clinical and Scientific Chairs to ensure scientific discoveries are translated into clinical practice quickly, for the best outcomes.

This year’s event featured resident and T32 fellowship graduate presentations and in-training proposals.

Keynote Address Dr. Prakash Jayabalan, MD, PhD
Biological Medicine for Knee Osteoarthritis

Senior Residents’ and Fellows’ Research Presentations

Taylor Baker, DO
Improving Resident Comfort and Knowledge with Ultrasound

Hagar Elgendy, MD, MS
Sports Medicine in Action: Improving Health Through Collaboration

Katie Lenger, PhD*
Is it the “Thanks” that Counts? Testing Gratitude, Social Connection, and Stress Regulation in Sexual Minoritized Birthing People

Sierra McLean, MD
Significance of Morphine Milligram Equivalents on Acute Inpatient Rehab

Raveen Sugantharaj, DO
Is There an Improvement in Patients’ Understanding and Experience of a First-Time Medial Branch Block with the Provision of Written Educational Material?

In-Training Research Proposals

Nigel “Biola” Brinson, MD
Identifying Key Attributes of a Positive Rehabilitation Experience in Pediatric Inpatient Families

Mary Jackson, ORT/L, OTD*
Factors Influencing Attendance at Integrative Group Medical Visits for Long COVID

James Lau, MD
Assessing for Potential Associations between Prior History of Back Surgery and Response to Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction for Chronic Low Back Pain Management: A Secondary Analysis of the OPTIMUM Trial

Amnazo C. Muhirwa, PhD, MSN-FNP-C, BSN, RN*
Exploring Participant Experiences in the SMILE Study: A Qualitative Inquiry into Digital Mindfulness Interventions

Anthony Reedy, MD
Musculoskeletal Ultrasound Proficiency Improvement Project

Sidney Tucker, MD
Optimization of Care for Patients Presenting to the ED with Acute Back Pain

*������ Postdoctoral Research Fellow in Complementary and Integrative Medicine

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This innovative project, a collaboration with the ������ Department of Neurology, aims to enhance comprehensive care during the post-acute period and improve the coordination of clinical, social, and support services for individuals who have experienced a stroke or are at high risk.

The project will leverage advanced health information technology, existing multidisciplinary stroke teams, and patient advisory groups to develop improved and consistent post-discharge stroke care. Stroke remains a leading cause of disability in the United States, and survivors often face significant challenges in accessing medical, rehabilitation, and social support services. Annually, the ������ Comprehensive Stroke Center discharges approximately 700 individuals.

“I am excited to work with the CREST team and the ������ Comprehensive Stroke Center to improve post-stroke care following discharge,” says Dr. Baratta. “By developing standardized procedures, we aim to help more individuals access the medical and social support services they need.”

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We are thrilled to welcome the ������ PM&R Class of 2029! We can’t wait to have you join our PM&R family!

Silas Helbig, MD

Medical School:
Florida International
University Herbert Wertheim
College of Medicine

Jennifer “Jen” Ling, MD

Medical School:
University of North Carolina
at Chapel Hill
School of Medicine

Amy Patel, DO

Medical School:
Lake Erie College
of Osteopathic Medicine

Brycen Scott, MD

Medical School:
University of Mississippi
School of Medicine

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Prior to joining the T32 training program, Becky completed her PhD at Virginia Commonwealth University in Rehabilitation and Movement Science followed by a postdoctoral fellowship in the Partnership for People with Disabilities in the School of Education also at Virginia Commonwealth University. Her research is guided by her years of clinical experience working as a physical therapist with young children with disabilities and their families in North Carolina and abroad in Cape Town, South Africa.

Dr. Molinini’s dissertation research focused on the three-way relationship between gross motor development, synchrony of parent-child relationships, and pediatric physical therapy interventions. Her dissertation results support that:

• Gross motor development facilitates synchrony of parent-child interactions.
• Pediatric physical therapy interventions impact parent-child relationships with some interventions supporting dyadic synchrony while other interventions were associated with less synchrony over time.
• Synchrony of parent-child relationships predict steeper growth in children’s global development.

Her T32 proposed research plan builds off her dissertation findings and includes engaging with stakeholders to design a holistic physical therapy intervention that supports family well-being during the transition from the NICU to home. Additionally, she is using parental EEG recordings during parent-child interactions in the NICU and at home to identify neurological mechanisms for alterations in inter-personal familial relationships and parental mental health commonly seen following a preterm birth and subsequent prolonged NICU stay.

The post Rebecca Molinini, PT, DPT, PhD, Receives T32 Institutional Research Training Grant from the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health appeared first on Department of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation.

Thursday, February 27, 2025 5:00 PM – 6:30 PM
Adjacent Spindle and Stump Neuroma: A Case Report (412)
Polly Creveling, MD, Sierra McLean, MD, Kristopher Karvelas, MD

Bilateral C5 Palsy Following Posterior Cervical Decompression and Fusion (1220)
Sidney Tucker, MD, Taylor Baker, DO, Christine A. Cleveland, MD

Frontal Lobe Encephalomalacia, a Rare Sequelae of Mild Traumatic Brain Injury (1619)
James H. Lau, MD, Kevin Carneiro, DO

Left Foot Drop Secondary to Sciatic Nerve Impingement by a Gluteal Arteriovenous Malformation and Persistent Sciatic Artery (1422)
James H. Lau, MD, Kathryne Bartolo, MD

Medial and Lateral Scapular Winging Following Intramedullary Brainstem Tumor Resection:
A Case Report (442)
Anthony Reedy, MD, Marina Kodsi, DO, Lee Shuping, MD

Friday, February 28, 2025 5:00 PM – 6:30 PM
Ca(c)th This Cause of Medial Knee Pain! (417)
Raveen R. Sugantharaj, DO, Nigel Brinson, MD

Diabetic Peripheral Polyneuropathy Reversal Following Intermittent Fasting Regimen,
A Case Report (940)
Christopher A. Trower, DO, James Lau, MD

Off-label Utilization of Escitalopram to Treat Perseveration (1631)
James H. Lau, MD, Mina Gayed, DO

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Dr. Susan Gaylord, a research psychologist and Associate Professor, serves as the Director of the Program on Integrative Medicine. She is a founding faculty member of the ������ Department of Physical Medicine. Dr. Gaylord is passionately committed to promoting public health by conducting research evaluating the efficacy, effectiveness, and mechanisms of action of promising complementary integrative healthcare (CIH) therapies to prevent and treat illnesses prevalent in the U.S., emphasizing improving access to efficacious CIH therapies in minority and underserved populations. She has a primary interest and expertise in mind-body therapies, particularly mindfulness for health promotion and symptom management, and has received continuous NIH funding since 2000.

The post Gaylord receives 2025 Massey Distinguished Service Award appeared first on Department of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation.

What drew you to specialize in Interventional Physiatry?
CP: I chose to go into physiatry because it allows me to help patients regain functionality, independence, and improve their quality of life. The ability to work with individuals across a range of conditions, from musculoskeletal injuries to neurological disorders, and support them in reaching their full potential is deeply rewarding.

DB: I appreciate physiatry’s holistic approach to evaluating, diagnosing, and developing a treatment plan to improve function. Additionally, the technical skills involved are challenging and fulfilling.

What do you like best about working at the ������ Spine Center?CP: I enjoy working at the ������ Spine Center because of its supportive, multidisciplinary environment that fosters collaboration across various specialties to provide comprehensive patient care. The opportunity to work alongside skilled professionals from different fields ensures that patients receive holistic, well-rounded treatment tailored to their unique needs. This collaborative approach not only enhances patient outcomes but also enriches my professional growth and learning.

DB: The collegial atmosphere that cultivates helping each other and the patients.

What future advances do you see benefiting the patients you serve?
CP: Future advances in minimally invasive spine procedures and neuromodulation hold great promise for offering even more effective and personalized treatment options for patients. As technology continues to evolve, we can expect to see improved precision, faster recovery times, and enhanced outcomes, giving patients greater choices for managing spine-related pain and disorders. These innovations will allow us to tailor treatments even more closely to individual patient needs, further improving their quality of life.

DB: There is constant innovation in the field of interventional spine and pain. Neuromodulation and basivertebral nerve ablation are areas of interest. I will continue to learn and reassess the potential benefits for patients. However, I will always begin with less-invasive, conservative approaches which are often the most beneficial.

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Prior to enrolling as a PhD student in Fall 2024, Yunez Behm practiced as an integrative nutritionist and taught master’s-level clinical nutrition courses at the Maryland University of Integrative Health. Her research focuses on integrative nutrition, food and ethics, clinician education, and health equity for at-risk marginalized populations. Through community-based research and culturally grounded interventions, Yunez Behm seeks to bridge gaps in healthcare and clinical training to advance equitable and effective care for the whole person. She is particularly interested in:

• Food and nutrition as mediators of social connection, identity-formation, and meaning-making,
• Investigating how community-defined values and traditions enhance the effectiveness and adoption of nutrition interventions among at-risk populations,
• Expanding community-based integrative nutrition education and services, and
• Addressing gaps in clinical and ethical training for healthcare providers to meet the growing demand for culturally relevant nutrition interventions.

Yunez Behm works on a variety of projects with , her primary advisor and research mentor. She is currently contributing to research led by Dr. Daisy Zamora and Dr. Keturah (Kim) Faurot, PIM T32 Co-Director. This project focuses on adapting an analgesic dietary intervention for individuals with chronic low back pain—a condition disproportionately affecting low-income and underserved populations. Additionally, she is leading a mixed-methods research project with a team at the Purpose Project at Duke University investigating the arts and medical humanities as practices to foster moral formation in pre-health education.

This predoctoral fellowship provides three years of funding, from September 2024 to August 2027.

The post Victoria Yunez Behm Receives T32 Institutional Research Training Grant from the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health appeared first on Department of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation.

We have openings for a Pediatric Neuropsychologist, Post-Doctoral Fellowship Coordinator, Psychometrist, Research Program Manager, and T32 Post-Doctoral Trainee.

Be a Tar Heel!

Patient Care: We promote health and provide superb clinical care while maintaining our strong tradition of reaching underserved populations and reducing health disparities across North Carolina and beyond.

Education: We prepare tomorrow’s health care professionals and biomedical researchers by facilitating learning within innovative curricula and team-oriented interprofessional education.

�����𲹰�����:�� We provide infrastructure and opportunities for collaboration among disciplines throughout and beyond our University to support outstanding research.

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