June 2025

Charlotte Ball, MD - Appointed Program Director of the Spinal Cord Injury Fellowship

We are pleased to announce the appointment of Charlotte Ball, MD, as Program Director of the Spinal Cord Injury Fellowship starting July 1st, 2025. Dr. Ball met the ACGME qualification requirements. These requirements for SCI included board– these requirements for SCI include board certification, letter of support from the Department Chair (Dr. Christopher White) and approval from Dr. Mark Hohenwalter, DIO, and GMEC. Please be sure to congratulate Dr. Ball on her new role! 

Congratulations to our Newly Matched Class of 2029 PM&R Residents 

Congratulations to Ellie Farr, MD

PM&R Research Day 2025

PM&R Research Day 2025 took place on Wednesday, April 23rd and showcased the research projects of this year’s graduating PGY IV's. Discussion was lively at this year’s event, and the residents and fellows did a great job with the many questions and comments. Presentations were given by our SCI Fellow Angela Taylor, DO and PGY4 Residents Noelle Liska, DO, Will Bataller, MD, Hans Anderson, MD, PhD, Papa-Ekow Coleman, MD, Ragav Sharma, DO and Harmanjot Singh, DO. Well done and congratulations to all the graduates!

Poster Topics Presented:

RESIDENTS:

Papa-Ekow Coleman, MD

Title: 'Periscapular pain in EMG confirmed Cervical Radiculopathy'

Noelle Liska, DO

Title:  'Utilizing Virtual Reality as a Training Tool and to Evaluate Resident Competency After Spasticity Rotation'

Ragav Sharma, DO

Title: 'The Impact of Pre-Existing Beliefs on Knee Injections in Patients with Knee Osteoarthritis'

Harmanjot Singh, DO

Title: 'Procedural Pain Outcomes of AP vs. Oblique Medial Branch Block Techniques'

Will Bataller, MD

Title: 'Readability Assessment of Patient Education Materials on Autonomic Dysreflexia'

Hans Anderson, MD, PhD

Title: 'Let the Machine Learn: Adventures in Physiatric Datasets'

SPASTICITY FELLOW:

Angela Taylor, DO

Title: 'The Management of Peripheral Post-Traumatic Cervical Dystonia with Botulinum Neurotoxin'

This year's 30th annual Milwaukee Riverkeeper Spring Cleanup took place on Saturday, April 26th from 9:00 am to 12:00 pm. PM&R attendees include Clinical Research Coordinator II Sarah Golus and her two children, Research Coordinator III Alan Young and former PM&R Clinical Research Coordinator Jennifer Nguyen who is presently in the Department of Anesthesiology. A lot of trash was cleaned up and fun memories were had! 

PM&R Participates in National Exercise Day 

National Exercise Day is celebrated annually on April 18th. This day aims to encourage people of all ages and abilities to participate in physical activity and promote the importance of exercise for overall health and well-being. Pictured above is Clinical Research Coordinators Alan Young, Sarah Golus, Morgan McIlwee and Administrative Supervisor Monika Szczerba. 

Spasticity Journal Club 

Stroke Awareness Month 

The month of May is designated as National Stroke Awareness Month in the United States. This month-long campaign focuses on raising public awareness about stroke, its risk factors, symptoms, and the importance of seeking timely medical attention. It aims to reduce the incidence of stroke and improve outcomes for stroke survivors. Our very own Clinical Research Team took time in May to raise awareness about stroke, its symptoms, risk factors, and prevention strategies.

Congratulations Dr. Bindiya Shah!

Please help us congratulate Dr. Bindiya Shah and her family for welcoming their baby Mahi Anish Shahon 4/4/25 at 3:55 a.m. 

PM&R Department Shared Photos and Memories

PM&R Philanthropy Case 

Please contact Meg Bilicki, Senior Director of Development  mbilicki@mcw.edu for more information.

To support Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation click on this link!

Department Mascot's Outfit for this Quarter

In this quarter's newsletter, our beloved department mascot, Randy the Rhino, shares a recent photo of himself at his cousin’s farm in North Dakota, where he is picking newly bloomed tulips to celebrate spring.

The answer to the riddle below will be provided in our next newsletter. 

"When is a door no longer a door?"

Answer to our last newsletter's riddle: "a candel"

Wellness Feature: Spring Into Strength 

Building resilience across physical, nutritional, intellectual, and mental domains is crucial for overall well-being. Research indicates that engaging in regular physical activity enhances stress resilience and reduces the risk of stress-related disorders. For instance, a study found that individuals with higher muscular and self-perceived fitness levels were less likely to develop such disorders. Exercise is fantastic, and we need it, but we also need more natural movement throughout the day. How can you make that happen? What CAN you do vs. what you CAN’T (growth mindset). Move more by building in movement breaks throughout the day. If you’re reading this, stand up, walk around, do some squats, whatever movement works for you…. get moving.

Nutritional habits also play a significant role in resilience. Studies have shown that stress is associated with the consumption of less healthy food, and that physical activity and nutritional awareness can mitigate this effect, leading to better life satisfaction.

In March we celebrate National Nutrition Month. This year’s theme is Food Connects Us which embraces the social and community aspects of how food connects us to our cultures, traditions, and the people in our lives. Making informed nutritional choices and developing healthy eating and lifestyle habits sustains us. The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) has over 100 countries featured on their website organized by continent and region with each country’s messages for their population about recommended food choice and diet. Have some fun – pick a country and look at their dietary guidelines. Eating together isn’t just about nutrition, it’s about strengthening social bonds, preserving traditions, making memories, and promoting overall well-being.

Emotional resilience has been linked to longevity. Research indicates that individuals with higher psychological resilience have a reduced risk of all-cause mortality. Specifically, those with greater resilience were found to be 53% less likely to die over a 10-year period compared to those with lower resilience.

Resilient people have several different characteristics that help them weather life’s challenges. This doesn’t mean they experience less distress, grief, or anxiety than other people do. Instead, they use a variety of coping skills to handle such difficulties in ways to foster growth, often emerging stronger than they were before. Some signs of resilience include having a survivor mentality, effective emotional regulation, self-compassion, problem-solving skills and strong social support.  

While direct statistical evidence on intellectual resilience is limited, maintaining cognitive engagement through activities like reading, learning new skills, or engaging in stimulating conversations is associated with better cognitive health and may contribute to overall resilience. Treat your mind as you would any other “muscle” in your body. Get a buff mind! Some quick tips to get you started are to adopt a growth mindset, keep up with current events, issues and ideas, get creative with art, writing or cooking to engage your mind, and learn for the sake of learning.

Fostering resilience through physical activity, proper nutrition, mental toughness, and intellectual engagement is supported by research and contributes to improved health outcomes and well-being. you can find more information here.

Featured Healthy Recipe - Spinach and Feta Quesadillas 

Ingredients:

• Tortillas: Choose your favorite type, whether it’s flour, whole wheat, or gluten-free.
• Feta Cheese: Crumbled for a creamy, tangy flavor.
• Fresh Spinach: Washed, dried, and chopped.
• Olive Oil or Butter: For a crispy, golden crust.
• Optional Add-Ins: Sun-dried tomatoes, olives, grilled chicken, or caramelized onions for extra flavor

Directions:

1. Rinse and chop the spinach.
2. Crumble the feta cheese into a bowl.
3. If using add-ins like sun-dried tomatoes or grilled chicken, prepare those as well.
4. Lay a tortilla flat and evenly spread spinach and feta on one half.
5. Fold the tortilla in half, pressing gently to seal.
6. Heat a non-stick skillet over medium heat and add a small amount of olive oil or butter.
7. Place the folded tortilla in the skillet and cook for 2-3 minutes on each side until golden brown and crispy.
8. Repeat for additional quesadillas.
9. Use a sharp knife or pizza cutter to slice the quesadilla into wedges.
10. Serve warm with your favorite dips or sides.

*If you would like to share a favorite healthy recipe in next quarter's newsletter please email Rhiannon Shewczyk at Rshewczyk@mcw.edu

April is Autism Awareness Month

Autism Awareness Month is dedicated to raising awareness, promoting acceptance, and supporting the autism community. It's a time to educate the public about autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and destigmatize the experiences of those living with it, while also celebrating the talents and contributions of autistic individuals. 

April Month-long Observations:

• Arab-American Heritage Month
• Celebrate Diversity Month
• Earth Month
• National Child Abuse Prevention Month
• National Volunteer Month

Important April DE&I calendar dates:

• April 5 – Laylat al-Qadr (Muslim)
• April  7 – Navrati ends (Hindu)
• April 9 – Eid-al-Fitr/End of Ramadan (Muslim)
• April 10 – Mahavir Jayanti - Jain
• April 11 – National Day of Silence (LGBTQ+)
• April 12 – Passover begins (Jewish)
• April 13 – Palm Sunday (Christian)
• April 14 – Vaisakhi – Sikh 
• April 18 – Good Friday - Christian 
• April 20 – Easter (Christian)
• April 20 – Passover ends
• April 21 – Start of Ridvan (Baha’i)
• April 22 – Earth Day
• April 23 – Yom Hashoah (Jewish)

May is ALS Awreness Month 

ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis) Awareness Month is observed in May. This month is dedicated to raising awareness about ALS, a progressive neurodegenerative disease, and supporting those affected by it.

May Month-long Observations:

• Haitian Heritage Month
• Indian Heritage Month
• Jewish-American Heritage Month
• Mental Health Awareness Month
• National Asian American and South Pacific Islander Heritage Month
• Older Americans Month
• South Asian American Heritage Month

Important May DE&I Calendar Dates:

• May 1 – Beltane - (Northern Hemisphere) Wicca/Paganism 
• May 1 – Samhain - (Southern Hemisphere) Wicca/Paganism 
• May 5 – Cinco de Mayo
• May 12 – Vesakha Puja Day - Buddhism
• May 17 – International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia
• May 19 – Victoria Day (Canada)
• May 21 – World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development
• May 23 – Declaration of the Bab (Baha’i)
• May 26 – Memorial Day
• May 29 – Ascension of Baha’u’llah (Baha’i)

June is Pride Month (LGBTQ+)

Pride Month is a month-long observance dedicated to the celebration of LGBTQ pride, commemorating the contributions of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) culture and community. Pride Month is observed in June in the United States, coinciding with the anniversary of the 1969 Stonewall riots, a series of gay liberation protests.

June Month-long Observations:

• Alzheimer’s and Brain Awareness Month
• Black Music Month
• National Caribbean American Heritage Month

Important June DE&I Calendar Dates:

• June 1-3 – Shavuot - Jewish
• June 5 – World Environment Day
• June 6 – Eid al-Adha (Muslim)
• June 8 – Pentecost - Orthodox Christian 
• June 9 – Race Unity Day
• June 12 – Loving Day
• June 19 – Juneteenth
• June 20 – World Refugee Day
• June 20 – Litha, Summer Solstice (Pagan)
• June 21 – National Indigenous Peoples Day (Canada)
• June 24 – St-Jean-Baptiste Day (Quebec)
• June 28 – Pride Day (LGBTQ+) (varies by city and country)

COVID-19 Guidelines 

MCW and our affiliate hospital partners are committed to containing the spread of COVID-19 and its variants. MCW includes COVID-19 vaccination in our Mandatory Vaccination Program requiring students and learners who participate in clinical care to be fully vaccinated or have an approved exemption accommodation to be considered compliant. The COVID-19 vaccine requirement has been discontinued for employees effective June 13, 2023, following recent guidance from the CDC and Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). 

Learners who participate in clinical care will submit proof of COVID-19 vaccination prior to commencement of their educational program at MCW or MCWAH (residents). To be compliant, individuals must have received both doses of a two-dose vaccination.

To submit proof of vaccination, please send a picture or screenshot of one of the following documents to IOHCovid@froedtert.com:

• CDC vaccine card
• Epic record
• Wisconsin Immunization Registry record (or other state registry)

MCW continues to strongly recommend COVID-19 vaccinations and boosters to protect against COVID-19, but vaccination is not required as a condition of employment with MCW. While COVID-19 vaccination is no longer required for employees at this time, MCW reserves the right to modify requirements under this program at any time.

Learners who obtain boosters somewhere other than Froedtert IOH should submit their documentation to IOHCovid@froedtert.com with the subject line, “ COVID Vaccine Records.” Additionally, School of Medicine and School of Pharmacy students should upload documentation to CastleBranch, and Graduate School students should email it to Angela Backus.

You can learn more information here.

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