38th Annual Gersten Day
Rehabilitation Scientific Symposium
Zachary Noriega, MPA | Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation/CU School of Medicine Jun 13, 2025
The CU Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation celebrated its 38th Annual Gersten Day Rehabilitation Scientific Symposium on Friday, June 13, 2025. The presentations provided valuable research, much of which has been submitted for peer-review, and other content to the attendees.
The morning started with presentations by the outgoing residents. Emily Gianetti, MD, presented on the “Growing Pains: Rehabilitation Needs of Adults with CP Who Have Not Transitioned from Pediatric Care.” Megan Machek, MD presented on “Traumatic Injuries from Low Speed Vehicles and Golf Carts: A Scoping Review.” Christian Nicolosi, MD, presented on “Shoulder and Elbow Injuries Among High School Goalkeepers.” Andrea Nikolis, MD, presented on “The Impact of Emotional Distress on Response to Radiofrequency Ablation.” Louis Nikolis, MD, presented on “Autoreactivity to C-reactive Protein: A Potential Link to Elevated Cardiovascular Disease Risk Following Spinal Cord Injury.” Annelise Rasmussen, MD, presented on “Motor Function and Dysphagia Symptoms in Adults with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy.” Finally, Erin Klements, MD, presented on “Risk Factors and Outcomes in Preterm versus Full-term Infants with Abusive Head Trauma: A Retrospective Comparative Study.” The residents will celebrate their graduation on Friday, June 20th at the Denver Museum of Nature and Science.
Following the residents were the presentations by the outgoing departmental fellows. Deanna Claus, MD, presented on “Diagnosis of Heterotopic Ossification after Spinal Cord Injury with Triple Phase Bone Scan.” Erin Mundy, MD, presented on “Evolving Rehabilitation Needs Across the Lifespan: A Mixed Methods Study with Adults with Cerebral Palsy.” Cara Vernacchia, MD, presented on “Implementation of the Agitated Behavior Scale in an Academic, Pediatric Hospital: A Quality Improvement Initiative.” Rehabilitation Psychology Fellows Hannah Scheierman, PsyD and Angela H. Lee, PhD presented on “The Need for Sexual & Reproductive Health Education for Youth with Acquired Brain Injuries,” and “Nonaccidental Brain Injury: Baseline Characteristics and Neurodevelopmental Outcomes,” respectively.
After lunch, the department welcomed our keynote speakers Drs. Pamela Wilson and Michael Blei. Both physicians are retiring after long and distinguished careers with CU PM&R and delivered their “Last Lectures” at Gersten Day. Dr. Wilson presented “The Yellow Brick Road – What does it take to be a good…” and Dr. Blei presented, “A Rehabilitation Carol.”
Following the keynote presentations, Rehabilitation Science PhD graduate Wesley Thornton, PT, DPT, PhD presented on “Midsagittal tissue bridges and walking recovery in individuals with traumatic spinal cord injury.”
After Dr. Thornton presented his research, the department announced the recipients of the third annual PM&R Professionalism Awards. CU PM&R was honored to bestow Drs. Lauren Hinrichs-Kinney and Stephanie Cowherd Ryder with this recognition. These phenomenal faculty members were nominated by their colleagues for this honor.
The CU Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation is grateful to Drs. Wilson and Blei for their incredible contributions and impactful final remarks to the department. The department is also grateful to all our residents, fellows, students, and faculty for the incredible research and clinical care happening at the CU Anschutz Medical Campus that help advance the value of rehabilitation sciences.