The Department of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation and the CU Physical Therapy Program proudly congratulate Jennifer Stevens-Lapsley, PT, PhD, FAPTA on receiving the Paul B. Magnuson Award for Outstanding Achievement in Rehabilitation Research and Development from the US Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Research and Development. This is the highest honor bestowed on VA rehabilitation investigators.

Established in 1998, the Magnuson Award recognizes a VA Rehabilitation Research & Development investigator who exhibits extraordinary dedication to disabled veterans and seeks new treatments to help patients regain their independence and quality of life. These qualities were embodied by its namesake, pioneering surgeon Dr. Paul B. Magnuson, who was known for his "patient-first" philosophy and his belief that a practitioner's duty was to restore a patient "to his family, his job, and his life." Award recipients receive a $5,000 individual award, a plaque, and up to $50,000 per year for three years to support their research.

Dr. Stevens-Lapsley is a tenured Professor in PM&R and CU PT at the University of Colorado Anschutz, where she serves as Director of the Rehabilitation Science PhD Program and Vice Chair of Research in PM&R. She is also Associate Director for Research and a Health Scientist at the Geriatric Research Education and Clinical Center (GRECC) at the VA Eastern Colorado Health Care System and Director of the RESTORE Team. With more than 20 years of sustained VA RR&D and NIH funding, her research has transformed rehabilitation for older adults and Veterans. She is nationally recognized for her foundational work in post-arthroplasty rehabilitation, high-intensity resistance training in skilled nursing facilities, and telerehabilitation programs that improve access for rural and underserved Veterans. Her studies have directly influenced clinical practice guidelines and enhanced functional recovery for medically complex older adults. Moreover, she is committed to training our next generation of rehabilitation scientists and ensuring that they can meaningfully contribute to our field and compete within a competitive grant funding landscape.

In addition to the Magnuson Award, Dr. Stevens-Lapsley has recently received the Steven J. Rose Award, the Jules M. Rothstein Golden Pen Award, and several other national honors, which highlight her excellence in scholarship, mentorship, service, and scientific communication. Her achievements reflect the strength of CU Anschutz’s longstanding partnership with the VA Eastern Colorado GRECC and the outstanding caliber of research within our department and program.

Dr. Stevens-Lapsley pictured with the RESTORE Team outside the VA.