Global Health & Rehabilitation Biography Information

  • Operating in off-line mode.
  • Displaying current, published revision of page Global Health & Rehabilitation Biography Information, last modified by mil72 on 2016-06-06 11:59

Course Directors

Dr. Rory A. Cooper

RORY A. COOPER, PhD
Distinguished Professor, FISA/PVA Chair, Department of Rehabilitation and Technology, University of Pittsburgh 
Director, Human Engineering Research Laboratories
VA Rehabilitation Research and Development Center of Excellence fore Wheelchairs and Associated Rehabilitation Engineering
Pittsburgh, PA

Contact Information
Human Engineering Research Laboratories
VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System
6425 Penn Avenue, Suite 400
Pittsburgh, PA 15206
(412) 822-3700
rcooper@pitt.edu 

Rory A. Cooper, PhD received the BS and MEng degrees in electrical engineering for California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo in 1985 and 1986, respectively. He received the Ph.D. degree in electrical and computer engineering with a concentration in bioengineering from University of California at Santa Barbara in 1989. He is FISA & Paralyzed Veterans of America (PVA) Chair and Distinguished Professor of the Department of Rehabilitation Science and Technology, and professor of Bioengineering, Mechanical Engineering, Physical Medicine & Rehab, and Orthopedic Surgery at the University of Pittsburgh. Dr. Cooper is Founding Director and VA Senior Research Career Scientist of the VA Rehabilitation Research and Development Center of Excellence in Pittsburgh. He is also the Co-Director of the NSF Quality of Life Technology Engineering Research Center, a joint effort between the University of Pittsburgh and Carnegie Mellon University.

He is the Editor of the journal Assistive Technology and the AT Research Book Series of IOS Press. Dr. Cooper serves or has served on the editorial boards of several prominent peer-reviewed journals in the fields of rehabilitation and bioengineering. He has received multiple prestigious awards to include the Olin Teague Award, Paul Magnuson Award, U.S. Army Outstanding Civilian Service Medal, James Peters Award, Maxwell J. Schleifer Award,DaVinci Lifetime Achievement Award, Veteran’s Leadership Program Veteran of the Year, and a member of the inaugural class of the Spinal Cord Injury Hall of Fame. Dr. Cooper has authored or co-authored over 200 peer-reviewed journal publications. He has ten patents awarded or pending. Dr. Cooper is the author of two books: Rehabilitation Engineering Applied to Mobility and Manipulation and Wheelchair Selection and Configuration, and co-editor of An Introduction to Rehabilitation Engineering, Care of the Combat Amputee, and the Warrior Transition Leader Medical Rehabilitation Handbook. Dr. Cooper is an elected Fellow of the Rehabilitation Engineering and Assistive Technology Society of North America (RESNA), the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), the American Institute of Medical and Biological Engineering (AIMBE), and the Biomedical Engineering Society (BMES). Dr. Cooper has been an invited lecturer at many institutions around the world, for example the National Academies of Sciences Distinctive Voices Lecture, and was awarded Honorary Professor at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University and Xi’an Jiatong University. He has also been elected to Eta Kappa Nu, Tau Beta Pi, and Sigma Xi honorary societies.   

Dr. Cooper is a former President of RESNA, and a member of the RESNA/ANSI and ISO Wheelchair Standards Committees, and IEEE-EMBS Medical Device Standards Committee. In 1988, he was a bronze medalist in the Paralympic Games, Seoul, Republic of Korea. He was on the steering committee for the 1996 Paralympic Scientific Congress held in Atlanta, GA, and the Sports Scientist for the 2008 U.S. Paralympic Team in Beijing, China. In 2009, Dr. Cooper was featured on a Cheerios cereal box for his many achievements. He has been a member of the U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services – Medicare Advisory Committee, Steering Committee of the Academy of PM&R on Research Capacity Building. and Chair of the National Advisory Board on Medical Rehabilitation Research, National Institute of Child Health & Human Development, and National Academy of Sciences Keck Foundation Initiative on Human Health Span Steering Committee. Dr. Cooper is a U.S. Army veteran with a spinal cord injury and a Director of the Paralyzed Veterans of America Research Foundation. He currently serves as a member of the U.S. Secretary of Veterans Affairs Prosthetics & Special Disability Programs Advisory Committee, U.S. Department of Defense Health Board Subcommittee on Amputation and Orthopedics, and the Board of Directors of Easter Seals. Dr. Cooper has actively collaborated with the Indian Spinal Injuries Centre on increasing access to quality services and devices for people with disabilities in India and throughout developing countries.

COL Paul F. Pasquina

PAUL F. PASQUINA, MD

Colonel (RET), U.S. Army Medical Corps
Residency Director and Chair, Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation  
Director, Center for Rehabilitation Sciences Research
Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences
Walter Reed National Military Medical Center

Contact Information
Center for Rehabilitation Sciences Research
Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences
Walter Reed National Military Medical Center
8901 Wisconsin Ave.
Bethesda, MD 20889 
Paul.F.Pasquina.mil@health.mil

 

Paul F. Pasquina, M.D. is the Residency Director and Chair, Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation and Director of the Center for Rehabilitation Sciences Research at Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Walter Reed National Military Medical Center.  Dr. Pasquina retired from the United States Army Medical Corps in 2012 as Chief of the Department of Orthopaedics and Rehabilitation at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center and the Director of the Center for Rehabilitation Sciences Research (CRSR) at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences (USUHS).   He is a graduate of the United States Military Academy at West Point and USUHS.  In addition to being board certified in Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation (PM&R), he is also board certified in Electrodiagnostic Medicine and Pain Medicine.  He completed a fellowship in sports medicine and remains interested in all aspects of musculoskeletal medicine especially as it applies to individuals with disabilities. 

He is the specialty consultant to the Army Surgeon General for Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation and a Secretarial appointee on the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Advisory Committee for Prosthetics and Special Disabilities Programs.  Dr. Pasquina has authored multiple book chapters, journal articles and policy papers.  He has served as the PM&R Residency Program Director and Medical Advisor to the North Atlantic Regional Medical Command for quality healthcare. He has received multiple military awards, as well as awards for teaching and mentorship, including the U.S. Army’s “A” Proficiency Designation for academic excellence, the Order of Military Medical Merit, and Honorary Fellow of the Rehabilitation Engineering and Assistive Technology Society of North America (RESNA).


Guest Faculty and Presenters 

Mr. John C. Shero, MS

Mr. John C. Shero, MS

Director of the Department of Defense and Veterans Affairs

Extremity Trauma and Amputation Center of Excellence

john.c.shero.civ@mail.mil



Mr. John C. Shero serves as the first Director of the Department of Defense and Veterans Affairs (DoD-VA) Extremity Trauma and Amputation Center of Excellence (EACE), an executive agency aligned under the United States Army Surgeon General, since November of 2011. He enjoyed a number of interesting and challenging command and staff assignments during his 26 years of military service, from medical platoon leader in an Infantry Battalion to his final job in the Army as the Chief of Staff and Deputy Commander for Administration, at Brooke Army Medical Center, the Army’s largest medical center.

Timothy R. Dillingham, MD, MS

Timothy R. Dillingham, MD, MS

Chair, Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation

Chief Medical Officer and Physiatrist-in-Chief, Good Shepherd Penn Partners

Timothy.Dillingham@uphs.upenn.edu

 

 

Dr. Dillingham earned his Medical Degree from the University of Washington, School of Medicine in Seattle, Washington in 1986.  He completed his internship and residency in Rehabilitation Medicine in 1990.   Following his training, Dr. Dillingham served for four years in the United States Army at Walter Reed Army Medical Center, Washington, D.C. during the Persian Gulf War. Upon completing his military service in 1994, Dr. Dillingham joined the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and developed a multidisciplinary regional clinic for persons with limb loss.  From 2003 to 2011 he was Chairman of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at the Medical College of Wisconsin.  Since 2011, Dr. Dillingham is the William J. Erdman II, Professor and Chairman, for the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Dr. Dillingham has published over 100 peer-reviewed papers and invited contributions.  He has won three resident teaching awards.  His national recognitions for academic and professional contributions include; the Association of Academic Physiatrists Excellence in Research Writing Award in 1999, the Ernest W. Johnson, Excellence in Research Writing Award in 2009, and the Distinguished Researcher Award in 2010.

CAPT Glen B. Diehl

CAPT Glen B. Diehl

Special Assistant and Policy Advisor

Director, Center of Global Health Engagement

Principal Investigator, Uniformed Services University

glendon.diehl@usuhs.edu 

 

CAPT Diehl serves as the Director of the newly established Center for Global Health Engagement (CGHE) at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences (USU). In this role he advises on matters involving global health engagement policy, humanitarian assistance/disaster relief (HA/DR), health related stability operations, security cooperation, security assistance, health diplomacy and health threats based capacity. CAPT Diehl also coordinates with the DoD, the Services, combatant commands, the interagency, specific host and partner nations, and other organizations that facilitate mission execution on security cooperation activities as well as assessment, monitoring, and evaluation policy. 

Additionally, he is the principal investigator for the Measures Of effectiveness in Defense Engagement and Learning (MODEL) Study, an Office of the Assistant Secretary for Defense for Health Affairs (OASD (HA)) funded grant previously executed through the USU's Center for Disaster and Humanitarian Assistance Medicine. He received his PhD in Public Policy and Administration from American University with a concentration in economics. CAPT Diehl also holds a Master of Arts from the US Naval War College and a Master of Health Administration from Baylor University.

Robert S. Gailey, Ph.D.

Robert S. Gailey, Ph.D.

Professor, Department of Physical Therapy

Miller School of Medicine

rgailey5@gmail.com

 

Robert S. Gailey, PhD, PT (Professor) is a professor at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Department of Physical Therapy and the Director of the Neil Spielholz Functional Outcomes Research & Evaluation Center. He has also been a Special Advisor to the Department of Defense for amputee rehabilitation. His Doctorate in Prosthetics and Orthotics was received from the University of Strathclyde in Glasgow, Scotland. He has authored over 60 peer reviewed publications and book chapters. Over the years, he has been involved in developing nine outcome measures, including the Amputee Mobility Predictor and Comprehensive High-Activity Mobility Predictor and continues his research efforts directed toward amputee rehabilitation, prosthetic gait, functional assessment and amputee athletics.  

Dr. Gailey has received numerous honors including ISPO’s Forcheimer Prize for Research, the Amputee Coalition of America’s Dr. Ernest Burgess Award, the American Physical Therapy Association’s Henry & Florence Kendall Practice Award and has won the Thranhardt Lecture Series award on four occasions.  He is an Honorary Member of American Academy of Orthotics and Prosthetics. He also worked extensively with Project Medishare in providing rehabilitation and prosthetic care to people of Haiti injured in the 2010 earthquake.

Rahul M. Jindal, MD, PhD, MB

Rahul M. Jindal, MD, PhD, MBA

Professor, The Department of Surgery and Division of Global Health

Uniformed Services University & the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center

rahul.jindal@usuhs.edu

 

Dr. Jindal is currently a Staff Transplant Surgeon at the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center and Professor of Surgery and Global Health at Uniformed Services University of Health Sciences, Bethesda. Dr. Jindal is the author or co-author of over 160 manuscripts in peer-reviewed medical journals. Dr. Jindal setup the first comprehensive kidney dialysis and transplant program in Guyana, South America. He mobilized a team of physicians and nurses, obtained funding and successfully performed the first living kidney transplant in Guyana in July 2008, mother to son followed by more transplants and related surgical procedures. His team visits Guyana 4 times a year and has performed numerous surgical procedures. Recently, Dr. Jindal’s team added corneal transplant program to their existing work in Guyana which was widely reported. Dr. Jindal was awarded the Fulbright-Nehru Distinguished Chair to carry out research and teaching in India for 2015-6 and the Ellis Island Medal of Honor for international humanitarian work in 2015.

Keoke King

Keoke King

Product Division Manager at UCP Wheels for Humanity,

UCP Wheels for Humanity

kking@ucpwheels.org

 

Keoke King has served with UCP Wheels since August of 2013 and has supervised development of several wheelchairs and assistive devices, including the flagship supportive pediatric wheelchair, the UCP Liberty, which is the leading rugged supportive wheelchair. In addition was Whirlwind Wheelchair Marketing Director from 2009 - 2013. Whirlwind is the designer of the revolutionary RoughRider wheelchair and is a pioneer in rugged wheelchair technology.

Susan Eitel

Susan Eitel

Founder/ Rehabilitation Specialist

Eitel Global

 

Susan Eitel graduated Northwestern University Physical Therapy School in 1983.  Over the past 30 years, Ms. Eitel has worked in disability in over 40 countries with extensive focus in East Africa and Southeast Asia.  Ms. Eitel has a Master’s Degree in Adult Instructional Management, and led Handicap International’s development of its Physical Therapy Assistant Training Manual.  She served as the Senior Rehabilitation Advisor for the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) until December 2015. During this period, she provided oversight for the Agency’s wheelchair and physical rehabilitation programs.  She is the founder of Eitel Global and lives in Annapolis, Maryland.

Robert Horvath

Robert Horvath

Programs for Vulnerable Populations

Center of Excellence on Democracy, Human Rights and Governance

rhorvath@usaid.gov 



Rob Horvath is chief of the Empowerment and Inclusion Division in the U.S. Agency for International Development’s (USAID) Center of Excellence on Democracy, Human Rights and Governance, Bureau for Democracy, Conflict, and Humanitarian Assistance.  He also serves as the Interim U.S. Government’s Special Advisor for Children in Adversity. Under his leadership, the Empowerment and Inclusion Division coordinates USAID’s work for vulnerable populations; including initiatives addressing survivors of torture and trauma, civilian victims of conflict, people with disabilities, and vulnerable children.  The division also houses the Center on Children in Adversity.  Under the guidance of the Special Advisor, the center coordinates the efforts of seven federal agencies and more than thirty departments working to implement the U.S. Government’s Action Plan on Children in Adversity and the legislative mandates under U. S. Public Law 109-95: The Assistance for Orphans and Vulnerable Children in Developing Countries Act of 2005 (PL 109-95).  The division supports a portfolio of more than seventy programs, with a current, combined value of nearly $250 million, delivered to more than 45 countries. 

Rob has served as an expert advisor to the World Health Organization, the World Bank, the National Council on Disability, and the International Society for Prosthetics and Orthotics.  He also sits on the Board of Directors of the International Committee of the Red Cross’ Special Fund for the Disabled, the Leaders Council of the Global Alliance for Children and is a certified trainer for both the Virginia State and National PTAs. Previously, Rob spent eleven years in Southeast Asia serving as USAID’s Regional Grants Manager, as a division chief with the International Catholic Migration Commission’s Orderly Departure Program, and an early childhood education volunteer and Director of pre-service training with Peace Corps/Thailand.  

Prior to his work oversees, Rob worked in vocational rehabilitation for the State of Michigan’s Department of Education and as a counseling therapist with the Christian Family and Mental Health Services.  He holds a B.S. in Human Resource Development with a specialization in training and development and an M.A. in Clinical Mental Health Counselling.

 

Jonathan Pearlman, PhD

 

Jonathan Pearlman, PhD

Associate Director of Engineering

Assistant Professor

University of Pittsburgh          

 

Jon Pearlman is HERL's Associate Director of Engineering and assistant professor in the Department of Rehabilitation Science & Technology at the University of Pittsburgh.  Dr. Pearlman earned his BS and MS in mechanical engineering at the UC Berkeley and Cornell University, respectively.  Dr. Pearlman completed his PhD work Rehabilitation Science and Technology at the University of Pittsburgh in 2007, with an emphasis on assistive technology design and transfer to developing countries.  Dr. Pearlman’s research interests are in the areas of participatory action design, assistive technology transfer methods, and new product development. 

 

Faculty Disclosure

Faculty for this activity have been required to disclose all relationships with any proprietary entity producing health care goods or services, with the exemption of non-profit or government organizations and non-health care related companies.

No significant financial relationships with commercial entities were disclosed by:

No relevant financial relationships with commercial entities were disclosed by:

Dr. Paul F. Pasquina, M.D. Course Director
Mr. John C. Shero, MS
Timothy R. Dillingham, MD, MS
CAPT Glen B. Diehl
Robert S. Gailey, Ph.D.
Dr. Jindhal, PhD
Keoke King, MBA
Susan Eitel
Robert Horvath
Amy Donovan, Course Coordinator

The following information was disclosed:

Rory Cooper, PhD, Course Director.   Patent Agreements: AT Sciences; Three Rivers Holdings.
Timothy R. Dillingham, MD, MS Other: ETC.: I founded and own a majority share of IFIT PROSTHETICS, LLC. This company makes high quality prosthetic devices that enhance the lives of persons with amputations.

CME Accreditation and Designation Statement 

This activity has been planned and implemented in accordance with the accreditation requirements and policies of the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) through the joint providership of University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine and the Center for Rehabilitation Science Research at the Uniformed Services University for the Health Science. The University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine is accredited by the ACCME to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

The University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine designates this live activity for a maximum of 7.25 AMA PRA Category 1 CreditsTM. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity. 

Other health care professionals are awarded 0.7 continuing education units (CEU's) which are equal to 7.2 contact hours.

Disclaimer Statement

The information presented at this CME program represents the views and opinions of the individual presenters, and does not constitute the opinion or endorsement of, or promotion by, the UPMC Center for Continuing Education in the Health Sciences, UPMC/University of Pittsburgh Medical Center or Affiliates and University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine. Reasonable efforts have been taken intending for educational subject matter to be presented in a balanced, unbiased fashion and in compliance with regulatory requirements. However, each program attendee must always use his/her own personal and professional judgment when considering further application of this information, particularly as it may relate to patient diagnostic or treatment decisions including, without limitation, FDA-approved uses and any off-label uses.