INSIDE... North Shore-LIJ RehabILItation Network Summer 2014

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1 North Shore-LIJ RehabILItation Network Summer 2014 INSIDE... Comprehensive Joint Rehabilitation Services Help Patients Heal } 4 Addressing the Complex Needs of Brain Injury Patients } 5 Patients Become Teachers and Mentors } 8

2 message from the chairman The Physician as Creative Writer: A Means to Improved Patient Care? by Adam stein, MD One of the core values of the Hofstra North Shore-LIJ School of Medicine is reflection. Specifically, our medical school is committed to embedding in all our learning experiences the time and skills necessary to consciously examine, interpret and understand the thoughts and feelings that emanate from intense patient encounters. Through the process of mentored self-reflection and assessment, we will ensure the development of Adam stein, MD a true learning and professional community capable of nurturing the transformation from student to physician. We believe that reflection is an active learning tool that can foster qualities critical to outstanding medical practice, such as self-appraisal and humanism. Reflection is a method by which a physician can demonstrate the competency of practice-based learning, a core competency designated by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) as crucial to demonstrating competence during residency training. In the Residency Training Program at the Hofstra North Shore-LIJ School of Medicine, all residents participate in narrative medicine; the use of creative writing to encourage reflection. Our curriculum calls for the monthly writing of narratives. Sometimes the residents write about a topic of their choice, usually stimulated by a memorable or challenging patient interaction. In this setting, they are essentially writing a journal entry, which they share with me electronically. I always comment on entries, and we often engage in a back-and-forth discussion about some aspect of their written piece. The residents also write in response to specific prompts. The prompt may be a phrase, a reading, a photograph or other artistic rendering; in short, anything that might stimulate the participants to write about a meaningful aspect of being a resident physician. For example, one prompt that I have used successfully is doctor-centered care. This phrase stimulates the residents to consider an occasion when they may have strayed from the ideal of patient-centered care. Journal writing is a nearly private exercise, as only I read the entry and provide feedback. Prompted reflection, though, is performed as a group, with residents volunteering to share their narratives. In this setting, there is always discussion after a resident reads, as others respond to the themes brought forth. In this manner, the group often learns together, and the discussion allows for a variety of perspectives on the theme. Scholarship may even result from narrative medicine. This issue of Always in Motion features Welcome, written by Allyn Behling-Rosa, DO, our incoming chief resident. Dr. Behling-Rosa wrote this as one of her journal assignments. Welcome was published in Narrateur, the literary magazine of the Hofstra North Shore-LIJ School of Medicine, and was read by Dr. Behling-Rosa as part of the launch of our school s Osler Society, which is dedicated to the promotion of humanism in medicine. In addition, Dr. Behling-Rosa s narrative has been published in the March 2014 edition of The Living Hand, the medical humanities section of the Journal of General Internal Medicine. Welcome by Allyn Behling-Rosa, DO welcome, just push hard on the door, careful the screen is ripped I put my head through it the last time I came home when I lost my balance well I did forget to use my cane when I went for the mail and of course I forgot to put on my splint which didn t help but all is well at home no problems no questions no concerns keeping on keeping on trying to remember to do my stretches and exercises didn t they tell you that I couldn t find a ride to therapy anymore didn t they tell you I had to change my insurance didn t they tell you I forgot who I was supposed to follow up with that s okay, I m feeling fine, keeping on no I didn t have my meal yet, the young lady hasn t stopped by but I have some ramen noodles ready to boil, some sardines too can I offer you some water or perhaps some toast and jam don t worry, I ve been watching my sugar by eating the same things remember how I was having that pain down my shoulder and hand well it stopped a while ago, but I stopped using that hand too and because my balance is bad I stopped taking those stairs it s much easier to lay down on the couch and bathe in the sink oh, it s so good to see you after all this time you know I wouldn t have done this well without all your help are you sure I can t offer you a chair, let me move the boxes you wouldn t mind moving a few for me anyhow over there? 2 Always in motion / Summer 2014

3 our staff Staff Awards and Departmental Highlights Rehab was well-represented in North Shore-LIJ s President s Award nominations. STARS (Sports Therapy and Rehabilitation Services) was selected as a finalist for the 2014 President s Award: Team Category. STARS has achieved a high degree of success in financial performance and patient experience due to teamwork and staff engagement. Employee engagement is the only way to maintain long-term organizational success, and STARS has created a culture that fosters engagement through mutual respect and employee investment. This belief was evidenced by the Morehead Associates (Press Ganey) North Shore-LIJ Employee Engagement Survey, where STARS employee engagement was ranked highest in the health system and 99th percentile in the nation. Sharon Zinke, senior recreation therapist at Staten Island University Hospital North, was a nominee for the 2014 President s Award: Exceptional Patient Experience. Ms. Zinke knows no boundaries when it comes to enhancing the patient, community and employee experience. From creating a Sunday Dinner program in which families order in food to share with patients, to spearheading the first annual Rehabilitation Medicine employee picnic in 2013, to making plans to create a wheelchair-accessible outdoor garden for patients, her creativity and compassion are unmatched. PATRICk McCarthy, DPT, physical therapist at LIJ Medical Center, was a nominee for the 2014 President s Award: Exceptional Patient Experience. Mr. McCarthy recently became certified as a diabetic educator, the first and only physical therapist at the hospital to take on this role. In addition to creating a presentation to educate health care workers on the importance of exercise for patients with diabetes, he also developed a Welcome to Rehabilitation card in 2013 that helped improve Press Ganey patient satisfaction results from 87 to 89.3 percent. Staten Island UNIversity Hospital s INTIMACy/ Sexuality Program was a nominee for the 2014 President s Award for Teamwork. A professional multidisciplinary team, consisting of an occupational therapist, a physical therapist, a speech pathologist, a recreation therapist, a social worker and a nurse, was formed to develop a comprehensive program on sexual counseling to patients. Through group discussion and in-services, the team educated the professional staff about the new program, created a comprehensive resource manual and developed a process to ensure that counseling is offered to all patients. Taking a team approach also enables patients to choose which clinician they prefer to speak with. The team plans to add information in other languages and considerations for the LGBT community. This team demonstrated excellent collaboration toward a common goal to improve scope of service and quality care for patients. On Tuesday, March 11, the Rehabilitation Leadership from Southside and Staten Island University Hospitals traveled to Washington, D.C. to meet with United States Senators Charles Schumer (D-NY) and Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), and House of Representatives leadership Michael Grimm (R-SI), Peter King (R-LI) and Tom Reed (R-NY). They mounted a vocal campaign along with 80 members of the American Medical Providers Association as Congress is considering devastating cuts to rehabilitation hospitals/units. They urged Congress to preserve access to inpatient rehabilitation hospitals and units and the specialized, coordinated, individualized treatment they provide. In addition, they expressed their concern that some proposals would unfairly cut these Medicare services in hospitals where medical rehabilitation is provided, which would severely limit access for Medicare beneficiaries, people with disabilities and others who need this intensive level of care. On May 16, Ona Bloom, PhD, director of research, Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, and an assistant investigator at The Feinstein Institute for Medical Research, received first place for Best Poster Presentation at the American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) Annual Meeting entitled Elevated Levels of the Pro-Inflammatory Cytokine Macrophage Migration Inhibitory Factor (MIF) in Acute SCI Patients. karen Lenzovich, MA, CCC-SLP, speech language pathologist at North Shore University Hospital was awarded Employee of the Month for March Dr. Jason Lipetz Partners with North Shore-LIJ for Spine Program Development The Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation is proud to announce the appointment of Jason Lipetz, MD, to the position of chief of the Division of Spine Medicine. In this role, Dr. Lipetz will direct the department s strategic plans and quality initiatives for spine care, with a focus on the development of multidisciplinary spine centers through collaboration with our colleagues in the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and Neuroscience. Dr. Lipetz is a graduate of the Columbia Presbyterian College of Physicians and Surgeons, where he was inducted into the Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Society. He completed residency training in physical medicine and rehabilitation at the Kessler Institute for Rehabilitation Rutgers New Jersey Medical School. His fellowship in spine medicine was completed at the Penn Spine Center at the University of Pennsylvania. Dr. Lipetz s outstanding qualifications are exemplified by his broad board certifications in physical medicine and rehabilitation, pain medicine and electrodiagnostic medicine. He is a clinical assistant professor at the Hofstra North Shore-LIJ School of Medicine. 3

4 feature Comprehensive Joint Rehabilitation Services help patients heal after surgery The North Shore-LIJ Rehabilitation Network is dedicated to providing joint replacement patients with results-oriented, comprehensive rehabilitation services. Our easy-to-access locations and services throughout Long Island, Queens, Manhattan, Staten Island and Brooklyn feature state-of-the-art technology that helps our staff evaluate and treat injuries as well as track progress. The network is pleased to offer joint replacement patients a comprehensive posthospital package of care. Industry trends support the benefits of offering enhanced services outside the traditional hospital setting whether in the home, in the outpatient rehabilitation setting or in subacute rehabilitation. The fully integrated, coordinated package of care is individualized for each patient s needs, maintaining a timely transition from the hospital into the North Shore-LIJ Rehabilitation Network. Quality care, exemplary service, coordinated medical management and communication are cornerstones of our Rehabilitation Network. In terms of providing quality services, our network is driven by its keen focus on graduating patients with optimal functional outcomes. The Rehabilitation Network has consistently received superior patient satisfaction ratings, monitored by Press Ganey. We always strive to communicate patients status updates to physicians and health care teams in a timely manner. The North Shore-LIJ Home Care Network, which is one of the largest home care agencies in New York State, provides a range of rehabilitation-related services for people of all ages. Patients can receive physical and occupational therapy at home, with the first visit occurring within 24 hours of hospital discharge. Such therapy services are available up to five days per week. Home care also includes home safety assessments to keep patients safe and prevent further injury. The rehabilitation professionals at our inpatient subacute facilities provide personalized care under the direction of each patient s physician. The Stern Family Center for Rehabilitation and Orzac Center for Rehabilitation programs have earned five-star ratings from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Our facilities, which now include Broadlawn Manor Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, offer customized medical management, enhanced physical and occupational therapy, on-site physiatry services, on-site radiology and ongoing communication with family members and the referring physician. Services offered via the network s Comprehensive Outpatient Therapy include joint replacement rehabilitation, sports therapy, aquatic therapy, fracture and trauma care, balance training and fall prevention, amputee rehabilitation, hand therapy, and back and spine care. Comprehensive Outpatient Therapy locations are available throughout Manhattan, Queens, Staten Island, Nassau and Suffolk. è For more information about joint replacement care in the North Shore-LIJ Rehabilitation Network, call REHAB-03 ( ) or visit NorthshoreLIJ.com/rehab. 4 Always in motion / Summer 2014

5 Annual Conference Addresses complex needs of brain injury patients On March 23, Transitions of Long Island hosted its annual symposium at North Shore University Hospital. The theme of the conference was Living With Acquired Brain Injury The Critical Roles of Family and the Interdisciplinary Team. Therapists, health professionals, survivors of acquired brain injury and their families and caregivers attended the conference. A talented team of North Shore-LIJ physicians, therapists, guest faculty and outstanding alumni presented current research and evidence-based practice that supports the interdisciplinary, integrative approach to the treatment of acquired brain injury (ABI). Along with family members and caregivers, a panel of alumni Jillian Borja, Samantha Eisenberg, Patrick Labossiere and Steven Miller spoke about the vital roles that their family and significant others played in their road to recovery. Presenters from Transitions of Long Island included: Jean Elbaum, PhD, director of clinical programs; Deena Henderson, MA, CCC-SLP, supervisor of speech language pathology; Jennifer Napolitano, MA, CCC-SLP; Patricia Kearney, OTR/L, MBA, supervisor of occupational therapy; feature Kathryn Mirra, PhD, neuropsychologist; and Rosanne Pachilakis, PsyD, senior neuropsychologist. From Southside Hospital: Sylvia John, MD, assistant medical director, Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation; Ewa Krol-Chorowski, DPT, senior physical therapist; Anthony Martino, BS, CTRS, recreational therapist, Brain Injury Unit; and Carey Otterstedt, otr/l, supervisor, Rehabilitation Services. From Glen Cove Hospital: Sarah Khan, DO, director of the Brain Injury Unit. From the Hofstra North Shore-LIJ School of Medicine at Hofstra University: Angela Scicutella, MD, PhD, neuropsychiatrist, associate professor of Clinical Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences. Topics of discussion included executive functioning following acquired brain injury, the value of creative expression, addressing the complex needs of the family, the impact of depression on individuals with ABI, spasticity management and mirror therapy for upper extremity recovery. è For more information about Transitions of Long Island, call or visit northshorelij.com/transitions. Publications è The Influence of Age on the Viscoelastic Stretch Response. E.J. Sobolewski, E.D. Ryan, B.J. Thompson, M.P. McHugh, E.C. Conchola. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research. April 2013, vol. 28, no. 4, pp è Is Valgus Unloader Bracing Effective in Normally-Aligned Individuals: Implications for Post-Surgical Protocols Following Cartilage Restoration Procedures? K.F. Orishimo, I.J. Kremenic, S.J. Lee, M.P. McHugh, S.J. Nicholas. Knee Surgery, Sports Traumatology, Arthroscopy. December 2013, vol. 21, no. 12, pp è Robotic Measurement of Arm Movements After Stroke Establishes Biomarkers of Motor Recovery. H.I. Krebs, M. Krams, D.K. Agrafiotis, A. Dibernardo, J.C. Chavez, G.S. Littman, E. Yang, G. Byttebier, L. Dipietro, A. Rykman, K. McArthur, K. Hajjar, K.R. Lees, B.T. Volpe. Stroke. January 2014, vol. 45, no. 1, pp Active Research è A Multicenter, Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled, Parallel Group Study to Evaluate the Efficacy, Safety and Pharmacokinetics of SUN13837 Injection for 28 Days in Adult Subjects with Acute Spinal Cord Injury. A. Stein (site PI), M. Shatzer, S. Lal (coinvestigators). IRB# è The Role of HMGB-1 in Chronic Stroke. B. Volpe (PI), R. Libman, A. Stein, I. Rybinnik, J. Chang, J. Katz, M. Saul, N. Thomas (coinvestigators). IRB#12-090B è Robots Paired with tdcs in Stroke Recovery. B. Volpe (PI), A. Stein, R. Libman, H. Krebs, J. Chang, M. Saul, N. Thomas (coinvestigators). IRB#12-102B è Early Maladaptive Cognitive Schema as a Predictor of Post-Stroke Depression. R. Pachilakis (PI), M. Stalias (coinvestigator). IRB# è The General Use of Robots in Stroke Recovery: The Anklebot. B. Volpe (PI), H. Krebs, J. Chang, E. Battinelli, M. Tracey, N. Thomas, M. Saul (coinvestigators). IRB#13-310A è Systemic Biomarkers in Patients Undergoing Epidural Steroid Injection (a Pilot Study). S. Quraishi (PI), O. Bloom, N. Chahine, B. Volpe, N. Jassal, D. McCarthy (coinvestigators). IRB#12-163B è On June 4, Ona Bloom, PhD, director of research, Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, and an assistant investigator at The Feinstein Institute for Medical Research, also received an award from the NY Society of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation in recognition of outstanding research in the field of physical medicine and rehabilitation. This award was in recognition of studies performed by Dr. Bloom and her collaborators on the role of inflammation in acute and chronic spinal cord injury as well as in acknowledgment of her mentoring residents. 5

6 education Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Residency Program Achievements by Matthew Shatzer, DO, Residency Program Director I am proud to announce that we had another successful residency match this year. The following candidates have been matched to the Class of 2018: kathryn Gibbs, DO New York Institute of Technology School of Osteopathic Medicine Emily Gray, MD Sackler School of Medicine Cosmo Kwok, MD Rutgers University School of Medicine Komal PATEl, DO Rowan University School of Osteopathic Medicine è Steve Aydin, DO, has been selected by the residents as the 2014 Teacher of the Year. He was honored at the Hofstra North Shore-LIJ School of Medicine Academic Day on May 7. It is particularly impressive that Dr. Aydin received this recognition in his first year of resident teaching. Dr. Aydin is an assistant professor of physical medicine and rehabilitation at Hofstra North Shore-LIJ School of Medicine. He practices musculoskeletal medicine and pain management at Manhattan Spine and Pain Management. He completed his residency training program in physical medicine and rehabilitation at the Rutgers New Jersey Medical School and a pain management fellowship at the University of Michigan Health System. Congratulations are due to several of our residents for the following accomplishments: è Navdeep JASSAl, MD, Eduardo Chen, MD, and Steve Aydin, DO, took first place in the case report division of the North Shore-LIJ Health System Academic Competition with Rare Case of Complex Regional Pain Syndrome After Cervical Spine Surgery: A Case Report. Dr. Jassal received a scholarship to attend the 2014 American Pain Society Conference. è Jennifer SCHoENFEld, DO, has been accepted to be a fellow in the Empire Clinical Research Investigator Program. In this one-year position, she will conduct research investigating inflammation on individuals with spinal cord injuries in the lab of Ona Bloom, PhD. è Allyn BEHling-Rosa, DO, has been elected by her peers and the faculty of our department to be chief resident in the academic year. In addition, Dr. Behling-Rosa s poem entitled Welcome will be published in Narrateur, the literary journal of the Hofstra North Shore-LIJ School of Medicine. The poem was also published in the March issue of the Journal of General Internal Medicine under the title Welcome. Congratulations to the 2014 Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Residency Class of Hofstra North Shore-LIJ School of Medicine. We expect great success in the future, and it has truly been a privilege to work with you over the past three years. è THUy Vu, MD, presented Motor Recovery in Stroke Due to Complication of Onyx Embolization Extends Beyond One Year at the 2014 annual meeting of the Association of Academic Physiatrists. è Dayna McCarthy, DO, has been elected to be the fellowship representative for the Residents/Fellow Council at the Association of Academic Physiatrists. Thuy Vu, MD Navdeep Jassal, MD Jennifer Schoenfeld, DO Dayna McCarthy, DO 6 Always in motion / Summer 2014

7 Presentations On NovEMBER 18, 2013, TERESA HEITHAUS, staff development instructor at Staten Island University Hospital, and Anne Marie McDonough, MPH, FACHE, associate vice president of rehabilitation medicine at Staten Island University Hospital, presented Interprofessional Approach to Simulated Training in Spinal Cord Injury at Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing in Indianapolis, Ind. on DECEMBER 3-7, 2013, Ona Bloom, PhD, presented REMEDY: Rehabilitative and Regenerative Medicine for Minority Health and Health Disparities at the NIH-Sponsored Advanced Training Course at Howard University in Washington, D.C. on DECEMBER 11, 2013, DoNAld O Brien, PT, manager, outpatient orthopaedic rehabilitation at Southside Hospital, gave a lecture titled Foot and Ankle Advanced Mobilization and Special Tests for the North Shore-LIJ Rehabilitation Network, Rehabilitation Lecture Series in Syosset, NY. on DECEMBER 18, 2013, Ona Bloom, PhD, presented Identifying Pro- and Anti- Regenerative Molecular Responses to Spinal Cord Injury at the Kessler Foundation in West Orange, NJ. on JANUARy 9, 2014, BARRy Root, MD, chair, Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at Glen Cove Hospital, gave a lecture titled Painful Hemiplegic Shoulder for the North Shore-LIJ Rehabilitation Network, Rehabilitation Lecture Series in Syosset, NY. on FEBRUARy 19, 2014, Jennifer Kortz, PT, DPT, physical therapist at STARS (Sports Therapy and Rehabilitation Services), presented Gaining Strength for Balance to Avoid Dizziness and Falls at the Queens Library in Glen Oaks, NY. on FEBRUARy 24, 2014, PHIlIP CrokER, PT, physical therapist at Glen Cove Hospital, presented Lower Back Pain at the Life Enrichment Center of Oyster Bay. Daniel Vaknin, MA, PT, MDT, delivers a presentation at the All Things Joint Replacement: Advanced Concepts: Biologics to Metal and Plastic Conference. on FEBRUARy 26, 2014, David Essig, MD, orthopaedic spine surgeon at North Shore University Hospital and LIJ Medical Center, and MICHAEl Kamme, PT, CERTIFIED MDT, supervisor at STARS (Sports Therapy and Rehabilitation Services), gave a lecture titled Stenosis, Spondylolisthesis and Adult Spinal Deformity for the North Shore-LIJ Rehabilitation Network, Rehabilitation Lecture Series in Syosset, NY. On March 7, 2014, Steve Trama, PT, certified MDT, supervisor at STARS (Sports Therapy and Rehabilitation Services), participated in a radio talk show discussing lower back pain. On March 8, 2014, MICHAEl Kamme, PT, certified MDT, supervisor at STARS (Sports Therapy and Rehabilitation Services), presented My Top 10 Pearls for Total Knee Replacement Physical Therapy at the All Things Joint Replacement: Advanced Concepts: Biologics to Metal and Plastic Conference in Woodbury, NY. on MARCH 8, 2014, DoNAld O BRIEN, PT, manager, outpatient orthopaedic rehabilitation at Southside Hospital, gave a lecture titled My Top 10 Pearls for Total Hip Replacement Physical Therapy at the All Things Joint Replacement: Advanced Concepts: Biologics to Metal and Plastic Conference in Woodbury, NY. On MARCH 8, 2014, DANIEl VakNIN, MA, PT, MDT, assistant vice president of the North Shore-LIJ Outpatient Therapy Network/ STARS, presented Physical Therapy Updates for the Young Athlete with Arthritis at the All Things Joint Replacement: Advanced Concepts: Biologics to Metal and Plastic Conference in Woodbury, NY. on MARCH 11, 2014, SUSAN MalTSER, DO, chief, Division of Cancer Rehabilitation, assistant professor, Hofstra North Shore-LIJ School of Medicine, presented Exercise and Wellness During Cancer Treatment at the Path to Wellness After Cancer Survivorship Program at the Monter Cancer Center in New Hyde Park, NY. on MARCH 25, 2014, Lewis Lane, MD, FACS, orthopaedic hand surgeon at North Shore University Hospital and LIJ Medical Center; kate Nellans, MD, MPH, orthopaedic hand surgeon at North Shore University and LIJ Medical Center; and vicki SCHUPPE, PT, CHT, CEAS, certified hand therapist at STARS (Sports Therapy and Rehabilitation Services), gave a lecture titled Treatment of Distal Radius Fracture: Pitfalls, Pearls and Case Presentations for the North Shore-LIJ Rehabilitation Network, Rehabilitation Lecture Series in Syosset, NY. On March 27, 2014, Christina kamme, PT, DPT, CSCS, physical therapy supervisor at STARS (Sports Therapy and Rehabilitation Services), presented Fitness for Life at the Farmingdale Library. 7

8 North Shore-LIJ Rehabilitation Network North Shore-LIJ Rehabilitation Network 825 Northern Blvd., 1st Floor Great Neck, NY Comments/Suggestions: Adam Stein, MD Chairman, Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Nina DePaola, MHA, PT Vice President Rehabilitation and Orthopaedic Service Lines Patric McQuade, MS, PT Assistant Vice President Rehabilitation Service Line Ronald Nonaillada, MPA, otr Clinical Editor Rehabilitation Service Line Emily Jones Managing Editor Rehabilitation Service Line Always in Motion is published by the North Shore-LIJ Rehabilitation Network. Please call 888-REHAB-03 ( ) for more information. The information within this publication is intended to educate readers about subjects pertinent to their health and is not meant to be a substitute for consultation with a personal physician. Produced by StayWell, Evanston, IL Printed in the USA. Patients Become Teachers and Mentors Sharing their experiences helps patients remain positive about recovery. The doctoral students of the clinical psychology program at Hofstra University learned from the best on March 27. Kristen Demertzis, PhD, chief of neuropsychology at Southside Hospital, has created a tradition of bringing patients from North Shore-LIJ Health System to speak to her Hofstra undergraduate and graduate courses. This is always a treasured experience of the students that helps deepen and solidify students understanding of brain-behavior relationships, explained Dr. Demertzis. This semester, students had the benefit of learning from three dynamic speakers. Edward Flaherty suffered an ischemic stroke in November He received emergency care through inpatient and outpatient rehabilitation at Southside Hospital, and he has participated in many research studies. Mr. Flaherty impressed the students with his knowledge of medical terminology based on his background as a science and math teacher. He discussed the barriers in returning to his beloved job at St. Nicholas of Tolentine School in Jamaica, but also how he has applied his gift for teaching others to guest lecturing at Hofstra and Stony Brook Universities, joining the stroke peer mentorship program at Southside Hospital and supporting fellow stroke survivors and their caregivers at the Stroke Survivors Support Group at Southside Hospital. Thomasina Dawson s son recounted the day his cousin informed him that his mother, who had taken him shopping for school clothes earlier that day, had collapsed on the street and was in the hospital. An aneurysm, located toward the front of Ms. Dawson s brain, had burst and caused massive bleeding in her brain. Ms. Dawson talked about her angel, David Chalif, MD, director of neurovascular surgery at North Shore University Hospital and codirector of the Brain Aneurysm Center. Dr. Chalif saved Ms. Dawson s life by threading a catheter through her femoral artery up to her From left to right: Michael Daur, Edward Flaherty, Thomasina Dawson and Dr. Demertzis. brain, where he inserted special coils into the ruptured aneurysm to stop further bleeding and damage to her brain. Ms. Dawson completed inpatient rehabilitation at Southside Hospital s Brain Injury Unit. Ms. Dawson sang the praises of the dedicated and talented staff who stood by her side and taught her how to walk, talk and care for herself again. Michael Daur s mother recounted the heartwrenching experience in December 2008 when the medical team told her that her son might not survive a horrific motor vehicle accident that had resulted in a severe traumatic brain injury. Mr. Daur s survival earned him the nickname The Miracle on the unit. Mr. Daur completed outpatient rehabilitation at North Shore-LIJ s Transitions of Long Island and continued his care with neuropsychology at Southside Hospital. I am so proud of how far he has come in his recovery, explained Jennifer Napolitano, MA, CCC-SLP, speech language pathologist at Transitions of Long Island. Mr. Daur recently participated in a North Shore-LIJ Health System event titled Living with Acquired Brain Injury, and he has lectured several times at Hofstra University. Despite having weakness on the right side of his body and significant vision impairment, Mr. Daur wowed the students as he relayed his accomplishments of recently completing two 5K runs and going snowboarding. There are no better teachers in life than the people who have experienced these medical events and have fought every day along their recovery journeys, said Dr. Demertzis. Mr. Flaherty, Ms. Dawson and Mr. Daur are remarkable individuals whose lives changed so drastically, but who have all maintained the greatest appreciation for life and the most genuinely positive attitudes. ènorth Shore-LIJ offers a broad range of services to help patients return to an active life. To learn more about rehabilitation services at Southside Hospital or Transitions of Long Island, call 888-REHAB-03 ( ).