INside the OUTcomes: A Rehabilitation Research Podcast

Shirley Ryan AbilityLab is at the forefront of advancing the study of “osseointegration,” a novel surgical technique in the field of prosthetics in which a metal rod is surgically implanted into the bone of the residual limb, allowing for a direct connection to the prosthesis. For patients with limb loss, the procedure offers numerous benefits, from improved comfort, control and balance to an enhanced quality of life. On this episode of INside the OUTcomes, we talk with Levi Hargrove, PhD, scientific chair of The Regenstein Foundation Center for Bionic Medicine at Shirley Ryan AbilityLab, about his research in osseointegration and bionic medicine. He shares insights about developing technologies for prosthetic limbs that integrate robotics, neural control and direct skeletal attachment to restore movement and independence for patients. Learn more about a clinical trial of osseointegration for people with upper limb loss.INside the OUTcomes is supported by the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research (grants 90DPKT0007, 90RTGE0004, 90SIMS0015, 90DPHF0012).

What happens when people with Parkinson’s disease (PD) use storytelling to share their lived experiences? Can telling their own stories spark connection, confidence and even hope? In this episode of INside the OUTcomes, we explore how the simple, creative act of storytelling can have a profound impact.Join us as we step inside Tellin’ Tales of Parkinson’s Disease, a unique storytelling project of the Parkinson’s Disease & Movement Disorders program at Shirley Ryan AbilityLab. Led by Tekki Lomnicki — founder and artistic director of Tellin’ Tales Theatre — the program helps participants turn personal experiences into meaningful stories that build community.Listeners will hear from Tekki, along with Marty Maibuecher, a participant in the PD storytelling group, and Eric Espinoza, program and outreach coordinator, who leads the hospital's PD support groups.This podcast is funded by the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research (grants 90DPKT0007, 90RTGE0004, 90SIMS0015, 90DPHF0012).  

On this episode of INside the OUTcomes, we talk with Viraj, 29, about living independently in Utrecht, the Netherlands, after a spinal cord injury. Viraj shares his journey from a life-changing accident in India to intensive rehabilitation and returning to work in Utrecht, highlighting the unique support system that allows him to live independently in fully accessible housing. Find the podcast on ⁠Spotify⁠, ⁠Apple Podcasts⁠ or ⁠YouTube⁠ and browse the podcast archive for past episodes.

For more than 50 years, the National Spinal Cord Injury Model Systems Database has been the cornerstone of spinal cord injury (SCI) research in the United States. Since 1973, it has captured detailed information from thousands of people with traumatic SCI, helping researchers track long-term outcomes, improve rehabilitation care and guide new discoveries. In this episode, we explore how the database works, what makes it unique and how its insights continue to shape the future of SCI care and recovery.Our guests are:Anne Deutsch, PhD, RN, research scientist, Shirley Ryan AbilityLab and co-principal investigator, Midwest Regional Spinal Cord Injury Care System Yuying Chen, MD, PhD, director, National Spinal Cord Injury Statistical Center, University of Alabama at BirminghamJennifer Coker, PhD, MPH, co-director, National Spinal Cord Injury Statistical Center, University of Alabama at BirminghamTrevor Dyson-Hudson, MD, co-director of the Northern New Jersey Spinal Cord Injury System at the Kessler FoundationThis special episode is co-hosted with David McMillan, PhD, host of the American Spinal Injury Association podcast, SCI Science Perspectives.Find the podcast on ⁠Spotify⁠, ⁠Apple Podcasts⁠ or ⁠YouTube⁠ and browse the podcast archive for past episodes.This podcast is supported by the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living and Rehabilitation Research (grants 90DPKT0007, 90RTGE0004, 90SIMS0015, 90DPHF0012).#spinalcordinjury #rehabilitationresearch

On this episode of INside the OUTcomes, we’re discussing the Model Systems Knowledge Translation Center (MSKTC) and its role in translating complex health information into accessible and useful resources for people living with spinal cord injury (SCI), traumatic brain injury (TBI) and burn injury.Our guest is Cindy Cai, PhD, a researcher at the American Institutes for Research and the principal investigator and project director of the MSKTC. The MSKTC works with model systems researchers — including researchers in the Midwest Regional Spinal Cord Injury Care System at Shirley Ryan AbilityLab — to create easy-to-understand resources about SCI, TBI and burn injury for patients, families and caregivers. Transcripts are available.Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts or YouTube.This podcast is funded by the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research. (Grants 90DPKT0007, 90RTGE0004, 90SIMS0015, 90DPHF0012).  

On this episode of INside the OUTcomes, we're exploring the challenges people with disabilities face when it comes to air travel, and opportunities to enhance accessibility. Mike Whelan, one of our guests, is a member of several Shirley Ryan AbilityLab spinal cord injury research advisory councils and counts himself as a "million miler" -- logging more than a million miles in the air as he travels the world with his manual wheelchair. Our other guest, Eric Lipp, is a former Shirley Ryan AbilityLab patient who turned a frustrating experience into a mission to make travel, transportation and tourism more accessible for all. Eric is the founder and executive director of the Open Doors Organization, a nonprofit that trains transportation staff, leads accessibility advocacy, and collaborates with scientists at Shirley Ryan AbilityLab and Indiana University on research to improve air travel for people with disabilities.This podcast is supported by grants from the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research.

When Thea Flaum suddenly found herself caring for a family member with a spinal cord injury (SCI), she quickly discovered a lack of resources and support for the loved ones faced by this unexpected challenge. To address this gap, she created FacingDisability.com, a comprehensive platform offering valuable information on everything from medical care to a video series featuring the firsthand experiences and insights from people living with SCI. On this episode of INside the OUTcomes, learn about Thea’s journey and how she created one of the most extensive, free resources for families of people with SCI. Also, hear about her new podcast, “I Was A Wheelchair Kid,” aimed at children and teens with SCI. Transcripts for all episodes are available here. INside the OUTcomes is supported by the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research (grants 90DPKT0007, 90RTGE0004, 90SIMS0015 and 90DPHF0012).

On this episode of INside the OUTcomes, we're discussing the value of rebalancing long-term services and supports (LTSS) — away from institutional care and toward community-based services.We are joined by Courtney Priebe, MPH, a policy associate at ADvancing States, an organization that works to design, improve and support state systems that provide LTSS for older adults, people with disabilities and their caregivers. Courtney is one of the authors of a policy brief on rebalancing LTSS developed in collaboration with the Rehabilitation Research and Training Center on Home and Community-based Services at Shirley Ryan AbilityLab. A transcript of this episode is available.INside the OUTcomes is supported by the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research (grants 90DPKT0007, 90RTGE0004, 90SIMS0015 and 90DPHF0012).#HCBS #LTSS #Rebalancing

On this episode of INside the OUTcomes, we’re diving into the powerful role of peer mentoring in supporting employment for people with disabilities. In rehabilitation, peer mentors are individuals who provide guidance and perspective to others who may be recovering from an illness or injury or living with a chronic condition or disability. The critical, ongoing support of a peer mentor helps others navigate life after injury, offering practical advice rooted in lived experience and opening doors to new possibilities, including employment.One of our guests is Linda Ehrlich-Jones, PhD, RN, associate director of the Center for Rehabilitation Outcomes Research and an author on a recent paper about what makes employment-focused peer mentoring programs successful. We are also joined by Rob Kozarek, a long-time peer mentor in the Shirley Ryan AbilityLab Henry B. Betts, MD, LIFE Center, who brings a wealth of real-world experience to the conversation.Transcripts of all our episodes are available.

On this episode of INside the OUTcomes, we discuss the Occupational Therapy & Disability Studies Network, an academic and professional community created to integrate contributions from disability studies into occupational therapy education.Our guests are two of the founding members of the network. Danbi Lee, PhD, OTD, OTR/L, is an associate professor of occupational therapy in the University of Washington department of rehabilitation medicine, as well as a core faculty member of the disability studies program. Alisa Sheth, PhD, OTR/L, is an assistant professor of occupational therapy at Pacific University in Oregon. Transcripts for this podcast are available. * NOTE: In this episode, Tim Bower’s experience was described as an example of assisted suicide; however, it should be understood as the withdrawal of medical care based on the expressed wishes of the patient and family members.This podcast is supported by grants 90DPK0007, 90RTGE0004, 90SIMS0015) from the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living and Rehabilitation Research.

At some point in life, nearly everyone will become a caregiver, need one, or rely on a family member for care. Supporting this critically important population is essential to maintaining the health, stability and well-being of our communities.Our guest is Conor Callahan, MSW. Conor is the author of a new policy brief, "Supporting America's 53 Million Family Caregivers," funded by a grant to the Center for Rehabilitation Outcomes Research at Shirley Ryan AbilityLab from the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research. He is also a senior policy associate on the caregiving and workforce policy team at ADvancing States, an organization dedicated to improving long-term services and supports for older adults, people with disabilities and their caregivers. Conor has extensive experience in state and federal policy and is a leading expert in the effort to support family caregivers nationwide. Most recently, he led a multi-state collaborative to strengthen connections between paid and unpaid caregiving.Transcripts for this and all other episodes are available.

On this episode of INside the OUTcomes, we explore how occupational therapy graduate students at the University of Illinois Chicago contribute to the Shirley Ryan AbilityLab Rehabilitation Measures Database. The database is the go-to resource of more than 580 rehabilitation measures, reviewed and summarized by educators and allied health students.Our guests are Sabrin Rizk, PhD, OTR/L, assistant professor of occupational therapy in the UIC College of Applied Health Sciences, and occupational therapy graduate student, Asianna Griffin. Read the transcript for this episode.This podcast is supported by grants from the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research.

On this episode we talk about a free, online "microlesson-based" training program for direct service professionals (DSPs) on how to use a communication skill known as motivational interviewing to enhance person-centered delivery of home and community-based services (HCBS). Our guests are Linda Ehrlich Jones, PhD, RN, associate director of the Center for Rehabilitation Outcomes Research at Shirley Ryan AbilityLab, and Bob Sattler, a partner at Support Development Associates, which supports organizations and agencies in providing person-centered HCBS. In addition to sharing their insights on the podcast, Bob and Dr. Ehrlich-Jones are looking for DSPs to pilot test and provide feedback on the training. Learn more about the pilot testing and see if you're eligible to participate. A transcript for this episode is available.

On this episode of INside the OUTcomes, we’ll be talking about loneliness and spinal cord injury. My guests are Sherri LaVela, PhD, MPH, a research health scientist, and Marissa Wirth, lead social science program coordinator, both in the Center of Innovation for Complex Chronic Healthcare in the Department of Veterans Affairs. Dr. LaVela is also a research professor of physical medicine and rehabilitation at Northwestern University. Dr. LaVela and Marissa conducted extensive research about how loneliness affects people with SCI and have uncovered factors that contribute to and alleviate loneliness in this population. They have also developed an educational curriculum for health care providers on loneliness and SCI, which we'll discuss at the end of this episode. Transcripts are available for each episode.

On this episode of INside the OUTcomes: A Rehabilitation Research Podcast, Elissa Larkin, CCC-SLP, HEC-C, a research speech-language pathologist at Shirley Ryan AbilityLab's Center for Aphasia Research and Treatment, shares insight into an online training course aimed at helping service industry employees improve communication with customers who have communication disabilities. Learn more about the course and find out how you can participate.Tune in to learn more about the team's research, and discover practical tips for better engaging with people who have communication challenges.Transcripts of all episodes are available. Find the podcast on ⁠Spotify⁠, ⁠Apple Podcasts⁠ or ⁠YouTube⁠ and browse the podcast archive for past episodes.This podcast is supported by grants from the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living and Rehabilitation Research.

On this episode, we will hear about the results of a national survey of people with disabilities about the facilitators and barriers they face in getting a job and staying employed. Our guests are Emily Dinelli, L/CPO, a research assistant and Angelika Kudla, LCMHCA, a senior project manager both in the Center for Rehabilitation Outcomes Research at Shirley Ryan AbilityLab. Emily and Angelika are lead authors on a pair of recentpapers based on the national survey.A transcript of this episode isavailable.This podcast is supported by grants from the National Institute of Disability, Independent Living and Rehabilitation Research.

MENTOR is a free, virtual exercise, mindfulness and nutrition program for people experiencing mobility challenges. The 8-week program is from the National Center on Health, Physical Activity and Disability (NCHPAD). Our guests for the episode are Jim Rimmer, PhD, NCHPAD Director, and Tim Behrens, a MENTOR participant who says the program was a "turning point" for him after complications from COVID-19, including stroke and long COVID.  Interested in enrolling in MENTOR? Complete this brief screening to see if you qualify. All participants receive a box of free exercise equipment delivered to their door, as well as access to a health coach and nutritionist. Call Lorie Cashdollar at 312-238-8046 or email her at [email protected] with questions. Transcripts are available on the ⁠⁠podcast website⁠⁠. Listen on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Apple Podcasts⁠⁠⁠ or ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

This episode of INside the OUTcomes: A Rehabilitation Research Podcast focuses on sexuality and spinal cord injury (SCI). Our guest is Nicole Sharf, MA, a clinical psychology graduate student in The Chicago School and graduate research assistant at Shirley Ryan AbilityLab where she works on a project to support the mental health of people with SCI. Listen to learn how SCI can impact sexual health and what people with SCI can do to improve their sexual satisfaction. Transcripts are available on the ⁠podcast website⁠. Listen on ⁠⁠⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠Apple Podcasts⁠⁠ or ⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠.

On our latest episode of INside the OUTcomes: A Rehabilitation Research Podcast, we learn how a new, $2.5 million, 5-year grant will support research to enhance accessible and inclusive air travel for people with physical disabilities as well as older adults. Our guests are Shu Cole, PhD, professor of Health and Wellness Design at the Indiana University School of Public Health--Bloomington, and Jacqueline Kish, PhD, OTR/L, a post-doctoral fellow in the Center for Rehabilitation Outcomes Research (CROR) at Shirley Ryan AbilityLab, and an investigator on the grant. Dr. Cole is partnering with Dr. Kish and investigators from CROR to conduct the research. The grant is funded by the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research. Transcripts are available on the podcast website. Listen on ⁠Spotify⁠, ⁠Apple Podcasts⁠ or ⁠YouTube⁠.

On this episode of INside the OUTcomes: A Rehabilitation Research Podcast, we focus on vocational rehabilitation to recognize National Disability Employment Awareness Month this October. Our guests are Jennifer Barthel, a Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor at Shirley Ryan AbilityLab and Sabrina, her client. After experiencing a stroke that impacted her memory and ability to keep pace at work, ultimately resulting in her being laid off, Sabrina sought vocational rehabilitation services at Shirley Ryan AbilityLab. Listen to Sabrina's story to hear how she regained her confidence and secure employment. Transcripts are available on the podcast website.

On our latest episode of INside the OUTcomes: A Rehabilitation Research Podcast, we talk about the Clinical Research Registry at Shirley Ryan AbilityLab with our guest, Carolyn Ostrowski, Clinical Research Registry coordinator. Get involved in our cutting-edge research: By becoming a member of the Clinical Research Registry, you have the opportunity to become a participant in current and future research studies at Shirley Ryan AbilityLab. Learn more by listening to our podcast and sign up today. Listen on ⁠Spotify⁠, ⁠Apple Podcasts⁠ or ⁠YouTube⁠. Transcript for this an all episodes is available on the Podcast Webpage.

On our latest episode of INside the OUTcomes: A Rehabilitation Research Podcast, our guest is Mike Whelan, an advisory committee member for the Midwest Regional Spinal Cord Injury Care System at Shirley Ryan AbilityLab. Mike shares his personal experience with spinal cord injury (SCI) and his inpatient rehabilitation journey. This episode is supported by a grant from the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research, to investigate how differences in inpatient rehabilitation intensity and length of stay affect outcomes for people with SCI in different countries. Listen on ⁠Spotify⁠, ⁠Apple Podcasts⁠ or ⁠YouTube⁠.

What is disability data justice? How are people with disabilities counted? Why do we need accurate data about people with disabilities? Our guests for this episode are Bonnie Swenor, PhD, the founder and Director of the Johns Hopkins Disability Health Research Center, and Kate Caldwell, PhD, Director of Research and Policy at the Center for Racial and Disability Justice in the Northwestern Pritzker School of Law. Both Dr. Swenor and Dr. Caldwell have been involved in leading efforts to democratize the collection of data on people with disabilities. Transcripts for all episodes are available here. This podcast is funded by the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research. (Grants 90DPKT0007, 90RTGE0004, 90RTEM0001, 90SIMS0015).  

On this episode of INside the OUTcomes: A Rehabilitation Research Podcast, we talk about cutting-edge research at Shirley Ryan AbilityLab that could help people with spinal cord injury regain some motor function. Our guest is Monica Perez, PT, PhD, Scientific Chair, Arms + Hands Lab at Shirley Ryan AbilityLab. Her innovative protocol uses noninvasive neurostimulation combined with physical therapy to strengthen connections between neurons and has led to lasting improvements in grasping and walking in some participants with spinal cord injury. Listen on ⁠Spotify⁠, ⁠Apple Podcasts⁠ or ⁠YouTube⁠. Transcripts are available on the podcast ⁠website⁠.

On this episode of INside the OUTcomes: A Rehabilitation Research Podcast, we explore how inpatient rehabilitation length of stay can affect outcomes in people with spinal cord injury. Our guests are: Anne Deutsch, PhD, RN, a clinical research scientist in the Center for Rehabilitation Outcomes Research at Shirley Ryan AbilityLab. She is a principal investigator on a new grant that looks at how inpatient rehabilitation length of stay and rehabilitation intensity affect outcomes in people with spinal cord injury in different countries. Dr. Jane Duff, a consultant clinical psychologist and head of the National Spinal Injury Center psychology team at Stoke Mandeville Hospital, Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust in England. Dr. Duff is also an investigator on the grant. Listen on ⁠Spotify⁠, ⁠Apple Podcasts⁠ or ⁠YouTube⁠. Transcripts are available on the podcast website.

On this episode of INside the OUTcomes: A Rehabilitation Research Podcast, we will be talking about accessibility and public transportation around Chicago. Our guests are Jacqueline Kish, PhD, OTR/L, a postdoctoral fellow in CROR's Rehabilitation Research and Training Center on Home and Community-Based Services at Shirley Ryan AbilityLab, and Kira O’Bradovich, a disability and community advocate who serves as Advocacy Committee Chair for the Chicago Chapter of the National Federation of the Blind of Illinois and a Data Dissemination Specialist for the U.S. Census Bureau. Kira’s current advocacy work focuses on improving the accessibility of public transit here in Chicago. Find the transcript here. This podcast is funded by the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research. (Grants 90DPKT0007, 90RTGE0004, 90RTEM0001, 90SIMS0015).  

On this episode of INside the OUTcomes: A Rehabilitation Research Podcast, we'll learn about some common mental health challenges that people face after spinal cord injury, and about a Center for Rehabilitation Outcomes Research project funded by the Craig H. Neilsen Foundation that seeks to better understand and support the mental health of people with spinal cord injury. Our guests are Kaylee Dragna, a clinical psychologist at Shirley Ryan AbilityLab who works with patients who have a spinal cord injury, and with Jenny Burns, project manager on the Neilsen grant.  Listen on ⁠Spotify⁠, ⁠Apple Podcasts⁠ or ⁠YouTube⁠. Transcript available here. This podcast is funded by the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research. (Grants 90DPKT0007, 90RTGE0004, 90RTEM0001, 90SIMS0015).  

On this episode of INside the OUTcomes: A Rehabilitation Research Podcast, we speak with HCBS recipient Kenny and the CEO of his provider agency, Heather LaTorra at Marrakech, about how they partnered to make the necessary changes to Kenny’s services to meet his goals and preferences. Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts or YouTube. This podcast is funded by the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research. (Grants 90DPKT0007, 90RTGE0004, 90RTEM0001, 90SIMS0015).  

On this episode of INside the OUTcomes: A Rehabilitation Research Podcast, our guests are Bridgette Schram, PhD, project manager on the Rehabilitation Research and Training Center on Home and Community-Based Services at Shirley Ryan AbilityLab, and Sara Karon, PhD, co-principal investigator on the project and a senior health policy analyst at RTI International. Sara, Bridgette, and their team are working on developing a set of person-centered HCBS outcome measures. Their work is funded by the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living and Rehabilitation Research. A ⁠transcript ⁠of this episode is available.

On this episode of INside the OUTcomes: A Rehabilitation Research Podcast, we talk with David Chen, MD, the George M. Eisenberg, Chair of spinal cord injury rehabilitation at Shirley Ryan AbilityLab, about the Midwest Regional Spinal Cord Injury Care System, the National Spinal Cord Injury Model Systems Database and cutting-edge research into biomarkers that may predict functional recovery after spinal cord injury. A ⁠transcript ⁠of this episode is available.

On this episode of INside the OUTcomes: A Rehabilitation Research Podcast, we talk with Dawn Skaggs director of emergency, disaster and climate resilience at the World Institute on Disability. We'll learn about their global disaster response program, find out what can go wrong when people with disabilities aren't included in disaster planning, and hear about Dawn's 25 years of experience helping organizations, corporations and government agencies become more inclusive in their disaster planning and response. Listen on Spotify or Apple Podcasts.   INside the OUTcomes is supported by the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research (grants 90DPKT0007, 90RTGE0004, 90RTEM0001, 90SIMS0015). A ⁠transcript ⁠of this episode is available.

Mark Harniss, PhD, Associate Professor of Rehabilitation Medicine and Director of the UW Disability Studies Program at the University of Washington, Seattle, and Heather Evans, PhD, Acting Assistant Professor of Rehabilitation Medicine at the University of Washington, Seattle and Director of Research for the Northwest ADA Center, are developing an interactive decision guide designed to help people think through requesting a reasonable accommodation at work. Their work is funded by the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living and Rehabilitation Research through the Center for Rehabilitation Outcomes Research at Shirley Ryan AbilityLab. A transcript of this episode is available.

Robin Jones has served as Director of the Great Lakes ADA Center since its inception in 1991. It is part of the ADA National Network and provides information, materials, technical assistance and training on the Americans with Disabilities Act. On this episode of Inside the OUTcomes, we talk to Robin about the Great Lakes ADA Center, how the Covid-19 pandemic influenced the kinds of calls fielded by the center and how AI is is impacting the lives of people with disabilities. Read the episode transcript. This podcast is funded by the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research. (Grants 90DPKT0007, 90RTGE0004, 90RTEM0001, 90SIMS0015).  

How did the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago become Shirley Ryan AbilityLab -- the first-ever translational research rehabilitation hospital where clinicians and researchers work together in the same space to drive innovation? On this episode we'll find out in our discussion with Rick Lieber, PhD, Chief Scientific Officer & Senior Vice President of Research and Miriam Rafferty, PT, DPT, PhD, Director of Implementation Science, both at Shirley Ryan AbilityLab. For more about this episode, and to read the transcript, click here. INside the OUTcomes is supported by the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research (grants 90DPKT0007, 90RTGE0004, 90RTEM0001, 90SIMS0015).

What are home and community-based services and how do they -- or don't they -- meet the needs of recipients? On this episode of INside the OUTcomes: A Rehabilitation Research Podcast, we hear from Teresa Nguyen, Director of the Community Living Equity Center in the Lurie Institute for Disability Policy and Natalie Chong, a doctoral student at the Heller School for Social Policy and Management at Brandeis University about unmet needs in HCBS and why data is so important in helping to ensure these needs are met. For more about this episode, and to read the transcript, click here. Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts or iHeartRadio.  INside the OUTcomes is supported by the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research (grants 90DPKT0007, 90RTGE0004, 90RTEM0001, 90SIMS0015).

On this episode of INside the OUTcomes: A Rehabilitation Research Podcast we discuss a phone-based intervention for self-managing pain at work that is part of a clinical trial through the Center for Rehabilitation Outcomes at Shirley Ryan AbilityLab.Our guests are the project’s lead investigator, Dawn Ehde, PhD, a psychologist and Professor of Rehabilitation Medicine in the Division of Clinical and Neuropsychology at the University of Washington, Seattle; Mary Curran, a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker in the University of Washington School of Social Work who delivers the pain self-management intervention, and Rachel, 38, a nurse in an intensive care unit who says her participation in the pain self-management program has provided valuable tools and techniques she uses to manage pain caused by multiple sclerosis. For more about this episode, and to read the transcript, click here. Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts.  INside the OUTcomes is supported by the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research (grants 90DPKT0007, 90RTGE0004, 90RTEM0001, 90SIMS0015).

The Rehabilitation Measures Database (RMD) is a free, online resource managed by the Center for Rehabilitation Outcomes Research at Shirley Ryan AbilityLab. With more than 500 measures supported by some of the world's best doctors, therapists, researchers, and educators, the RMD is the go-to resource for measuring benchmarks and outcomes in physical medicine and rehabilitation. The database is visited more than 5 million times annually, and contains a range of instruments on stroke, spinal injuries, brain injuries, Parkinson’s disease, neuromuscular conditions, vestibular disorders, musculoskeletal conditions, cancers, arthritis or use our search feature to find what you’re looking for.   On this episode, we will talk with Linda Ehrlich-Jones, RN, PhD, Associate Director, Center for Rehabilitation Outcomes Research and Research Associate Professor, Department of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, Northwestern University, Feinberg School of Medicine and Namrata Grampurohit, PhD, OTR/L, Associate Professor in the Department of Occupational Therapy at Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia, and a member of the Jefferson Center for Outcomes Measurement. Linda manages the RMD with help from collaborators across the country, including Dr. Grampurohit. Together, we will talk about how the database came to be, the measures it contains, how measures are reviewed and other resources offered by the RMD. Join the Rehabilitation Measures Database Networking Group on LinkedIn and keep up with the #MeasureOfTheWeek posted each Thursday. For more about this episode, and to read the transcript, click here.

On our second episode, we talk about a really tricky subject: employment and Parkinson's disease. What are the unique challenges people with PD face when it comes to employment, thinking about asking for an accommodation, or even disclosing their health condition at work?  We talk with Miriam Rafferty, PT, DPT, PhD, a scientist in the Center for Rehabilitation Outcomes Research and Assistant Professor of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation at Northwestern University's Feinberg School of Medicine about Parkinson's Works, the support group she created for people with Parkinson's disease who want to talk about employment. We also hear from Lynn, a long-time participant in the support group, who discusses her struggles with managing symptoms at work while coping with an ever-increasing workload as a senior project manager. She talks about interacting with colleagues who (mostly) don't know her diagnosis and at the end of the podcast, Lynn wonders about her future at work as she goes on short-term disability. If you are interested in learning more about Parkinson's Works, contact Paulo Aco at paco⁠@sralab.org or (312) 238-7275⁠. Parkinson’s Works meetings are held on a bi-weekly basis from 4:40-5:40pm CST and are moderated by a vocational rehabilitation counselor. Parkinson's Works is supported by NIDILRR and by a Community Grant from the Parkinson's Foundation. For more about this episode, and to read the transcript, click here.

Let's get oriented. In our first episode, we'll talk with Allen Heinemann, PhD, Director of the Center for Rehabilitation Outcomes Research (CROR) about the different research projects currently underway at CROR, how CROR fits into the translational research model at Shirley Ryan AbilityLab, the Rehabilitation Measures Database and what you can expect to hear about in upcoming episodes. For more about this episode, and to read the transcript, click here.