2026 Research Day

Monica Verduzco-Gutierrez, MD, is professor and chair of Rehabilitation Medicine at UT Health San Antonio and clinical chief of PM&R at University Hospital System. A nationally recognized expert in brain injury, stroke rehabilitation, spasticity management, and Long COVID, she directs South Texas’s first COVID-19 Recovery Clinic, focused on improving access to interdisciplinary care and functional recovery. She contributes to national guidance through the AAPM&R PASC Collaborative, has published extensively on COVID-19, and has testified before Congress on Long COVID and disability.

12:15 – 12:20 PM | Introductory Remarks 

• Welcome and introduce the Sam E. Reefe Lectureship 

12:20 – 1:15 PM | Sam E. Reefe Keynote Address
Monica Verduzco-Gutierrez, MD Professor and Chair
Department of Rehabilitation Medicine at UT Health San Antonio 

• Presentation title: Bridging Outcome Gaps in PM&R: Evidence and Opportunities for Improvement (45 minutes) 
• Q&A to follow (10 – 15 minutes) 

1:20 – 1:55 PM | PGY3s and In-Training Fellows Poster Announcements
7 Poster Introductions = 4 Residents and 3 Fellows (5-minute presentations) 

1:20 – 1:25 PM 
Camille Beaton, DO
Adverse Event Analysis of Sacroiliac Joint (SI) Injections:  Ultrasound vs. Fluoroscopy Guidance 

1:25 – 1:30 PM 
Gannon Brochin, DC, MS*     
Neural Correlates of Motor Imagery After ACL Reconstruction:  Preliminary fMRI Findings 

1:30 – 1:35 PM
Polly Creveling, MD
Utilization of Motion Capture for Sports Injury Prevention 

1:35 – 1:40PM
Rebecca Molinini, PT, DPT, PhD*
Brain-Heart-Behavior Connections: Understanding Neuro-Physiological Correlates of Parent-Preterm Infant Relationships in the NICU and Their Impact on Infant Feeding and Development 

1:40 – 1:45 PM
Cameron Moon, MD
Virtual Reality as a Non-Pharmacological Intervention to Reduce Pain and Anxiety in Pediatric Patients Undergoing Botulinum Toxin Injections 

1:45 – 1:50 PM
Raven Wright-Smith, PhD, RN*
A Systematic Review of Complementary and Integrative Health Intervention and Stress Related Illnesses: A Focus on Intervention Effectiveness  

1:50 – 1:55 PM
Elyse Swope, DO
Modifiable Risk Factors Associated with Reduced Function and Quality of Life in Patients with Non-Relapsed Multiple Myeloma 

1:55 – 2:45 | Mid-Day Break:  Poster Session with Refreshments 

• Attendees circulate through posters 
• In-Training Trainees’ posters available for review and QR-code–based feedback 
• Light refreshments, coffee, and networking 

2:45 – 4:45 | Graduating Fellows and Residents
6 Presentations (15-minute presentations + 5 min Q&A) 

2:45 – 3:05 PM
Nigel “Biola” Brinson, MD
Determinants of Discharge Disposition After Pediatric Traumatic Brain Injury: The Role of PM&R Consultation, Socioeconomic Demographics, and Clinical Complexity 

3:05 – 3:25 PM 
Mary Jackson, ORT/L, OTD*
Profiles and Determinants of Recommendation to Occupational Therapy Among Patients with Long COVID in a Multidisciplinary Clinic: Findings from the IMPACT Long COVID Cohort 

3:25 – 3:45 PM 
James Lau, MD
Assessing Associations between Prior History of Lumbar Surgery and Response to Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction for Chronic Low Back Pain Management: A Subgroup Analysis of the OPTIMUM Trial 

3:45 – 4:05 PM 
Amnazo C. Muhirwa, PhD, MSN-FNP-C, BSN, RN*
“It Felt Humanizing”: Experiences of Digital Mindfulness Interventions Among Black and Latino Adults with Anxiety 

4:05 – 4:25 PM 
Anthony Reedy, MD
Musculoskeletal Ultrasound Proficiency Improvement Project 

4:25 – 4:45 PM
Sidney Tucker, MD
Optimization of Care for Patients Presenting to the ED with Acute Back Pain 

4:45 – 5:00 PM | Closing Remarks from Dr. Alexander 

• Reflections, acknowledgments, and announcements for next year