Interim Chair, Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
Medical Director, Rehabilitation Services at Dodd Hall
Co-Director, Traumatic Brain Injury Rehabilitation
Associate Professor of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
Bert C. Wiley, MD, Chair in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
Recent News:
After Spinal Cord Injury, Ohio State Program Gives Hope
What do you like best about practicing medicine at Ohio State?
I enjoy the fact that my specialty is unique and does not follow a traditional medical model. We are not a specialty that focuses on a specific bone or joint or disease. Our specialty addresses the needs of people who have an injury or illness that affects the musculoskeletal system or the neurological system.
What excites you most about the future of medicine?
What’s exciting is that the neurosciences have brought us to a point where we have the potential to redefine what we do and how we do it. Exercise is medicine, and we struggle to acquire good data regarding response curves. Neuroscience is bringing us to the point where we are going to look at neuroplasticity and responses to various exercise interventions.
How do you think P4 Medicine (medicine that is more predictive, preventive, personalized and participatory) will change your specialty over the next 10 years?
To a large extent, this is what we have always done. Our research has been designed to predict outcome. Our interventions are extraordinarily personalized. Without the patient’s participation, there is little advancement.
Name one of your medical career mentors and tell us what you learned from him/her.
I’m in this field because of a mentor I was assigned as a first-year medical student, and that was Dr. Ernie Johnson, who was chair of this Department. I had never heard of this field, but his impact was such a powerful experience that I would say that Ernie Johnson affected my life as much as any man, except my own father.
What advice do you have for young physicians early in their careers?
I tell medical students who are at a stage where they must choose a field that I love what I do. I’m very happy with the choice I made. I also believe that I just love medicine and that I would be happy anywhere in the field of medicine. You have to make decisions: are you a surgeon or more interested in the cognitive specialties? Once you decide, I believe it is hard to make a mistake.
Who in history would you most like to meet?
Abraham Lincoln. He was an extraordinary man of conviction who dealt with failure, setbacks and personal tragedy, yet was a pivotal figure in world history. I enjoy history, and here you have an incredible individual who held a nation together, sometimes by his sheer will.
What are your hobbies or volunteer activities?
With my wife being a physician, we have made a commitment that any free time we have, we owe our two children. Therefore, their hobbies become our hobbies.
Star Colleague: Ali Rezai, MD, professor of Neurological Surgery and of Neuroscience. His commitment is total and he brings great enthusiasm to his work. We are able to collaborate with Dr. Rezai and I believe that will have significant impact on our work related to neurology and psychiatry and will lead to a neuromodulation center at this institution that will become the finest neuromodulation center in the world.
CV summary
Medical Degree: The Ohio State University College of Medicine
Internship: The Ohio State University College of Medicine
Residency: The Ohio State University Hospital, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
National Offices or Board Positions: Medical Director of Think First
Clinical Interests: Traumatic brain injury; and electromyography.
Research Interests: Traumatic brain injury; electromyography; functional electrical stimulation.
You mentioned to us in May the possibility of an evaluation for Mike with Dr. Rezai. Our family is excited about the prospect of an evaluation. Is there anything else we can do to get this to a reality?