Meet Dr. Robynne Braun, MD, PhD
Department of Neurology, Associate Professor 
UMMC Inpatient Rehabilitation Medicine Services, Director
Current Liaison Opportunity: Peer Review Committee Representative for the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association Guideline on Stroke Rehabilitation and Recovery
What has been your favorite part of being an Academy liaison?
My favorite part of being an Academy liaison is serving as the direct intellectual bridge between two powerhouse medical communities. It is incredibly rewarding to ensure that the unique, whole-person perspectives of PM&R are deeply integrated into these national-level guidelines. Having a seat at that table allows us to advocate for our patients and ensure that cutting-edge neurorehabilitation expertise is translated into clinical best practices.
Describe a time you collaborated with external institutions/organizations or others.
A major highlight of my career has been leading two recent international, multidisciplinary collaborations to lay the groundwork for future of stroke rehabilitation and recovery research. As Co-Chair of the International Stroke Recovery and Rehabilitation Alliance (ISRRA) Molecular Biomarkers Taskforce, and a key member of the International Stroke Genomics Consortium (ISGC), I collaborated with clinical and basic science investigators from top institutions worldwide to build a unified consensus statement, and technical workflow guidance for biospecimen acquisition. This global teamwork culminated in our 2026 consensus-based core recommendations published in the International Journal of Stroke, establishing a roadmap for the future of biospecimen research in neurorehabilitation.
How has your time as a liaison been valuable in your career?
Serving as a liaison has been a major catalyst for my leadership development and national visibility. By stepping outside of my local institution to advocate at a national level, I expanded my professional network immensely across neurology, rehabilitation, and cardiovascular medicine. I believe this experience was a direct stepping stone to my appointment as Chair-Elect of the AHA Stroke Council's Rehabilitation and Recovery Committee. It teaches you the vital skills of interdisciplinary consensus-building, strategic advocacy, and policy translation. These skills are indispensable whether you are running an NIH-funded research lab, directing clinical programs, or stepping into broader institutional leadership roles.