AAPM&R Members in the News: June 2016

Members & Publications

June 21, 2016

  • Whitney Chouteau, DO, has recently joined the Medical & Surgical Clinic of Irving as its new pain management physician. Her focus will be to help patients recover after injuries, improve overall health, and reduce or eliminate pain. Congratulations, Dr. Chouteau! Learn more.

  • Michele Fantasia, MD, physiatrist at Children's Specialized Hospital, discusses the recovery of now 6-year-old Jude Siperstein, who was diagnosed with transverse myelitis when he was 4. Learn more.

  • Daniel Fechtner, MD, will serve as Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation Hospital of Grand Rapids’ new PM&R residency program director. The Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education recently approved the program. The first class of residents will begin the program on July 1, 2017. Michael Jakubowski, MD, Mary Free Bed’s chief medical officer, said Mary Free Bed’s “extensive” rehabilitation services and research program make the organization “ideal” for a PM&R residency. Congratulations, Drs. Fechtner and Jakubowski! Learn more. 

  • Steven Flanagan, MD, chair of rehabilitation medicine at NYU Langone Medical Center, discusses the importance of identifying and treating concussions early on in teens and children in the article, "Many Sports-Related Concussions May Go Untreated in Children, Study Finds." Read more.

  • Carolyn Geis, MD, director of neuroscience for Halifax Health and medical director for Brooks Rehabilitation, will present “Keeping your Stride with Parkinson’s’’ on Wednesday, June 29 at the Daytona Beach Regional Library. Learn more.

  • Andrew Haig, MD, vice president of accountable care and medical informatics at Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation Hospital, is featured in an article that discusses his international work, including meeting with government and health care leaders, and working with doctors as a mentor. Read more.

  • Joseph Herrera, DO, has been named system chair for the department of rehabilitation medicine at Mount Sinai Health System. Dr. Herrera, who is currently the chair of physical medicine and rehabilitation at Mount Sinai Beth Israel (MSBI), will replace Kristjan T. Ragnarsson, MD, who is stepping down after 30 years leading the department. Congratulations, Dr. Herrera! Read more.

  • Sarah Hwang, MD, PM&R physician at the University of Missouri (MU) Health Care and an assistant professor of PM&R at the MU School of Medicine, discusses women’s pelvic pain in the article, “Specialized Care for Women.” Dr. Hwang is 1 of approximately 10 physicians in the country specially trained in treating musculoskeletal problems in women, specifically with pelvic pain. Read more.

  • Andrew Judelson, MD, director of the sports concussion clinic at Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital Cape Cod, discusses concussions and the recovery of Nick Delande, a high school senior who suffered a concussion during a soccer game in 2015. Learn more.

  • Karen Meyer, DO, recently became the new medical director for the inpatient rehabilitation unit at MidMichigan Medical Center-Alpena. Throughout her career, Dr. Meyer has worked as the medical director of a neurorecovery brain injury program, a physiatrist in inpatient rehabilitation hospital and outpatient settings, and most recently in private practice in Traverse City. Congratulations on your new position, Dr. Meyer! Read more.

  • David Moorthi, MD, recently joined St. Joseph's Physicians Spine Care at Northeast Medical Center as its new interventional spine specialist. Dr. Moorthi joins St. Joseph's Physicians Spine Care with about 20 years of interventional spine diagnosis and treatment experience. Congratulations, Dr. Moorthi! Learn more.

  • Karen Pechman, MD, director of graduate medical education at Burke Rehabilitation Hospital, will train physicians in a new 3-year PM&R program at Burke. The Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education certified both the institution and the residency program. The first class—medical school graduates who have completed a 1-year internship—will start in July. Congratulations, Dr. Pechman! Learn more.

  • William Porter McRoberts, MD, medical director of pain medicine at Holy Cross Hospital, has joined The Expert Network, an invitation-only service for distinguished professionals. Dr. McRoberts was chosen as a Distinguished Doctor™ based on peer reviews and ratings, numerous recognitions, and accomplishments achieved throughout his career. Congratulations, Dr. McRoberts! Learn more.

  • Robert Sloan, MD, FAAPMR, was recently appointed as the director of the new spine program at Hennepin County Medical Center in Minneapolis associated with the University of Minnesota Medical School. He will also be a partner in the interdisciplinary TBI program there. Dr. Sloan will be involved with clinical care, program development, research in both spine and TBI, and teaching medical students and residents. He was past president of the Hawaii Medical Association and remains assistant clinical professor at the University of Hawaii. He is founder and medical director of the Concussion Care Centers of Hawaii and founding board member of the State DOH Traumatic Brain Injury Advisory Board. Congratulations, Dr. Sloan!

  • Sridhar V. Vasudevan, MD, was appointed by Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker to the Board of Governors of the Wisconsin Injured Patients and Families Compensation Fund (IP&FCF), effective May 1, 2016 for a 3-year term. Dr. Vasudevan, Academy member since 1977, has previously served 2 terms on the AAPM&R Board of Governors, and is a past recipient of the AAPM&R Distinguished Clinician and Distinguished Member Awards. He had also been appointed by Governor Walker to the Wisconsin Medical Examining Board from February 2012-July 1, 2016. Dr. Vasudevan will serve on several committees of the IP&FCF, including: claims, peer review, and risk management. Congratulations, Dr. Vasudevan!

  • Jeffrey Zeckser, MD, recently joined Novant Health Orthopedics & Sports Medicine Salisbury. With advanced fellowship training in minimally invasive, diagnostic, and interventional techniques, Dr. Zeckser provides therapy options for those seeking to find improvements in pain and a more functional lifestyle. Congratulations, Dr. Zeckser! Read more.

Do you have a newsworthy story to share with your peers? Send us an email at: pressinquiries@aapmr.org


  • AAPM&R in the News: Your Academy is featured in an article on Practical Pain Management’s website, where the authors review rehabilitative principles, modalities, and equipment needs for pain management. Read more.

Do you have a newsworthy story to share with your peers? Send us an email at: pressinquiries@aapmr.org

  • AAPM&R in the News: Your Academy is featured in an article on Practical Pain Management’s website, where the authors review rehabilitative principles, modalities, and equipment needs for pain management. Read more.

Do you have a newsworthy story to share with your peers? Send us an email at: pressinquiries@aapmr.org

Legislation Introduced to Alleviate Impact of Conversion Factor Cut for 2021

Nov 09, 2020

Last month, two bills were introduced in the House proposing solutions to the estimated 10.6% Physician Fee Schedule conversion factor cut expected to go into effect January 1, 2021.  The bills offer some relief to the cut, but do not reflect a comprehensive or long-term solution.  AAPM&R has therefore chosen to remain neutral regarding these bills. 

Your Academy continues to advocate for a permanent solution to the conversion factor cut while maintaining the important payment increases to office and outpatient evaluation and management services.