Article title: Neuromuscular Complications of Cancer and Cancer Treatments
Authors: Christian Custodio, M.D.
Journal/Source: PM&R Clinic of North America, February 2008
Reviewer: Gregory Burkard Jr., OMS-IV, NYCOM, Educational Committee, AOCPMR Student Representative

The new AOCPMR Calendar has been updated so please take a look at it. It is a Members Only feature so be sure to log in to your account and then click on this link or go to Member Central and then Calendar. Welcome to our new website which we are very proud to share and [...]

Attention Existing Physician Members: Please pay your membership dues today to extend your membership through December 31, 2012. This applies for all current physician members. (Any new member wishing to join AOCPMR for the first time may do so from the JOIN page.)

Membership Dues for Physicians

Full Physician Member $295.00 USD Associate Physician Member $275.00 USD Affiliate Physician Member $275.00 USD

Full Member Name and Email

* If you have any question regarding your dues, please do not hesitate to contact Stephanie Wilson, AOCPMR Executive Director, at stephanie.wilson@aocpmr.org.
* If you are a current member who is having trouble logging into the website, it may be because your membership dues have expired. Please contact us today if you have any questions.

Article title:
Mechanisms, Clinical Presentations, Injuries, and Outcomes From Inflicted Versus Noninflicted Head Trauma During Infancy: Results of a Prospective, Multicentered, Comparative Study. Hymel et. al. Pediatrics May 2007

Article title: Assessment: Botulinum neurotoxin for the treatment of movement disorders D.M. Simpson et al. American Academy of Neurology, May 6, 2008

The Mid Year Meeting for 2012 is set to be hosted in Philadalphia. Mark your calendar for April 19-22 and plan to be there. You may click here to make reservations at the Four Seasons Hotel where the meeting will take place. Dr. Leonard Kamen and Dr. Adam Schreiber are co-chairing the meeting and details [...]

The New York City Marathon is upon us, and we have an extra hour in the day, so why not read a little about running! Here’s the #1 most-emailed article from the NY Times, as well as some addition links.

Article title: Adult Traumatic Brachial Plexus Injuries
Authors: Alexander Shin, MD; Robert Spinner, MD; Scott Steinmann, MD; and Allen Bishop, MD of Mayo Clinic
Journal/Source: Journal of the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgery, 2005; 13:382-­‐396.
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Article Title: The Minimally Conscious State: Definition and diagnostic criteria Authors: JT Giacino et. al. Journal/Source: Neurology 2002;58;349-353 Severe traumatic brain injuries (TBI) may lead a patient to be in a vegetative state (VS) or a minimally conscious state (MCS). The purpose of this article is to discern the diagnostic criteria for MCS because preliminary [...]

On August 22nd AOCPMR hosted its first Northeast Regional Resident Workshop. The topic was “Advances in the Treatment of Upper Limb Spasticity” presented by Dr. Abraham Alfaro, DO, PHD, Director of Spasticity and Dystonia Clinic at Bacharach Institute for Rehabilitation.
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Phantom limb pain (PLP) is described as pain in a body part that has been amputated. Previously this pain has been thought to be psychological in origin or to stem from pathologic changes in the amputation stump. More recent studies are pointing to PLP being a phenomenon of the CNS that is related to plastic changes in the brain stem, spinal cord, and cortex. This article discusses the pathophysiologic mechanisms of specific peripheral and central changes that may explain this phenomenon.
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The patient is a 32 year old female with complaints of left upper limb pain, numbness, and weakness, for the prior 18 months. Numbness involved all of the digits, especially the medial 3 fingers. Clinical exam revealed normal findings, except for palpatory restriction over the left PMM, left shoulder protraction, and a positive thoracic outlet [...]

The idea for this blog was born on one of many conference calls we have with fellow members of the college while brainstorming of ways we can help the medical students to get a flavor of what Physiatry is all about. So starting at the very beginning of the PM&R residency seemed to be the most appropriate and since I am a new PGY-2 at NYU medical center PM&R program, I volunteered to start this blog about my experience as I am going through my training. I will try to put new posts up at least twice a month and welcome your comments and questions. That being said, off we go.
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Name: Brandon Messerli, DO
Undergrad: University of St Thomas
Medical School: Ohio University College of Osteopathic Medicine
Graduation Year: 2007
Internship: University of Washington
Residency: University of Washington
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Acute low back pain is one of the most common reasons for consulting a primary care physician in the industrialized countries. The direct cost of medical care and the indirect costs to society of absenteeism from work due to backache are huge. Physicians commonly prescribe bed rest for acute low back pain, although only a few controlled trials have assessed its effectiveness.
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Name: Jose S. Figueroa, D.O. (Joe)
Undergraduate: Iowa State University (graduated 1989)
Medical School: Des Moines University (graduated 1995 after doing an OMM Fellowship)
Internship: Des Moines General Hospital (no longer in existence)
Residency: Michigan State University
Additional Degree: NMM/OMM Board Certification, since 2005
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Name: Shounuck I. Patel, DO
Undergraduate: The George Washington University
Graduate School: Drexel University – Medical Science
Medical School: Midwestern University – CCOM
Internship: Northshore-LIJ/ Plainview Hospital, Plainview NY
Residency: UMDNJ-NJMS/ Kessler Institute for Rehabilitation
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Name: Jeana Lyn Shelley
Undergraduate: Evangel University, Springfield, MO
Medical School: Des Moines University College of Osteopathic Medicine (Iowa); DO-13

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Name: Drew D. Lewis, DO
Undergraduate: University of Puget Sound
Medical School: Des Moines University
Internship: Downey Regional Medical Center
Residency: University of California at Davis (UC Davis)
Additional Degrees/Training: Undergraduate Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine Fellowship – DMU
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Name: Libi Galmer, D.O.
Undergraduate: New York Institute of Technology
Medical School: New York College of Osteopathic Medicine (combined 7 year BS/DO program)
Internship: North Shore University Hospital at Plainview – Traditional Rotating Internship
Residency: New York Presbyterian – Columbia and Cornell
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Name: Jon Benfield
Undergraduate: Brigham Young University Provo, UT
Medical School: Midwestern University Arizona College of Osteopathic Medicine Glendale, AZ
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Name:bDaniel A Duffy DO
Undergraduate: Michigan State University
Medical School: Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine
Internship: Bicounty Hospital
Residency: Rehabilitation Institute of Michigan
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Name: Robert S. Gotlin, DO
Undergraduate: SUNY @ Stony Brook (New York)
Medical School: Nova-Southeastern University of the Health Sciences-Southeastern College of Osteopathic Medicine (North Miami, Florida)
Internship: Brookdale Hospital-Medical Center (New York)
Residency: Mount Sinai Medical Center (New York)
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Name: Troy Bushman
Undergraduate: Brigham Young University
Medical School: Arizona College of Osteopathic Medicine
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Name: Sam Yoakum
Undergraduate: Lehigh University, B.S.
Graduare: Barry University, M.S.
Medical School: Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine – Midwestern U.
Graduation Year: 2009
Internship: Traditional Rotating Internship, Mt Sinai Medical Center – Chicago, IL
Residency: Loyola University Medical Center
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Name: Maryum Rafique, DO
Medical School: Ohio University College of Osteopathic Medicine
Graduation Year: 2008
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Name: Sajid A. Surve, DO
Undergraduate: The College of New Jersey, Ewing, NJ 2001
Medical School: UMDNJ School of Osteopathic Medicine, Stratford, NJ
Internship: Delaware County Memorial Hospital, Drexel Hill, PA 2006
Residency: Long Beach Medical Center, Long Beach, NY 2009 (PM&R); UMDNJ School of Osteopathic Medicine, Stratford, NJ 2010 (NMM/OMM)
Additional Degrees/Training: Helms Medical Institute, Acupuncture for Physicians, Los Angeles, CA 2006
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Name: Marvin B. Zwerin, DO
Undergraduate: Albright College, Reading PA
Medical School: CCOM/Midwestern Univ (’70)
Internship: Nova SE University/North Miami Beach Osto. Hosp, FL
Residency: Letterman Army Medical Center, Presidio, SF. SF, CA
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Name: Jeffry G. Pirofsky
Undergraduate: University of Miami & Mercer University College of Pharmacy
Medical School: SECOM
Internship: Universal medical center
Residency: University of Alabama Birmingham Spain Rehabilitation center
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Name: Robert G. Billow DO
Undergrad: University of Colorado – Boulder
Medical School: Nova Southeastern University
Internship: Presbyterian/St Lukes Hospital Denver, CO
Residency: Mayo Clinic
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Name: Leonard B. Kamen
Undergraduate: WVU
Medical School: WVSOM
Internship: Memorial Hospital York PA
Residency: Temple Univ Hospital / Moss Rehab
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Name: Jenny Kendall
Undergrad: University of Wisconsin – River Falls
Medical School: Des Moines University – College of Osteopathic Medicine
Graduation Year: 2007
Internship: Botsford Hospital (Michigan State University Consortium), Farmington Hills, Michigan
Residency: University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan
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Name: John M Lavelle
Undergrad: College of the Holy Cross
Medical School: Midwestern University – Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine
Graduation Year: May, 2008
Internship: St. Vincent Hospital- Worcester Medical Center
Residency: Boston University Medical Center
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Name: Andrew Abdou
Medical School: University of Medicine & Dentistry of New Jersey
Graduation Year: 2013
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Name: Brennan Boettcher
Medical School: Lincoln Memorial University- DeBusk College of Osteopathic Medicine
Graduation Year: 2013
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Name: David J. Cormier
Medical School: University of New England College of Osteopathic Medicine
Graduation Year: 2012
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Name: Julia Louisa Iafrate
Medical School: Midwestern University – AZCOM
Graduation Year: 2012
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Name: Angela Vrooman
Medical School: LMU-DCOM
Graduation Year: 2012
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Name: Michael Hughes
Medical School: WVSOM
Graduation Year: 2012
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Name: Richard C. Swedarsky
Medical School: New York College of Osteopathic Medicine
Graduation Year: 2012
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Name: Tyler McGregor
Medical School: ATSU-KCOM
Graduation Year: 2012
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Name: Nick Fleming
Medical School: Midwestern University CCOM
Graduation Year: 2011
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Name: Lafe Nelson Harris
Medical School: AZCOM
Graduation Year: 2012
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Name: Bill Fredericks
Medical School: West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine
Graduation Year: 2013
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Name: Nicole Stegenga
Medical School: Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine
Graduation Year: 2013
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Name: Nick Beatty
Medical School: New York College of Osteopathic Medicine
Graduation Year: 2012
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I’ve been thinking of ‘that’ word which most accurately describes the essence of our record breaking Mid Year Meeting which concluded this week in Annapolis. The lectures, the venue, the attendees, the excitement…it was Magic. In all, 90 attending physicians and residents, 170 medical students and a host of enthusiastic minds and curious eyes filled [...]

Strategic Planning for the College has begun and we are continuing along a path we began almost four years when Dr. Scott Naftulin took over as President. Under Dr. Naftulin’s direction, we worked with a consultant to define our vision and mission and get a better sense of who and what the College is and [...]

Article Download: Prospective, double-blind, randomized placebo-controlled trials in interventional spine: what the highest quality literature tells us   Conclusions from Article about the effectiveness of Interventional spine injections Fluoroscopically guided lumbosacral transforaminal epidural corticosteroid injections are effective in the short term, and possibly at 6 months, in treating acute/subacute lumbosacral radicular pain [13,18]. Fluoroscopically guided lumbosacral [...]