SCIMS Therapy Leadership Forum attendees gather on the terrace of the UAB Rehabilitation Pavilion.Thirty-nine rehabilitation therapy professionals from across the country gathered at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) for the 46th annual Spinal Cord Injury Model Systems (SCIMS) Therapy Leadership Forum. The annual event provides occupational, physical, and speech therapists who specialize in spinal cord injury (SCI) rehabilitation an opportunity to exchange knowledge, discuss emerging trends and share evidence-based practices that improve patient outcomes.
Hosted by UAB Spain Rehabilitation Center , the forum brought together representatives from SCIMS centers nationwide, including Craig Hospital, TIRR Memorial Hermann, Shirley Ryan AbilityLab, Kessler Foundation, Mayo Clinic, MedStar National Rehabilitation Hospital, Shepherd Center, and others.
The forum served as a collaborative learning environment where participants discussed challenges facing SCI rehabilitation and explored innovative approaches to care. Patient care topics included adaptive equipment, seating and positioning systems, spasticity management, bowel and bladder care, accessible transportation, home modifications, pressure injury prevention and management, assistive technology, insurance reimbursement, adaptive sports, and fitness.
Kasey Guill, manager of inpatient rehabilitation therapy operations for the UAB Spinal Cord Injury Rehabilitation Program, and Addison Owens, clinical program specialist, facilitated the event.
"It was an absolute pleasure to host leaders from SCI Model Systems facilities across the country at Spain Rehabilitation Center," Guill said. "We had the opportunity to learn from and encourage one another, share ideas, and explore how different facilities address common challenges and develop innovative approaches to improve rehabilitation for people living with spinal cord injury. We came away with new ideas to implement in our program and were proud to share the life-changing work we are doing here at UAB."
By encouraging year-to-year participation, the forum promotes continuity, strengthens professional networks and supports progress toward shared goals in SCI rehabilitation.
Forum highlights included:
Spain Rehabilitation Center Spinal Cord Injury Inpatient Rehab Therapy team members at Vulcan for an evening of networking and celebration.
• A keynote address by Dr. Marty Vandernoot and seating and positioning specialist Amy Pearman.
• Networking events at the UAB Altec Styslinger Genomic Medicine and Data Sciences Building, Monday Night Brewing, and Vulcan Park & Museum.
• Open forum discussions.
• Educational sessions relevant to SCI care.
• Research presentations.
• A tour of UAB's new Rehabilitation Pavilion, followed by a reception overlooking downtown Birmingham.
About the Spinal Cord Injury Model Systems
The Spinal Cord Injury Model Systems is a national network of 14 centers that provide comprehensive rehabilitation care, conduct collaborative research, and share knowledge with clinicians, researchers, and individuals living with spinal cord injury. Established in 1970, the University of Alabama at Birmingham became one of the original SCIMS centers in 1972 and has remained continuously funded for more than 50 years.
In 2026, the UAB Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation received a five-year grant from the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR) to support UAB's continued role as a SCIMS center.
As a SCIMS center, UAB researchers conduct site-specific and multicenter studies, contribute data to the national database and work with partner institutions to advance long-term outcomes and improve quality of life for people with SCI. A key strength of the program is its integration of research and clinical care, with investigators collaborating closely with clinicians at Spain Rehabilitation Center to identify emerging needs and translate evidence-based findings into practice.
The UAB-SCIMS program was initially led by Dr. Samuel Stover, one of the architects of the Model System program. Leadership later transitioned to Dr. Amie McLain (1994-2021), Dr. Ceren Yarar (2021-2022), and Dr. Rachel Cowan (2022-present), the first person living with SCI to lead UAB-SCIMS.
"Every finding we generate has the potential to change what happens in a clinic, a home or a community for someone living with SCI," Cowan said. "With these renewed awards, we can keep asking the questions that matter most to our community and make sure the answers reach the people who need them."