UAB-SCIMS Team

Project Director

Dr. Cowan received her doctorate in Rehabilitation Science and Technology from the University of Pittsburgh and her Masters of Science in Health and Exercise Science from Wake Forest University. Her research program is oriented towards the everyday mobility challenges of non-ambulatory individuals with SCI. Her work specifically seeks to develop, test, and translate cost effective fitness, mobility, and assistive technology interventions that improve independence, decrease burden of care, and enhance quality of life of individuals with SCI.

Project Co-Director

Jenn Coker, Ph.D., MPH, FASIA received a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Berry College, a Master of Public Health from Emory University. and Ph.D. in Clinical Investigations from the University of Colorado – Anschutz Medical Campus.

Dr. Coker began her research career right after college as a clinical research coordinator at the Shepherd Center in Atlanta, Georgia. She then went on to serve in various roles for in spinal cord injury (SCI) research programs in prestigious rehabilitation research institutions, such as Shepherd Center, Medical University of South Carolina’s College of Health Professions, and Craig Hospital.

Throughout her career, Dr. Coker has established herself as a leading investigator in SCI outcomes research. Her research portfolio includes pioneering investigations into self-efficacy interventions for individuals with SCI, the integration of complementary and integrative healthcare approaches, and the impact of oral health on overall well-being in this population. Through her research, she aims to enhance quality of life, improve rehabilitation outcomes, and address health disparities in these populations.

Her research has been supported by federal and foundation grants over the last 10 years totaling over $18 million in funding. She formerly served as Co-PD for the Rocky Mountain Regional Spinal Injury System, Site PI for the SCI Model Systems Collaborative project, both of which are funded by the National Institute on Disability Independent Living and Rehabilitation Research, PI for a project funded by the Craig H Neilsen Foundation, as well as Site PI for a prospective multi-center longitudinal cohort study sponsored by the Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma America. She currently holds a grant from the Neilsen Foundation, and as noted earlier, is Co-PD of the NSCISC.

Dr. Coker has authored an extensive body of peer-reviewed publications. Her reputation as a respected scientist and leader is underscored by her numerous awards, including the recent 2020 Mulcahey Award for Research in Outcomes Measurement and the 2022 Spinal Research Institute SCI Writing Prize. She serves on the Editorial Board for Topics in SCI Rehabilitation, as Review Editor of the Disability Rehabilitation and Inclusion section for the Frontiers in Rehabilitation Sciences, and as a guest topic editor of Promoting Participation Following Neurotrauma for the Frontiers Research Topics. She has also served on grant review panels for the Colorado Clinical and Translational Sciences Institute and the Paralyzed Veterans of America Education Foundation.

Dr. Coker’s service contributions are equally impactful. At Craig Hospital, she played a pivotal role in multiple committees, including serving as the Founding Chair of the Research Think Tank and as Chair of the Women’s Health Initiative. Nationally, she has held leadership positions within the American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA), including her recent appointment to its Board of Directors and designation as a Fellow of ASIA (FASIA) for her outstanding research and service to ASIA and the SCI community. Internationally, she currently serves on multiple committees and special interest groups for the International Spinal Cord Society (ISCoS). In the community, Dr. Coker is the former chair and current member of the Board of Directors for the Colorado Brain Injury Trust Fund and Board of the Shine Music Festival, an inclusive and accessible music festival that gives people of all abilities access to the power of live music.

Data Collection Manager

Jenny Marwitz is Director of Traumatic Brain Injury Research in the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. She also is responsible for the oversite of data collection for the SCI Model Systems National Database. Her research interests include emotional adjustment, community reintegration, and return to work.

Rehabilitation Psychology Director

Dr. Azuero joined the Department of PM&R in 2017 following her postdoctoral training at UAB in Rehabilitation Psychology under J. Scott Richards, Ph.D., ABPP. She is Board Certified in Rehabilitation Psychology by the American Board of Professional Psychology. Dr. Azuero’s clinical practice involves the assessment and treatment of adults with chronic conditions including spinal cord injury and other medical conditions. Her research has focused on understanding the utilization of mental health services and designing and testing novel intervention delivery methods.

Originally a Form I data collector for both TBI and SCI Model Systems at UAB, Sarah has moved up to working with the National Spinal Cord Injury Statistical Center as of May 2022. Sarah has shifted her focus to helping Dr. Yuying Chen and Tori Allen in the data center. Her responsibilities including but not limited to, transitioning the four new data centers into the 2022-2026 funding cycle as well as helping all centers work through the process of the upcoming non-traumatic SCI data collection through July 2023. While Sarah’s main focus is handling the day to day management of administration of the UAB Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation research group, Sarah does spend some of her time helping with data abstraction for UAB SCIMS Form I and Form II follow-up for the Virginia and Missouri centers.

Clinical Research Coordinator

Mr. Waselkov's primary role is follow-up data collection from SCIMS participants who have been in the study for 15+ years. He recently completed the first 50-year follow-ups for UAB. He graduated from UAB with a degree in Neuroscience in 2014 and has worked at UAB on Model Systems studies since 2015.

Clinical Research Coordinator

Rachel is a Clinical Research Coordinator for the SCI Model Systems. She received a Masters of Science in Sociology from Virginia Commonwealth University. Since joining UAB in 2022, Rachel has focused on data collection for Form II follow-ups.

Assistant Professor
SCIM Fellowship Program Director

Dr. Renfro is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. She is board certified by the American Board of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. She is a graduate of the Lincoln Memorial University - DeBusk College of Osteopathic Medicine. She completed her residency in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation in Birmingham, AL where she served as chief resident. She completed her spinal cord medicine fellowship in Cleveland, OH. She has a special interest in the field of spinal cord injury and spinal disorders. She is involved in direct patient care for spinal cord injured consults and inpatients at UAB and the Spain Rehabilitation outpatient clinic spinal cord injury service. Her clinical interests include spinal cord injury, spasticity, and wound care. Her primary research interests are in acute and chronic spinal cord injury patients. Dr. Renfro is a member of the Academy of Spinal Cord Injury Professionals and the American Spinal Injury Association.

Assistant Professor
Assistant Residency Program Director

Dr. Twist is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. She is dual board certified in Spinal Cord Injury Medicine and Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation. She is a graduate of the University of Queensland Medical School. Dr. Twist completed her residency in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation and fellowship in Spinal Cord Injury Medicine at MetroHealth/Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio where she also served as chief resident. Dr. Twist has a special interest in the field of spinal cord injury and spinal disorders. She is involved in direct patient care for spinal cord injured consults and inpatients at UAB and the Spain Rehabilitation outpatient clinic spinal cord injury service. Her clinical interests include spinal cord injury and spasticity.