The Texas Nursing Association (TNA) District 9, which represents nurses in Harris County, has named Mary Ann Euliarte, RN, CRRN, among its top 25 nurses at the organization’s 25th Annual Nursing Celebration. Euliarte is chief nursing officer and vice president of operations for TIRR Memorial Hermann and chief nurse of rehabilitation services for the Memorial Hermann Health System.
TNA has recognized outstanding nurses for their contributions to the profession since 1991. The 25 honorees selected for 2015 were nominated by their peers and co-workers as exemplary registered nurses in the Houston/Galveston area.
“I’m very honored to be recognized among TNA’s Outstanding Nurses for 2015,” Euliarte says. “I love being a nurse, and in the CNO role, I have the opportunity to influence many aspects of our changing health care environment – clinical programs, meeting the educational needs of nurses, ensuring an adequate workforce and retaining good nurses. As nurses we play a huge role in how our patients progress and return to the life they love. It’s very easy to stay inspired and motivated in the field of rehabilitation.”
Euliarte has more than 30 years of experience in health care administration and has held a chief nursing officer position for more than 20 of those years. She joined TIRR Memorial Hermann in 2007 as chief nursing officer and was promoted to the dual role of chief nursing officer and chief operations officer in 2009.
Under her leadership, TIRR Memorial Hermann has seen significant increases in patient, physician and employee satisfaction, and improvement in the registered nurse retention rate to more than 95%. In addition, the number of nurses who hold the Certified Rehabilitation Registered Nurse (CRRN) credential increased from 4% in 2009 to 70% today. Since her arrival in 2007, the hospital has logged improvements in quality, customer experience and operational excellence, reinforcing its position as a national leader in rehabilitation care and research.
TNA District 9 provides forums for the exchange of ideas, viewpoints, education and dissemination of information about professional nursing and health-related legislation. The 25th Annual Nursing Celebration was held on Nov. 12, 2015, at the Westin Galleria in Houston.
Mark Sherer, PhD, ABPP, has received the William Field Caveness Award, presented by the Brain Injury Association of America in recognition of his outstanding contributions through research to improving the lives of people who have sustained brain injury. Dr. Sherer is senior scientist, director of research and director of neuropsychology at TIRR Memorial Hermann and a clinical professor of physical medicine and rehabilitation at Baylor College of Medicine and the John P. and Kathrine G. McGovern Medical School in Houston.
Over the past 30 years, Dr. Sherer has made major contributions both to the development of clinical services for individuals with brain injury and to research designed to inform clinical care. A consummate brain injury clinician and rehabilitation neuropsychologist, he has provided compassionate and state-of-the-science clinical care to countless individuals with brain injury and their families. In addition, he has expanded his capacity to provide exceptional care through the creation of leading-edge rehabilitation programs, the development of a number of important lines of clinical research, and the training of students and junior faculty in clinical and research methods.
Lex Frieden, director of the Independent Living Research Utilization program at TIRR Memorial Hermann, received the 2015 Outstanding Educator Award from the George H. W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum in College Station, Texas. The award was presented on Nov. 5, 2015, by Bush library director Warren Finch following a nationally broadcast lecture by Frieden at the Annenberg Presidential Conference Center at Texas A&M University.
Frieden, a professor in the School of Biomedical Informatics at The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth), served as director of the National Council on the Handicapped (now the National Council on Disability) during the Reagan Administration and is regarded as an architect of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), which President George H.W. Bush signed into law July 26, 1990. The Outstanding Educator awards are presented to individuals who have consistently supported the enrichment and creativity of students through outstanding dedication, inspiration and encouragement above and beyond the classroom.
Cindy Ivanhoe, MD, has been named to Best Doctors in America® for 2015-2016. Approximately 5% of American doctors are named to the list. Also, in recognition of her contributions to the discipline, Dr. Ivanhoe was recently promoted to professor in the department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at Baylor College of Medicine. She is an adjunct associate professor at the McGovern Medical School.
Anna Haertling, OT, was recognized with the Horizon Award at the annual Texas Occupational Therapy Association Conference held in November in Sugar Land, Texas. The award is given to an occupational therapy practitioner who has been in the profession less than five years and has been recognized by peers for outstanding contributions to patients and the discipline.
Four nurses at TIRR Memorial Hermann were recognized with bronze Excellence in Nursing Awards by the Good Samaritan Foundation in 2015. Ron Dorsey, RN, Terree Funesti, RN, Lucy Osemwegie, RN, and Maria Reyes, RN, were nominated by their peers and chosen from among the 171 nominations the foundation received from hospitals, clinics, colleges and universities.
The Spinal Cord Injury and Disability Research Center has received a new grant award from the Craig Nielsen Foundation to study a weight management intervention for men and women with spinal cord injury. TIRR Memorial Hermann is the lead study site, and has subcontracted with the University of Montana. Susan Robinson-Whelen, PhD., is principal investigator. Research team members include Elizabeth Noser, MD, Lisa Wenzel, MD, and Heather Taylor, PhD.
Agarwal P, Fox J, Yun Y, O’Malley MK, Deshpande AD. An index finger exoskeleton with series elastic actuation for rehabilitation: Design, control and performance characterization. International Journal of Robotics Research. 2015;34:1747-72.
Bahdane MY, Gao F, Francisco GE, Zhou P, Li S. Correlation of resting elbow angle and spasticity in chronic stroke survivors. Frontiers in Neurology. 2015;6:813.
Brown JD, Paek A, Syed M, O’Malley MK, Shewokis PA, Contreras-Vidal JL, Gillespie RB, Davis AJ. An exploration of grip force regulation with a low-impedance myoelectric prosthesis featuring referred haptic feedback. Journal of Neural Engineering and Rehabilitation. 2015;12:104.
Cuellar LM and Ginsburg DB. Preceptor’s Handbook for Pharmacists, 3rd Edition. 2016; 350 pages; Softbound E4962; ISBN: 978-1-58528-495-5.
Hou S, Ivanhoe C, Li S. Botulinum toxin injection for spastic scapular dyskinesia after stroke: Case series. Medicine. 2015;94(32):e1300.
Hu H, Li Shengai, Li Sheng. Pain modulation effect of breathing-controlled electrical stimulation (BreEStim) is not likely to be mediated by fast and deep voluntary breathing. Scientific Reports. 2015;5:14228.
Li X, Nandedkar SD, Zhou P. Modified motor unit number index: A simulation study of the first dorsal interosseous muscle. Medical Engineering and Physics. 2015 Nov 27. [Epub ahead of print] PMID: 26639774.
Li X, He W, Li C, Wang YC, Slavens BA, Zhou P. Motor unit number index examination in dominant and non-dominant hand muscles. Laterality. 2015 Nov;20(6):699-710.
Li X, Fisher M, Rymer W, Zhou P. Application of the F-Response for Estimating Motor Unit Number and Amplitude Distribution in Hand Muscles of Stroke Survivors. IEEE Transactions on Neural Systems and Rehabilitation Engineering. 2015 Jul 8. [Epub ahead of print] PMID: 26168437.
Yao B, Zhang X, Li S, Li X, Chen X, Klein CS, Zhou P. Analysis of linear electrode array EMG for assessment of hemiparetic biceps brachii muscles. Frontiers in Human Neuroscience. 2015 Oct 23;9:569.
Pehlivan AU, Sergi F, O’Malley MK. A Subject-Adaptive Controller for Wrist Robotic Rehabilitation. ASME/IEEE Transactions on Mechatronics. 2015;20(3):1338-50.
Sergi F, Erwin AC, O’Malley MK. Interaction control capabilities of an MR-compatible compliant actuator for wrist motor protocols during continuous fMRI. ASME/IEEE Transactions on Mechatronics. 2015;20(6):2678-90.
Tao W, Zhang X, Chen X, Wu D, Zhou P. Multi-scale complexity analysis of muscle coactivation during gait in children with cerebral palsy. Frontiers in Human Neuroscience. 2015 Jul 22;9:367.
Tully P. Science of Prevention: How Cushions Can Reduce Pressure Ulcer Risk. Rehab Management. 2015 Aug 31. Epub.
Yen JT, Li S. Altered force perception in stroke survivors with spastic hemiplegia. Journal of Rehabilitation Medicine. 2015 Nov;47:917-23.
Bhadane M, Gao F, Zhou P, Li S. The Effect of Startling Acoustic Stimulus on Voluntary Elbow Flexion in Stroke Survivors. Presentation at the Society for Neuroscience annual meeting, Chicago, October 2015.
Clayton D. Implementation of a Protocol to Reduce Complications of Percutaneous Endoscopic Gastrostomy Tube Medication Administration. Presentation at the Association of Rehabilitation Nurses, New Orleans, October 2015.
Cuellar LM. Health Literacy and Cultural Considerations in the Delivery of Patient Care. Invited presentation at the Greater Cincinnati Society of Health System Pharmacists, Cincinnati, Ohio, November 2015.
Davis K. Our Journey to Improving Patient Care: Taking the “Sit” Out of “Sitters” Using Constant Visual Observation, Part 2. Presentation at the Association of Rehabilitation Nurses, New Orleans, October 2015.
Davis LC, Sander AM, Bogaards JA, Pappadis MR. Referral Needs Demonstrated During Resource Facilitation for Persons with Employment as a Goal Following TBI. Poster presentation at the 92nd Annual Meeting of the American Congress of Rehabilitation, Dallas, Texas, October 2015.
Davis ME. Accessibility in Health Care for People with Disabilities. Presentation at the American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine Annual Conference, Dallas, Texas, October 2015.
Davis ME. Quality, Evidence, and Advocacy in the New Era of Healthcare. Presentation at the American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine Annual Conference, Dallas, Texas, October 2015.
Deghan M. A Model for Establishing Dysphagia Competency. Presentation at the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, Denver, Colorado, November 2015.
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Practical Applications and Considerations in Computer Access for Persons with Neurological Injury/Physical Disability
An overview and product survey for improving computer access for those with neurological injuries and/or physical disabilities. Hardware and software will be discussed as well as positioning and funding considerations will be discussed.
Can You Hear Me Now? Solutions for Telephone Access for Persons with Neurological Injury/Physical Disability
A discussion of options for phone access for those with neurological injuries and/or physical disabilities. Mobile device and landline access will be discussed. Devices for altering others inside the home will also be discussed.
April 16-17, 2016
Saturday 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and Sunday 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
TIRR Memorial Hermann Research Conference Center
Audience: Occupational therapists, speech-language pathologists and social workers
MD Anderson Cancer Center/TIRR Memorial Hermann Rehabilitation Symposium
Cancer rehabilitation has an important role in the cancer care continuum. This symposium will focus on selected cancer and cancer treatments that impact rehabilitation and provide evidence-based assessment and treatment strategies that can be applied to clinical practice.
May 13-14, 2016
Friday 2-6 p.m. and Saturday 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
MD Anderson Cancer Center, Hickey Auditorium
Audience: Physicians, nursing, occupational therapy, physical therapy, speech-language pathologists, case managers, social workers, rehab counselors (CRC), psychologists and other health care professionals
Neurologic Series
TIRR Memorial Hermann presents an 8-part continuing education series that encompasses a variety of neurologic topics. The series will benefit those that would like to enhance their level of practice in a certain area (pick one or more courses to attend) or as a study series for the Neurologic Clinical Specialist exam (attend all 8 courses). Each course will be focused at the intermediate or advanced level of knowledge and practice.
Neuroplasticity and Motor Control/Motor Learning Theories (July 23, 2016)
Comprehensive Pediatric Rehabilitation for the Neurologic Therapist (August 27, 2016)
Advancing Clinical Practice in Neurodegenerative Disease Rehabilitation (September 17, 2016)
Advancing Clinical Practice in Spinal Cord Injury (October 8-9, 2016)
Comprehensive Approach to Rehabilitation after Amputation (November 12, 2016)
Pathological Gait Analysis and Orthotic Intervention for Adults with Neurologic Dysfunction, (December 3-4, 2016)
Comprehensive Approach to Brain Injury and Stroke Rehabilitation (January 14-15, 2017)
Advanced Adult Vestibular Rehab Across the Continuum (February 4-5, 2017)