ABBEL Research Division

Last week, the Rehabilitation Institute at Sinai Hospital came together for our Inaugural RIS Research Day, a celebration of the scholarly work being conducted across our department.☀️

With more than 15 poster presentations sharing research projects, case studies, and other scholarly work, the event highlighted the dedication, innovation, and collaborative spirit of our clinicians, researchers, trainees, and staff.

We are grateful to everyone who presented, attended, and contributed to the success of this event. Beyond showcasing outstanding work, Research Day provided an opportunity to strengthen connections, exchange ideas, and continue building a vibrant research community within the Rehabilitation Institute.

Thank you for helping make this year's event such a success. We look forward to continuing to grow our culture of scholarship, collaboration, and discovery together.

#

🎉 Congratulations to our PGY-2 PM&R Residents on having three abstracts accepted for poster presentation at the AAPM&R 2026 Annual Assembly, taking place November 11–14 in Orlando, Florida!

This achievement reflects the dedication, clinical curiosity, and scholarly contributions of our residents as they continue advancing in the field of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation.

Accepted abstracts include:

📌 Cervical Osteomyelitis and Epidural Abscess Presenting as Central Cord Syndrome: A Case Report
Folarin Onifade, DO

📌 Atypical Guillain-Barré Syndrome with Prominent Dysautonomia and Hyperreflexia: A Case Report
Asha Stegall, MD, MS

📌 Acute Orthostatic Hypertension Following a Cerebrovascular Accident Patient: A Case Report
John Cottingham, OMS4

We look forward to seeing their work showcased at the AAPM&R Annual Assembly and celebrating the impact of resident-led research in rehabilitation medicine.

Celebrating Sinai Hospital's Annual GME QI/Research Competition🏆

Event Host:
· Stephanie Chairs, Director of Medical Education

Judges:
· Dr. Jordan Wickstrom, Director of ABBEL Research Division, Rehabilitation Institute at Sinai
· Dr. Ravitej Khunkhun, Associate Program Director, Internal Medicine
· Dr. Donald Abrams, Zanvyl Krieger Chairman of Ophthalmology, Vice President of Graduate Medical Education, Designated Institutional Official

QI Project Winner:
· Dr. Molly Stern (Pediatrics)

Research Project Winner:
• Dr. Eric Shiuey (Ophthalmology)

We are also proud to recognize PM&R's very own PGY-3 resident, Dr. Azeem Ahmad, who led the project, "Enhancing Resident Competency Through Resident-Led Musculoskeletal Ultrasound Training: A Quality Improvement Initiative," in collaboration with our other PM&R residents Dr. Yomiyou Geleta, Dr. Katerina Havlik, and Dr. Demelio Urbano.

Two weeks ago, Dr. Yomiyou Geleta presented his research at the 2026 American College of Sports Medicine Annual Meeting in Salt Lake City, Utah.

His oral presentation, “Skin Complications Following Non-operative Humeral Fracture—Older Adult After a Fall-related Injury,” highlighted a clinical case and contributed to ongoing conversations surrounding patient care, injury recovery, and rehabilitation outcomes.

Congratulations to Dr. Geleta and his co-authors on sharing this work with the national sports medicine and research community.

A rare postoperative complication became a reminder of the impact of integrated rehabilitation care.🏥

The case highlights how the setting of rehabilitation can directly influence outcomes for medically complex patients and underscores the value of hospital-attached IRFs in managing unexpected complications.

This clinical vignette follows a patient who experienced bowel evisceration with fascial failure during inpatient rehabilitation, a life-threatening emergency that required immediate surgical intervention. Rapid recognition and escalation were possible because the patient was receiving care in a hospital-based inpatient rehabilitation facility, where multidisciplinary teams and specialty services were readily available.

This case study is being prepared for submission to the American Journal of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation (AJPM&R) as a Clinical Vignette to raise awareness of the differential diagnosis for abdominal incisional drainage and the systems-level advantages of hospital-based rehabilitation care.

May is National Mobility Awareness Month!

As May comes to a close, we’re proud to recognize the importance of movement, independence, and accessibility across the lifespan. 🚶‍♀️🦿🧠

At the ABBEL Research Division, our team is committed to advancing movement science through biomechanics, engineering, and rehabilitation research. From pediatric motor development and gait analysis to wearable technology and rehabilitation innovation, our work focuses on improving how movement is measured, understood, and supported.

Throughout May, we’ve celebrated the impact mobility has on quality of life — and the clinicians, researchers, participants, and families helping move rehabilitation science forward every day. 💙

From Abstract Submission to Presentation!📖

Dr. Yomiyou Geleta (PGY-3) recently attended the American Medical Society for Sports Medicine (AMSSM) Annual Meeting to present his research poster! We previously shared the exciting news of his abstract acceptance and are proud to now highlight his conference experience and continued contributions to sports medicine research.

Congratulations to Dr. Geleta on representing our PM&R team on a national level and showcasing his hard work and dedication. 🎉