Synapse National: Recruiting Physiatry’s Next Generation

Episode Description: This episode explores Synapse National, a nonprofit dedicated to helping college students broaden social support networks for individuals affected by brain injury.

Episode Guests:

Brett Bullington

Brett is a tech executive and investor and a longtime Synapse community member at Stanford who sustained a severe brain injury in 2012. He has since been an active mentor and volunteer patient educator. He spends his time walking, connecting with others, and sharing candid insights to support fellow survivors and train future healthcare providers.

Jessica Lo 

Jessica Lo is a graduate of Boston University School of Medicine and is now a resident in physical medicine and rehabilitation at the University of Washington. She founded the Synapse chapter at the University of Washington when she was an undergraduate and remains a mentor for newer chapter leads. She is passionate about advocacy and is planning to pursue training in physical medicine and rehabilitation to care for people with brain injuries.

Alissa Totman, MD, MPH

Alissa Totman, MD, MPH, is a physical medicine and rehabilitation (PM&R) physician specializing in brain injury medicine at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center and an assistant professor at the University of Pittsburgh Medical School. She received her medical degree from the Stanford School of Medicine, completed her residency in PM&R at Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital / Harvard Medical School, and completed her fellowship in brain injury medicine at UPMC. She is board-certified in PM&R and brain injury medicine. Her clinical focus is on providing brain injury care across the continuum, beginning with early multidisciplinary rehabilitation in the acute care setting. She provides care as a consultant at UPMC Presbyterian and has an outpatient practice dedicated to brain injury and spasticity management. She is the Founder and Executive Director of Synapse National, an organization dedicated to expanding social support for individuals with brain injury and inspiring the next generation of leaders in the field.

Episode Resources:

 Episode Articles & Related Research

Jumreornvong, O., Haque, A., Tabacof, L., Bolds, A., Sanchez, A., Martinez, C. I., Verduzco-Gutierrez, M., & Escalon, M. X. (2022). Awareness of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation as a Specialty Among US Medical Students. American journal of physical medicine & rehabilitation, 101(7 Suppl 1), S45–S50. https://doi.org/10.1097/PHM.0000000000001822

 

Yang, A. J., Haring, R. S., Swenson, T. L., & Jain, N. B. (2021). Factors Influencing Fellowship Decision Making During Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation Residency. American journal of physical medicine & rehabilitation, 100(4), 396–401. https://doi.org/10.1097/PHM.0000000000001608

Advocacy, Education, & Community Organizations

·       Home | Synapse National

·       Brett's Recovery (tumblr.com)

Synapse in the News 

·       Stanford Daily

·       New York Times

 

If you are interested in one of the articles highlighted on the show, but are having trouble accessing it, please reach out to us at [e-mail].

Credits 

Shonali Gaudino, OT, Host, Producer

Chuck Clough, Editor

Mary Slavin, PhD, Executive Producer

This production is a collaboration between, and partially funded by, the Rehabilitation Outcomes Center at Spaulding and our Model Systems: the Boston-Harvard Burn Injury Model System (NIDILRR Award #90DPBU0008), the .css-j9qmi7{display:-webkit-box;display:-webkit-flex;display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex;-webkit-flex-direction:row;-ms-flex-direction:row;flex-direction:row;font-weight:700;margin-bottom:1rem;margin-top:2.8rem;width:100%;-webkit-box-pack:start;-ms-flex-pack:start;-webkit-justify-content:start;justify-content:start;padding-left:5rem;}@media only screen and (max-width: 599px){.css-j9qmi7{padding-left:0;-webkit-box-pack:center;-ms-flex-pack:center;-webkit-justify-content:center;justify-content:center;}}.css-j9qmi7 svg{fill:#27292D;}.css-j9qmi7 .eagfbvw0{-webkit-align-items:center;-webkit-box-align:center;-ms-flex-align:center;align-items:center;color:#27292D;}