Spinal Cast

A tour de force, a dynamic duo, a powerful pair … somehow these phrases are not adequate when describing the incredible work of Dr. Grégoire Courtine and Dr. Jocelyn Bloch. Their remarkable discoveries in the field of spinal cord injury are bringing treatments to the forefront - using a brain-spine interface to facilitate movement for those living with paralysis. With the help of their dedicated team of scientists, what we once hoped for is now a reality. This is exciting stuff. Prepare to be amazed!

Dr. Jocelyne Bloch is a neurosurgeon at the University Hospital Lausanne, Switzerland, also known as CHUV, where she leads the Functional Neurosurgery Unit. Dr. Grégoire Courtine is a neuroscientist with a background in physics.

Both Dr. Bloch and Dr. Courtine are professors within the NeuroX Institute of the Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), within the Neurosurgical Department of CHUV, and at the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Lausanne (UNIL).

They co-founded the Defitech Center for Interventional Neurotherapies, named NeuroRestore, which they lead together as Co-Directors. NeuroRestore is a research, innovation, and treatment center that develops and applies bioengineering strategies involving neurosurgical interventions to restore neurological functions. https://www.neurorestore.swiss/

In 2014, Dr. Bloch and Dr. Courtine also co-founded ONWARD Medical with the aim to translate the neurotherapies developed at NeuroRestore into clinical treatments. Dr. Courtine is Chief Scientific Officer (CSO) of ONWARD Medical N.V. (Euronext: ONWD). https://www.onwd.com/

They are recognized worldwide for their conception of neuroprosthetic implants that restored walking in people with chronic paralysis, the results of their research have been published in numerous articles by science and nature journals, and broadly publicized in print and broadcast media across the world.

Thank you again to both Dr. Bloch and Dr. Courtine for joining us for today's episode! This production is a collaborative effort of volunteers working to create a quality audio and visual experience around the subject of spinal cord injury. A special shout out of appreciation to Clientek for providing studio space and top-notch recording equipment. Most importantly, thank YOU for being part of the Spinal Cast audience!

Interested in watching these episodes?! Check out our YouTube playlist! - https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL40rLlxGS4VzgAjW8P6Pz1mVWiN0Jou3v

If you'd like to learn more about the MCPF you can visit our website - https://mcpf.org/

Donations are always welcomed - https://mcpf.org/you-can-help/

This episode of Spinal Cast features the extraordinary world of emergency services and two heroes who save lives every day. Dr. Gregg Jones and Dr. Aaron Robinson are EMS Physicians with Hennepin County Emergency Medical Services. They share valuable insights into their challenging field of work and discuss the causes of many critical calls, including those that result in spinal cord injury. Learn some life-savings tips and discover how you can be a hero too in those critical moments when experts are not immediately available.

Gregg A. Jones, MD

Dr. Gregg Jones currently serves as Medical Director of Public Safety and Special Operations at Hennepin EMS, EMS Fellowship Program Director, Assistant Medical Director, Hennepin Emergency Medical Services, and Medical Director for Minneapolis Fire Department. Dr. Jones also serves as Medical Director for MN Task Force 1 Urban Search and Rescue Team. He completed medical School at Oregon Health and Science University and Emergency Medicine Residency training at Hennepin County Medical Center in 2018 and EMS fellowship in 2019. Prior to going to school, Dr. Jones served in the US Army, which included two combat tours to Afghanistan. His current medical interests include medical directing for large-scale events, mass casualty incident planning, paramedic education, provider wellness and the interface between prehospital medicine and law enforcement.

Aaron Robinson, MD, MPH

Dr. Aaron Robinson is an Emergency Medicine and EMS Physician at Hennepin County Medical Center and Hennepin EMS in Minneapolis, Minnesota. He is indigenous and from the Menominee Tribe of Wisconsin. He attended undergrad at the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh before earning his MD at University of Wisconsin. He also earned an MPH from the University of Minnesota. Dr. Robinson completed his residency in Emergency Medicine at Hennepin County Medical Center and stayed to complete a fellowship in Prehospital (EMS) Medicine. His professional interests include out of hospital cardiac arrest, critical care, and health disparities. 

Thank you again to both Gregg and Aaron for joining us on today's podcast! This production is a collaborative effort of volunteers working to create a quality audio and visual experience around the subject of spinal cord injury. A special shout out of appreciation to Clientek for providing studio space and top-notch recording equipment. Most importantly, thank YOU for being part of the Spinal Cast audience!

Interested in watching these episodes?! Check out our YouTube playlist! https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL40rLlxGS4VzgAjW8P6Pz1mVWiN0Jou3v

If you'd like to learn more about the MCPF you can visit our website - https://mcpf.org/

Donations are always welcomed - https://mcpf.org/you-can-help/

In Memory of Dr. Brooke Ellison (1978-2024)

Today we welcome the one and only Dr. Brooke Ellison to the podcast!

In September 1990 Brooke was hit by a car on her way home from school. She was 11 years old. The accident left her paralyzed from the neck down and dependent on a ventilator. In 2000, ten years after her accident, she graduated magna cum laude from Harvard University. She gave a commencement address which was covered extensively by media outlets around the world, including the TODAY Show and New York Times.

Since her graduation from Harvard, Brooke has worked as a public speaker, delivering a message of hope, motivation, and strength in the face of obstacles. In 2002, she published her first book, Miracles Happen, which was subsequently made into a movie, The Brooke Ellison Story, directed by Christopher Reeve. Brooke continued her education and graduated from Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government with a Master’s degree in Public Policy. In 2006 she ran for New York State Senate. She also founded The Brooke Ellison Project, a nonprofit organization advocating for stem cell and biomedical research. Today Dr. Ellison is Associate Professor at Stony Brook University.

Interested in learning more? Check out the links provided below:

Learn more about Dr. Ellison’s incredible efforts

https://www.brookeellison.com/

The Pillars of Hope, TEDxSBUWomen

https://youtu.be/hA28_fd5e1A

The Brooke Ellison Story (2004), based on the book Miracles Happen: One Mother, One Daughter, One Journey written by Brooke and Jean Ellison (2002), directed by Christopher Reeve

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0407612/

Look Both Ways, Dr. Ellison’s most recent book

https://www.brookeellison.com/look-both-ways

Thanks again to Dr. Ellison for joining us on today's podcast! This production is a collaborative effort of volunteers working to create a quality audio and visual experience around the subject of spinal cord injury. A special shout out of appreciation to Clientek for providing studio space and top-notch recording equipment. Most importantly, thank YOU for being part of the Spinal Cast audience!

Interested in watching these episodes?! Check out our YouTube playlist!

https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL40rLlxGS4VzgAjW8P6Pz1mVWiN0Jou3v

If you'd like to learn more about the MCPF you can visit our website - https://mcpf.org/

Donations are always welcomed - https://mcpf.org/you-can-help/

Meet Wendy Crawford – she’s working for equal and accessible healthcare for women with disabilities and she’s doing it with a unique medium - the arts.

Wendy was injured while driving to the airport for her first international modeling contract at the age of 19. Struck by a drunk driver she was rendered quadriplegic. Growing into womanhood with a disability, Wendy noticed a lack of available information for women with disabilities. As a result, she has devoted her life to raising awareness of the particular issues that women with physical disabilities face – especially in healthcare. Wendy has developed many empowering initiatives. She’s a TEDx speaker, developer of mobileWOMEN.org, an online magazine for women in wheelchairs - now a Facebook Group. She is co-founder of Raw Beauty Project, an innovative art platform that celebrates women with disabilities to empower, educate and inspire change. And, the latest initiative Raw Beauty Project Health, focuses on the disparities in healthcare that women with limited mobility experience, in part due to healthcare inaccessible examination and diagnostic equipment as well as lack of professional training and education. Learn more about Wendy’s meaningful work via the links below:

Solving the Beauty Equation/Wendy Crawford/TEDxTraverseCity

https://www.youtube.com/watch?reload=9&v=CL92XcGQrLg&feature=emb_logo

Raw Beauty Project Health

http://www.rawbeautyprojecthealth.com/

UnstopABLE: Portrayals of Women with Disabilities Advocating for Equality in Healthcare

https://www.rawbeautyprojecthealth.com/exhibit

Raw Beauty Project Health – Resources

https://www.rawbeautyprojecthealth.com/resources

Raw Beauty Project

https://www.rawbeautyproject.com/

mobileWOMEN (Facebook Group)

https://www.facebook.com/groups/257147710969355

Thanks again to Wendy for joining us on the podcast today! This production is a collaborative effort of volunteers working to create a quality audio and visual experience around the subject of spinal cord injury. A special shout out of appreciation to Clientek for providing studio space and top-notch recording equipment. Most importantly, thank YOU for being part of the Spinal Cast audience!

Interested in watching these episodes?! Check out our YouTube playlist!

https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL40rLlxGS4VzgAjW8P6Pz1mVWiN0Jou3v

If you'd like to learn more about the MCPF you can visit our website - https://mcpf.org/

Donations are always welcomed - https://mcpf.org/you-can-help/

We are honored to have Dr. Jennifer Morgan joining us for today’s episode! Dr. Morgan is a Senior Scientist and Director of the Eugene Bell Center for Regenerative Biology and Tissue Engineering at the Marine Biological Laboratory (MBL) in Woods Hole, MA.

She received her Ph.D. in Neurobiology from Duke University, where she worked on mechanisms of neurotransmission. She then carried out her postdoctoral studies on membrane trafficking in the Cell Biology Department at Yale University. In 2007, Morgan joined the Section of Molecular Cell and Developmental Biology at The University of Texas at Austin as an Assistant Professor where she expanded her research program to include spinal cord injury and regeneration mechanisms.

Dr. Morgan received her first research grant from the Morton Cure Paralysis Fund, which eventually led to a Research Project Grant (R01) from the National Institutes of Health that is now in its 11th year of funding. While at UT-Austin, Dr. Morgan received several prestigious awards, including a University of Texas Regents’ Outstanding Teaching Award (2011) and the Janett Trubatch Career Development Award from the Society for Neuroscience (2011).

In 2012, Dr. Morgan was recruited to the MBL’s Bell Center to expand her research program in regenerative biology. She continues to study the mechanisms of neurotransmission under both normal conditions, as well as with spinal injury and neurodegenerative disorders such as Parkinson’s disease. Dr. Morgan is currently one of the co-directors of the NIH-funded courses at the MBL called “Frontiers in Stem Cells and Regeneration”, and she is a standing member on the NIH Neuronal Communications Study Section. Throughout her career, Dr. Morgan has dedicated her efforts to mentoring students and postdocs and advancing diversity and inclusion in the STEM sciences, and she is actively involved in the MBL Diversity and Inclusion Advisory Committee, which she chaired for the last 3 years.

Marine Biological Laboratory: https://www.mbl.edu/

Many thanks to Dr. Morgan for her work and for being our guest on today’s episode! This production is a collaborative effort of volunteers working to create a quality audio and visual experience around the subject of spinal cord injury. A special shout out of appreciation to Clientek for providing studio space and top-notch recording equipment. Most importantly, thank YOU for being part of the Spinal Cast audience!

Interested in watching these episodes?! Check out our YouTube playlist! https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL40rLlxGS4VzgAjW8P6Pz1mVWiN0Jou3v

If you'd like to learn more about the MCPF you can visit our website - https://mcpf.org/

Donations are always welcomed - https://mcpf.org/you-can-help/

In today's episode we sit down with Matthew Rodreick, Executive Director of Unite 2 Fight Paralysis (U2FP).

Matthew became an advocate and activist on behalf of the SCI community after his son became quadriplegic from a spinal cord injury in 2008. With a background in healthcare management and community organizing his skills were instrumental in passing the SCI/TBI Research Grant Program in 2015. That success led to establishing and leading Unite 2 Fight Paralysis’ Cure Advocacy Network (successfully passing similar legislation in PA, WA and OH) until being hired as Executive Director in 2017. Rodreick is responsible for management and operations of U2FP’s initiatives, staff and mission to expedite cures for paralysis. Roderick has delivered presentations on SCI advocacy strategies at The National Institutes of Health, National Neurotrauma Society, American Spinal Injury Association, Society for Neuroscience as well as other institutions and organizations across the United States and Canada.

Unite 2 Fight Paralysis: https://u2fp.org/

As mentioned in the podcast, here is a link to Gabriel Rodreick (aka Freaque). Gabriel is a talented musician and songwriter whose music is a raw and honest telling of life with a spinal cord injury: https://gabrielrodreick.com/

Thank you again to Matthew for joining us on todays episode! This production is a collaborative effort of volunteers working to create a quality audio and visual experience around the subject of spinal cord injury. A special shout out of appreciation to Clientek for providing studio space and top-notch recording equipment. Most importantly, thank YOU for being part of the Spinal Cast audience!

Interested in watching these episodes?! Check out our YouTube playlist! https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL40rLlxGS4VzgAjW8P6Pz1mVWiN0Jou3v

If you'd like to learn more about the MCPF you can visit our website - https://mcpf.org/

Donations are always welcomed - https://mcpf.org/you-can-help/

In this episode we sit down with the inspiring, Bryon Riesch!

In 1998, as a college freshman, Bryon Riesch suffered a severe spinal cord injury which left him paralyzed from the chest down with very limited use of his arms. Despite his injury, he graduated from Marquette University in 2002. He currently is part owner of R&R Insurance, where his responsibilities include investigating and implementing new ideas and technologies.

He is also one of the founders and serves as President of the Bryon Riesch Paralysis Foundation (BRPF). Dedicated to finding a cure for paralysis, the BRPF provides funding for the latest in medical research and provides assistance to those that suffer from neurological disorders.

In addition to the BRPF, Bryon serves or has served on the Presidential Advisory Board for Carroll University, the Marquette College of Health Sciences Leadership Council, the Neurological Advisory Board at the Medical College of Wisconsin and the Advisory Board for the Waukesha Community Foundation. He has also been involved in Goodwill Industries where he received the Goodwill International Graduate of the Year Award. He has been recognized by Froedtert & The Medical College of Wisconsin with their Hope & Spirit Award and given an honorary doctorate in 2011. Finally, Marquette University honored him with the Spirit of Marquette Award in 2018.

Learn more about the amazing work being done by BRPF here: https://brpf.org/

Thank you again to Bryon Riesch for joining us on Spinal Cast! This production is a collaborative effort of volunteers working to create a quality audio experience around the subject of spinal cord injury. A special shout out of appreciation to Clientek for providing studio space and top-notch recording equipment. Most importantly, thank YOU for being part of the Spinal Cast audience!

Interested in watching these episodes?! Check out our YouTube playlist! https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL40rLlxGS4VzgAjW8P6Pz1mVWiN0Jou3v

If you'd like to learn more about the MCPF you can visit our website at - https://mcpf.org/

Donations are always welcomed - https://mcpf.org/you-can-help/

Today we welcome the incredible duo of Jenni & Lori Taylor to the podcast!

Due to a car accident on November 1, 2002, Jenni experienced a C-1/C-2 spinal cord injury. She is paralyzed from the neck down and breathes using a ventilator. Despite her disability, Jenni is incredibly positive and believes that all things happen for a reason. Following the accident, Jenni created a blog to update people on her life and hopefully help others. If you are interested in taking a closer look, we encourage you to check out the link below!

"Positivity overpowers my disability

I’m like a word on a piece of paper

I hear the ocean waves crash against rocks

I see the sun setting on a windy day

I want to do more than I need

and need more than I want

I venture towards those in times of trouble"

- Jenni Taylor

http://thesitethatbreathes.blogspot.com/

Thank you again to Jenni & Lori Taylor for joining us on Spinal Cast! This production is a collaborative effort of volunteers working to create a quality audio experience around the subject of spinal cord injury. A special shout out of appreciation to Clientek for providing studio space and top-notch recording equipment. Most importantly, thank YOU for being part of the Spinal Cast audience!

Interested in watching these episodes?! Check out our YouTube playlist! https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL40rLlxGS4VzgAjW8P6Pz1mVWiN0Jou3v

If you'd like to learn more about the MCPF you can visit our website at - https://mcpf.org/

Donations are always welcomed - https://mcpf.org/you-can-help/

We are excited to present Part 2 of our conversation with the joyful and enthusiastic, Tiffiny Carlson!

Tiffiny Carlson is a C6 quadriplegic from Minnesota. She was injured in a diving accident in 1993 at 14 years old. Helping others with spinal cord injuries has been her passion since her accident. She began mentoring other women with SCI in 1996 while in high school, then became a disability writer while attending Augsburg College, graduating with her BA in 2001. She worked as the "SCI Life" columnist for New Mobility magazine from 2003 – 2017 after graduation.

Tiffiny's work has been featured in dozens of publications since 1999, beginning with the pioneering disability site, Halftheplanet.com, and more recently the Huffington Post. In 2010, she began blogging for SPINALpedia, a nonprofit that helps those with new spinal cord injuries, then became their executive director in 2013. In her free time, Tiffiny enjoys cooking, adaptive yoga (she was featured in adaptive yoga videos from Mind Body Solutions), traveling and adaptive skiing. She lives in New Brighton, Minnesota with her fiancé Kevin. No wedding date set.

Tiffiny’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tiffcarlson/

SPINALpedia: https://spinalpedia.com/

Life After Paralysis Podcast: https://anchor.fm/life-after-paralysis

We'd like to offer a special thank you to Tiffiny for her involvement with Spinal Cast! This production is a collaborative effort of volunteers working to create a quality audio experience around the subject of spinal cord injury. A special shout out of appreciation to Clientek for providing studio space and top-notch recording equipment. Most importantly, thank YOU for being part of the Spinal Cast audience!

Interested in watching these episodes?! Check out our YouTube playlist! https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL40rLlxGS4VzgAjW8P6Pz1mVWiN0Jou3v

If you'd like to learn more about the Morton Cure Paralysis Fund you can visit our website at https://mcpf.org/

Donations are always welcomed - https://mcpf.org/you-can-help/

In today’s episode we are joined by the incredibly talented and enthusiastic Tiffiny Carlson!

Tiffiny Carlson is a C6 quadriplegic from Minnesota. She was injured in a diving accident in 1993 at 14 years old. Helping others with spinal cord injuries has been her passion since her accident. She began mentoring other women with SCI in 1996 while in high school, then became a disability writer while attending Augsburg College, graduating with her BA in 2001. She worked as the "SCI Life" columnist for New Mobility magazine from 2003 – 2017 after graduation.

Tiffiny's work has been featured in dozens of publications since 1999, beginning with the pioneering disability site, Halftheplanet.com, and more recently the Huffington Post. In 2010, she began blogging for SPINALpedia, a nonprofit that helps those with new spinal cord injuries, then became their executive director in 2013. In her free time, Tiffiny enjoys cooking, adaptive yoga (she was featured in adaptive yoga videos from Mind Body Solutions), traveling and adaptive skiing. She lives in New Brighton, Minnesota with her fiancé Kevin. No wedding date set.

Tiffiny’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tiffcarlson/

SPINALpedia: https://spinalpedia.com/

Life After Paralysis Podcast: https://anchor.fm/life-after-paralysis

We'd like to offer a special thank you to Tiffiny for her involvement with Spinal Cast! This production is a collaborative effort of volunteers working to create a quality audio experience around the subject of spinal cord injury. A special shout out of appreciation to Clientek for providing studio space and top-notch recording equipment. Most importantly, thank YOU for being part of the Spinal Cast audience!

Interested in watching these episodes?! Check out our YouTube playlist! https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL40rLlxGS4VzgAjW8P6Pz1mVWiN0Jou3v

If you'd like to learn more about the Morton Cure Paralysis Fund you can visit our website at - https://mcpf.org/

Donations are always welcomed - https://mcpf.org/you-can-help/