Physicians

Spine Rehabilitation Team

Joseph Chen, MD, is a physical medicine and rehabilitation physician, a physiatrist, who joined the UI Spine Center in 2000. He also performs electrodiagnostic medicine consultations including nerve conduction studies and electromyography to determine the extent of nerve or muscle injury. He is the medical director of the Spine Rehabilitation Program. He has achieved subspecialty certification in both spinal cord injury medicine and pediatric rehabilitation medicine.

Charles Clark, MD, joined the UI Spine Center in 1980. His clinical interests include conditions of the cervical spine. His research interests include cervical spine biomechanics. He is past president of the Cervical Spine Research Society and edited the third and fourth editions of the textbook entitled, "The Cervical Spine."

Ernest Found Jr., MD, and James Weinstein, MD, created the Spine Rehabilitation Program in the 1980's. With more than 20 years of experience at UI Hospitals and Clinics, Found is noted for his excellent surgical reputation. His surgical interests include kyphoplasty to treat osteoporotic compression fractures, adult spine reconstruction, and spinal instrumentation.

Valerie Keffala, PhD, joined the UI Spine Center in 1997. She is a licensed psychologist specializing in behavioral medicine. She developed the curriculum for the Spine Rehabilitation Program and the components of stress management, cognitive coping skills, and relaxation training. Her research interests include behavioral medicine topics such as psychosocial assessment and outcome and effectiveness of psychological interventions before and after surgical or non-surgical intervention.

Sergio Mendoza, MD, joined the UI Spine Center in 2001 following a spine deformity fellowship with Stuart Weinstein, MD. His surgical interests include: adult reconstructive surgery for degenerative conditions, spine trauma, minimally-invasive and endoscopic-assisted spine surgery, and motion-sparing technologies. His research interests include disc replacement technologies, spinal stenosis models, degenerative disc disease models, and outcomes based practice.

Neil Segal, MD, joined the UI Spine Center in 2004. He is a board-certified physical medicine and rehabilitation physician. His clinical skills include musculoskeletal ultrasound and spinal interventions using fluoroscopic guidance. His research interests include osteoarthritis, obesity, and musculoskeletal rehabilitation. In addition to his local research projects, Segal also is chair of the musculoskeletal research committee for his national specialty society.

Joseph Smucker, MD, joined the UI Spine Center in 2005 after completion of an orthopaedic spine surgery fellowship at Emory University. His surgical interests include: cervical spine disorders, disc replacement, kyphoplasty, spinal fusion, spinal tumors, and spinal trauma. His research interests include: motion sparing technologies in the spine and fusion technologies and methods.

Stuart Weinstein, MD, is one of the most well-respected scoliosis and spinal deformity experts in the nation, conducting comprehensive long-term studies on the surgical and non-surgical outcome of scoliosis. His surgical interests include pediatric spinal deformity and pediatric orthopaedics. His research interests include the natural history and long term consequences of pediatric musculoskeletal conditions.

Robert Yang, MD, joined the UI Spine Center in 2007. He is board-certified in physical medicine and rehabilitation and will see patients with acute or chronic musculoskeletal conditions or pain. He completed his physical medicine and rehabilitation residency at the Mayo Clinic before joining the physical medicine and rehabilitation faculty at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. Yang also has additional training and expertise in medical acupuncture.

Spine Rehabilitation Team

The Spine Rehabilitation Team is a comprehensive pain rehabilitation program. Our extensive experience provides the best multidisciplinary care to patients with chronic spine pain. The team's medical director is Joseph Chen, MD.

UI Spine Center has assembled a team of health professionals who work together with your doctor to effectively develop a diagnosis and treatment plan for your pain.

The team includes:

• Orthopaedic spine specialists
• Clinical nurse specialists
• A medical social worker specialist
• A psychologist
• A vocational consultant
• An activities therapist
• Physical therapists

Denny Bewyer, PT, completed physical therapy training at the University of Iowa in 1973 and worked in private practice for 20 years treating musculoskeletal disorders of the spine. He joined the UI Spine Center in 1992. His research interests include muscle imbalances causing back and/or leg pain.

Jeff Nicholson, PT, graduated from The University of Iowa physical therapy program in 1988. He evaluates and screens patients in spine physical therapy clinics and suggests appropriate treatment. Treatment can include patient education on the spine and how it works, exercises tailored to meet individual needs and directions for self-care. His clinical interests include muscle imbalances, spine movement impairments, therapeutic exercise, and physical therapy diagnoses.

Karen Drake, PT, works with our Spine Rehabilitation Program participants and has interests in osteoporosis rehabilitation. She developed the Golf to Your Advantage program that has been effective in teaching patients with back pain methods of improving their posture while playing golf.

Pam Lee, PT, graduated from The University of Iowa with a master's degree in physical therapy in 2000. She also is a certified strength and conditioning specialist. She primarily works in the Spine Rehabilitation Program, but also conducts functional capacity evaluations, job site evaluations, and teaches spine health to employees and patients.

Debra Parrott, PT, CSS, graduated from The University of Iowa in physical therapy in 1986. She is a board certified specialist in cardiovascular and pulmonary physical therapy, and an ACSM certified exercise specialist. She also has several certifications in advanced ECG interpretation. Her role in the Spine Rehabilitation Program involves cardiovascular exercise evaluation, intervention, and education (risk factor management, weight loss, exercise, dietary modifications, smoking cessation, etc.). She also has an appointment in the Department of Rehabilitation Therapy with her primary emphasis in general orthopaedics, weight management, and geriatrics.

Ann M. Vogel, MA, CRC, LMHC, graduated in 1990 with a MA in Vocational Rehabilitation Counseling from The University of Iowa. She is a Certified Rehabilitation Counselor and a Licensed Mental Health Counselor. She joined the UI Spine Rehabilitation Team in 2005 and has over eight years of experience counseling and assisting a wide range of individuals with job-seeking skills training and career exploration.

Teresa Kober is the Spine Rehabilitation Team's program coordinator. She serves a vital role as the first contact within the UI Spine Center, sending patients, nurse case managers, or physicians to the appropriate team members.