2026
On Friday, March 20, 2026, the second annual Dr. Joel DeLisa PM&R Endowed Lectureship took place at Providence St. Luke’s Rehabilitation Medical Center campus. Presented in partnership with the WSU Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine, the lecture was honored to host Dr. Sabrina Paganoni.
Sabrina Paganoni, MD, PhD
Dr. Sabrina Paganoni is an Associate Professor of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at Harvard Medical School and Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital, where she is also Co‑Director of the Neurological Research Institute at Massachusetts General Hospital. She holds the Robert H. Brown, Jr., PhD, MD Endowed Chair in Neurology, recognizing her leadership in advancing care and research for neurodegenerative disease.
Dr. Paganoni’s work focuses on clinical trials and therapy development for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). She serves as Principal Investigator for multiple ALS clinical trials and has helped pioneer innovative trial designs and collaborative partnership models that are transforming how investigational therapies are evaluated. She is co‑Principal Investigator of the HEALEY ALS Platform Trial and leads national, multi‑center expanded access programs.
In collaboration with colleagues across Harvard and beyond, Dr. Paganoni is also advancing assistive technologies and interdisciplinary care models to improve quality of life for individuals living with ALS and other motor neuron diseases. Her research has been supported by the NIH, nonprofit organizations, and industry partners. She has authored more than 170 peer‑reviewed publications, received numerous national honors—including the 2021 Top 10 Clinical Research Achievement Award—and is a member of the National Academy of Medicine.
Lecture Presentation: Driving Progress in ALS Care and Research through Collaboration and Innovation
Five Steps: Translating ALS Discoveries into Therapies—Innovations in Drug Development
- ALS: A Complex Disease
- Genetic Breakthroughs and Molecular Targets
- Novel Biomarkers
- Innovations in Clinical Trials
- Innovations in Care
Bringing Together Leaders, Researchers, and the Future Physicians of PM&R
The lecture drew significant engagement from across the region. More than 100 attendees participated, including St. Luke’s, PM&R residents, faculty, physicians, WSU College of Medicine students, faculty, leadership, researchers, professors, ALS allies and advocates, and PM&R providers across the region.
With 80 attendees in-person, the venue reached full capacity with standing room only, underscoring the growing interest in the DeLisa PM&R Endowed Lectureship.
The DeLisa PM&R Endowed Lectureship continues to serve as a powerful convening opportunity, bringing together clinical leaders, researchers, program directors, and future PM&R physicians from across institutions and disciplines. A highlight of this year’s lecture was its reach well beyond Providence and WSU, reflecting the growing influence and interdisciplinary relevance of the series.
I was so excited to hear Dr. Paganoni speak, meet Dr. Carter, and learn more about ALS, I couldn’t sleep last night I was so excited!
Community Member
Achieving the Mission
Dr. Joel DeLisa Endowed PM&R Lectureship Committee Leaders
Dr. Greg Carter, a nationally respected ALS researcher, Providence St. Luke’s Rehabilitation Medical Center Chief Medical Officer, Associate Program Director of the PM&R Residency Program, and WSU College of Medicine Associate Professor is a critical in driving the success of the lecture. Alongside his leadership is Dr. Alicia Fuhrman, Providence St. Luke’s Rehabilitation Residency Program Director, whose leadership continues to shape the education and training of future physiatrists in the region.
Lectureship Serves an Inspirational Role for Future Coug Doctors
Scott Erickson, MS4, a WSU College of Medicine student, attended shortly after matching into a Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation residency at University of Utah Health in Salt Lake City, Utah, a milestone moment underscoring the lectureship’s inspirational role for emerging physicians.
Pranathi Darbha, MS2, WSU PM&R Student Interest Group President, also attended and represents the next generation of students actively preparing for careers in rehabilitation medicine.
Attracting Interdisciplinary Researchers and Partnerships to Drive Innovation
Dr. Annie Du, PhD, a research professor in the WSU College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences and a leader in nano‑biotechnology research. Her work highlights how advancements in nanotechnology can contribute to earlier disease detection, more precise drug delivery, and improved monitoring of treatment outcomes, innovations with growing relevance to rehabilitation and neurologic care.
Dr. Du attended alongside her husband, Dr. Yuehe Lin, PhD is a professor in the School of Mechanical and Materials Engineering at Washington State University and an internationally recognized leader in nanomaterials, bioengineering, and electrochemical systems. His research focuses on the design, synthesis, and application of functional nanomaterials to address challenges at the interface of engineering, medicine, and human health. Drs. Annie Du and Yuehe Lin are two of the top five most-published researchers at WSU.
An Exclusive Evening with Dr. Paganoni
Dinner hosted at the WSU College of Medicine on Thursday, March 19, 2026.
The evening before the lectureship, a dinner was hosted with Dr. Sabrina Paganoni to create a opportunity for reciprocated exchange and spark collaborations beyond the lecture. In addition the to St. Luke’s resident physicians, the evening convened junior and seasoned researchers across WSU. The engaging reception lasted more than three hours. The small group experience sparked inspiring conversations around shared discovery, mentorship and the future of patient care.
As reflected in the images from the evening, the DeLisa Lectureship is not only a platform for education, but a community‑building experience that elevates the academic and innovation of WSU College of Medicine and St. Luke’s Medical Center.
2025
On Wednesday, May 14, 2025, the Inaugural Dr. Joel DeLisa PM&R Endowed Lectureship took place at Providence St. Luke’s Rehabilitation Medical Center campus. Presented in partnership with the WSU Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine, the lecture was honored to host Dr. Steven Kirshblum.
Steven Kirshblum, MD
Steven Kirshblum, MD, chief medical officer for Kessler Institute for Rehabilitation and chair of the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at Rutgers New Jersey Medical School. He is board certified in physical medicine and rehabilitation and spinal cord injury medicine. He is a professor and chair of the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at Rutgers New Jersey Medical School and the spinal cord injury medicine fellowship program director. In addition, Dr. Kirshblum is the chief medical officer for the Kessler Foundation and co-director of its Center for Spinal Stimulation.
Dr. Kirshblum began his career at Kessler in 1990. He is the project co-director of the Northern New Jersey Model Spinal Cord Injury System, one of only 18 federally-designated centers in the country. He is a past President of the Academy of Spinal Cord Injury Professionals and American Paraplegia Society, past board member of the American Spinal Injury Association and has served and continues to serve on numerous advisory boards and foundations for spinal cord research. He is currently on the board of the Craig H. Neilsen Foundation. He is involved in research, with more than 240 peer-reviewed publications, is the editor of three textbooks in spinal cord injury medicine and a children’s book related to spinal cord injury. Dr. Kirshblum earned a bachelor’s degree in biology from Fairleigh Dickinson University and his medical degree from the University of Health Sciences/Chicago Medical School. He completed a residency in physical medicine and rehabilitation at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York.
Lecture Presentation: Hope and Hurdles, The Current Landscape of Spinal Cord Injury Research and Rehabilitation
