Spinal Cord Specialist to Chair UB's Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation

BUFFALO, N.Y. -- Shanker Nesathurai, M.D., interim chair of the Department of Rehabilitation Medicine at Boston University School of Medicine, has been named chair of the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at the University at Buffalo School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, effective July 1.

Nesathurai will hold the title of Capen Professor of Rehabilitation Medicine, in addition to the chairmanship.

A specialist in spinal cord injury and rehabilitation, he is principal investigator on a $1.5 million five-year grant from the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research (NIDRR) to develop national strategies to increase employment of people with disabilities. He also conducts basic research related to spinal cord injury.

Nesathurai received his medical degree and residency training at McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario. He joined the faculty at Boston University in 1995 as an assistant professor and was named acting chair of the Department of Rehabilitation Medicine in 1998. He became interim chair in June 1999 and was promoted to associate professor in July 2000.

He also served as chief of rehabilitation services at Boston Medical Center, in addition to his academic responsibilities.

Nesathurai has authored several book chapters and has edited four books on spinal cord and traumatic brain injury.