Award for Excellence in SCI Care or Service

This award acknowledges and honors a current member of the ANPT Spinal Cord Injury SIG who demonstrates valued contributions to SCI rehabilitation, in either direct patient care, SCI-clinician mentorship, or SCI-team leadership. Nominations may be submitted by SIG members, non-SIG members, workplace colleagues and advisory staff, or self-nomination.

Nominations are now closed.

Past Winners of the Award for Excellence in SCI Care or Service
  • 2026 - Douglas Eck, PT, DPT, NCS, MHI
  • 2025 - Katie Blackburn, PT, DPT, NCS, MSHQS
  • 2024 - Brittany Tarin, PTA
  • 2023 - Megan Murphey, PT, DPT, NCS, ATP
  • 2022 - Michelle Lanouette, PT, MPT, NCS
  • 2021 - Lawrence Harding, PT
  • 2020 - Kristen Cezat, PT, DPT, NCS, ATP/SMS
  • 2019 - Elizabeth "Liz" Warren, PT, DPT, NCS
  • 2018 - Carrie Callahan, PT, ATP

SCI SIG Service Award

The SCI SIG Service Award acknowledges a member of the SIG who goes above and beyond though volunteer contributions to the SIG and its efforts.  Nominations for this award are closed and will reopen in mid-2026.  

Past Winners of the SCI SIG Service Award
  • 2026 - Wendy Koesters, PT, ATP/SMS
  • 2025 - Uzair Hammad, PT, DPT, NCS, ATP
  • 2024 - Meghan Rozwod, PT, DPT, NCS
  • 2023 - Cathy Larson, PhD, PT
  • 2022 - Rachel Tappan, PT, DPT

SCI SIG Research Award

The SCI SIG Research Award recognizes a member of the SCI SIG who has demonstrated exemplary contributions to the body of research representative of the population the SIG serves.  Nominations for this award are closed and will reopen in mid-2026.     

Past Winners of the SCI SIG Research Award
  • 2026 - Chad Swank, PT, PhD, NCS
  • 2025 - Candace "Candy" Tefertiller, PT, DPT, PhD, NCS
  • 2024 - Emily Fox, PT, DPT, MHS, PhD 
  • 2023 - Edelle Field-Fote, PT, PhD, FAPTA
  • 2022 - Andrew Smith, PT, DPT, PhD

CSM 2026 Awards

  • Poster Award Winner
    • Jessica Lee Dunn, Kate Cavka, Hannah Snyder, Tommy W Sutor, Michela J Mir, Amy Redding, Clayton N Wauneka, Gordon S. Mitchell, Emily Jane Fox. Enhanced Respiratory Motor Plasticity Following Acute Intermittent Hypercapnic Hypoxia in Spinal Cord Injury. 
  • Platform Award Winner
    • Wesley Allen Thornton, Andrew Craig Smith, Candace Rae Tefertiller, Jennifer Elaine Stevens-Lapsley, Mark McLaughlin Manago, Jordan Connor. Midsagittal Tissue Bridges and Walking Recovery in Individuals with Traumatic Spinal Cord Injury.