Spinal Cord Injury: An Interdisciplinary Rehabilitation Conference " Evidence- Based Care Across the Continuum of Recovery"

April 18, 2026

Nearly 18,000 individuals in the U.S. sustain a traumatic spinal cord injury (SCI) each year. Additionally, while  non-traumatic SCI can be difficult to track, it is estimated to be roughly the same amount as traumatic injuries per year. The care of persons with SCI requires an interdisciplinary approach across the continuum of care. Providers should be aware of current evidence and care techniques for both traumatic and non-traumatic SCI across the continuum from initial injury, medical complications, many phases of rehab, and community reintegration. Spinal Cord Injury: An Interdisciplinary Rehabilitation Conference will introduce and review a variety of topics relevant to persons with SCI. Topics will focus on areas important to all team members, throughout the continuum of care. The conference will address, through lectures and discussion, in addition to hands-on learning opportunities, the treatments and strategies employed at the UPMC Rehabilitation Institute. Conference goals are in line with the missions of the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation and the UPMC Rehabilitation Institute to advance health, expand knowledge, and improve care through research, teaching rehabilitation services, and medical care. 

Target Audience

Nurse
Nurse Practitioner
Physician
Physician Assistant
Psychologist
Social Worker
PT
OT

Learning Objectives

1. Develop the clinical proficiency to identify, assess, and implement targeted interventions or facilitate specialty referrals for respiratory dysfunction following spinal cord injury.
2. Analyze contemporary healthcare developments and "hot topics" to evaluate their specific implications for persons with spinal cord injury.
3. Contrast the clinical requirements and care trajectories of patients with non-traumatic versus traumatic spinal cord injuries to provide tailored rehabilitation.
4. Demonstrate competency in foundational power wheelchair skills essential for maximizing patient independence and community accessibility.
5. Execute specialized positioning techniques across diverse care settings to optimize skin integrity and functional alignment unique to those with SCI.
6. Critically examine personal biases, linguistic choices, and cultural assumptions to foster a more equitable and inclusive environment for patient-centered care.
7. Integrate mental health surveillance into the multidisciplinary care model by equipping all team members to recognize clinical distress and implement supportive responses that optimize patient motivation and longterm coping strategies.

Course summary
Available credit: 
  • 6.50 AAPA Category I CME
  • 6.50 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™
    The University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education to provide continuing medical education for physicians.
  • 6.50 ANCC
    UPMC Provider Unit is accredited as a provider of continuing nursing education by the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Commission on Accreditation
  • 6.50 APA
  • 6.50 ASWB
  • 6.50 Attendance
Course opens: 
02/16/2026
Course expires: 
05/02/2026
Event starts: 
04/18/2026 - 7:00am EDT
Event ends: 
04/18/2026 - 3:00pm EDT
Cost:
$1.00
Add to calendar: 

PDF icon Program Agenda

UPMC Mercy Pavilion
Pittsburgh, PA
United States


In support of improving patient care, the University of Pittsburgh is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), to provide continuing education for the healthcare team.
 

Physician (CME)
The University of Pittsburgh designates this live activity for a maximum of 6.5 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit[s]™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity

Successful completion of this CME activity enables the learner to earn credit toward the CME requirements of the American Board of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation’s Continuous Certification program. It is the CME activity provider's responsibility to submit learner completion information to ACCME for the purpose of granting ABPMR credit

Nursing (CNE)
The maximum number of hours awarded for this Continuing Nursing Education activity is 6.5 contact hours.

Physician Assistant (AAPA)
The University of Pittsburgh has been authorized by the American Academy of PAs (AAPA) to award AAPA Category 1 CME credit for activities planned in accordance with AAPA CME Criteria. This activity is designated for 6.5 AAPA Category 1 CME credits. PAs should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation.  

Social Work (ASWB)
As a Jointly Accredited Organization, the University of Pittsburgh is approved to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Organizations, not individual courses, are approved under this program. Regulatory boards are the final authority on courses accepted for continuing education credit. Social workers completing this course receive 6.5 general continuing education credits.

Psychologist (APA)
Continuing Education (CE) credits for psychologists are provided through the co-sponsorship of the American Psychological Association (APA) Office of Continuing Education in Psychology (CEP). The APA CEP Office maintains responsibility for the content of the programs.
This activity is approved for 6.5 APA credits. 

Occupational Therapy
As an educational program accredited by CAPTE, the University of Pittsburgh, Department of Occupational Therapy is a pre-approved provider of continuing education in Pennsylvania. This course is approved for 6.0 contact hours.

Physical Therapy
Physical Therapy As an educational program accredited by CAPTE, the University of Pittsburgh, Department of Physical Therapy is a pre-approved provider of continuing education in Pennsylvania. This course is approved for 6.0 General education units. 

Other Healthcare Professionals: Other health care professionals will receive a certificate of attendance confirming the number of contact hours commensurate with the extent of participation in this activity. 

Available Credit

  • 6.50 AAPA Category I CME
  • 6.50 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™
    The University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education to provide continuing medical education for physicians.
  • 6.50 ANCC
    UPMC Provider Unit is accredited as a provider of continuing nursing education by the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Commission on Accreditation
  • 6.50 APA
  • 6.50 ASWB
  • 6.50 Attendance

Price

Cost:
$1.00
Please login or register to take this course.

Registration Fees 

$70.00 General
$30.00 Students


All cancellations must be in writing and sent to Brianne Shields. Tuition for cancellations postmarked or date stamped on/before April 10, 2026, will be refunded in full. No refunds will be made after April 10, 2026.