Dr. Claire Kalpakjian to be next Associate Chair of Research, PM&R

Dr. Claire Kalpakjian

Dr. Kalpakjian is a biopsychosocial scientist and clinical and rehabilitation psychologist by training with over 27 years of experience in clinical and research experience in with diverse populations of persons with disabilities. She joined PM&R as a postdoctoral fellow in 2001 and joined the faculty in 2004, receiving a K01 career development award in that same year. In 2015 she was promoted to Associate Professor with tenure and took on the role of Director of Research. She is a successful investigator with a research portfolio focusing on the reproductive health of women with physical disabilities, supported by federal and foundation funding totaling over $5.5 million to date. She also has extensive experience mentoring postdoctoral fellows, medical residents, early career faculty, and practicing clinicians in clinical research.

She was the Co-Director of PMR’s Advanced Rehabilitation Research Training Postdoctoral Fellowship and directed the research program for all UM Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation medical residents for 5 years. She is affiliated faculty in MICHR’s Education and Mentoring Group and co-directed MICHR’s Practice Oriented Research Training Program for over 10 years and she serves as a facilitator in IPHI/MICHR’s annual K Writing Workshops. Next week, Dr. Kalpakjian will be honored with the Early Career Outstanding Mentoring Award from the American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine in recognition for her contributions in mentoring the next generation of rehabilitation scientists.  Claire presented a talk on her vision in her role last week, and she will speak again at the faculty meeting in January.  Please join me in welcoming her to her new role.

 We once again congratulate Dr. Denise Tate for her successful work as Associate Chair after the past 13 years, and as Director of Research before that.  Dr. Tate has overseen great growth of our research mission, including increase in research, improvement in structure, and growth in our national reputation as a leading research Department of PM&R.  Dr. Tate will continue to be very active with her projects, and with her new role as director of the Brazil arm of Michigan’s Global Reach.