Evidence To Excellence: News In Neuroplasticity and Rehab

Episode 35: The Chronic Pain Mangement Program of Michigan

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Host Polly Swingle welcomes Dr. David Gordon, MD, Dr. Jarhed Macarubbo Peña, PhD, LPC, CRC, Dr. Mary McLaughlin, PT, DPT, and Corinne DiPrima, MS, OTRL, to talk about their involvement in the multidisciplinary Chronic Pain Mangement Program of Michigan. If you experience chronic pain, treat patients with chronic pain, or know someone with chronic pain, this episode holds a ton of excellent information to help those individuals.

Dr. David Gordon, MD, is a Physiatrist in practice for 28 years with RPPC, a private practice in Southeastern Michigan in operation for 58 years and having trained hundreds of Physiatrists including himself over the years. Prior to graduating from Residency under RPPC at Sinai Hospital in Detroit in 1997, he graduated Medical school from Wayne State University school of Medicine in 1993. As part of his training and later clinical practice, he had the opportunity of working with the pre eminent chronic pain program, "The Functional Recovery Program of Michigan" during it's 20 year tenure under the direction of my mentor Dr. Maury Ellenberg, MD. As a result of his experience coupled to the developing Opioid Crisis of the late 1990's, he developed a keen interest in providing effective chronic pain management without the use/misuse paradigm implicit with the opiate crisis. With this as motivation, he wrote the ebook "Debunking Chronic Pain Management Misconceptions and finally finding practical solutions published in 2009.

Dr. Jarhed Macarubbo Peña, PhD, LPC, CRC specializes in psychophysiological approaches to complex health conditions. He integrates evidence-based modalities from somatic therapy, mindfulness, biofeedback, and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT). Dr. Peña completed his studies at Michigan State University with a focus on stress responses in autistic young adults. He previously worked as a clinical therapist in a private practice and had served in academic and research roles at Michigan State, contributing to peer-reviewed publications on autism, vocational rehabilitation, and rural health equity. He has an independent practice helping patients with various autonomic nervous system dysfunction including chronic pain, functional neurological disorders, pelvic floor dysfunction, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), tinnitus, hypertension, POTS, fibromyalgia, and anxiety disorders. Dr. Peña brings a background in exercise physiology and over a decade of interdisciplinary experience in rehabilitation, behavioral health, and wellness.

Mary McLaughlin, PT, DPT is a doctor of physical therapy at The Recovery Project- Livonia. She is passionate in treating patients with chronic pain and has been a leader in the development of the Chronic Pain Management Program of Michigan. She developed her skills with tying in physical function with neurological disorders at the Lansing Recovery Project where she was a treating therapist for FND in the LIFE program, restoring individuals with functional movement disorders to healthy movement patterns.

Corinne, MS, OTRL, is an occupational therapist with over 10 years of experience, including nearly eight years at The Recovery Project. She specializes in pelvic health, functional neurological disorders, and chronic pain. Corinne is passionate about treating the whole person, integrating evidence-based practice with a compassionate, trauma-informed approach. She is dedicated to helping clients regain autonomy and improve quality of life through personalized, goal-oriented interventions.

Learn more about The Recovery Project!


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