“Once you choose hope, anything is possible.”
– Christopher Reeve
Backed by decades of experience producing exceptional clinical outcomes, Kintinu Telerehab connects recovery to everyday life. In this podcast, we explore hot topics in rehabilitation, the keys to personal growth and recovery, and how to apply it all to the real-world.
In this episode of Kintinu’d Conversations, Brad Dexter, Claire Thelen, and Tim Benak welcome Dr. David Gater to the podcast to discuss spinal cord injuries. We were grateful for our time with Dr. Gater, as we learned he suddenly passed away from a myocardial infarction only 3 weeks after our conversation. Dr. Gater was president of the Academy of Spinal Cord Injury Professionals and was active in the American Spinal Injury Association, the Veterans Health Administration, VA System of Care, and the Paralyzed Veterans of America. He was also a member of the Association of Academic Physiatrists and the American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, along with other associations.
Dr. Gater was also a research scientist at The Miami Project; chief of the Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Service for UM Hospital and Clinics, Jackson Memorial Hospital, and the Miami Veterans Affairs Medical Center; and Spinal Cord Injury Medicine Fellowship director. Nationally, he was co-director, National Institute on Disability Independent Living and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR) South Florida Spinal Cord Injury Model System, one of just 14 such centers in the country.
Board certified in physical medicine and rehabilitation, electrodiagnostic medicine, and spinal cord injury medicine, Dr. Gater was extensively published and made hundreds of local, departmental, and conference presentations. He was internationally known for his work in obesity and metabolic disease among people with spinal cord injury and disease, and was a staunch advocate for his patients.
A world-renowned physician and researcher, Dr. Gater will be remembered as brilliant, innovative, kind, and compassionate. His influence will be carried forward by his colleagues, patients, and those he taught and mentored.
We hope you can learn from and enjoy our conversation!
Listen to the episode on Spotify, Amazon Music, Apple Podcasts, and Buzzsprout, or on your favorite podcast platform.
Resources:
Facing Disability
Christopher and Dana Reeves Foundation
The Miami Project to Cure Paralysis
Listen to the episode on Spotify, Amazon Music, Apple Podcasts, and Buzzsprout, or on your favorite podcast platform.