Director’s Letter
In celebration and acknowledgement of the 20th anniversary of the International Center for Spinal Cord Injury at Kennedy Krieger Institute, we held a weeklong celebration of activities, educational opportunities and fun times with our patients, staff and supporters in June. This milestone is a testament to our unwavering commitment to our patients, who entrust us with their care.
Over the past two decades, our program has grown and evolved, but one thing has remained constant: the privilege we feel in working with this remarkable population. Each day, we witness the resilience, strength and determination of our patients, and it is truly an honor to support them on their journeys to recovery and independence.
Our staff members' dedication and compassion have been the cornerstone of our success. Their tireless efforts, innovative approaches and heartfelt care have transformed countless lives and brought hope to many. As we reflect on our achievements, let us also look forward to continuing our mission with excitement, dedication and passion.
Thank you for being an integral part of this incredible journey. Together, we will continue to make a difference and uphold the values that have defined our program for the past 20 years.
Sincerely,
Cristina Sadowsky, MD
Clinical Director, International Center for Spinal Cord Injury
20th Anniversary Video
To commemorate our 20th anniversary, we are excited to share a video message from Dr. Cristina Sadowsky and Anna Schneider. Check out our video and hear them reflect on our journey, celebrate our achievements, and express their gratitude for the incredible work we do every day.
20th Anniversary Event Recap
This past June, we celebrated the 20th anniversary of the International Center for Spinal Cord Injury with a weeklong celebration.
Monday, June 9: Trends in Spinal Cord Rehabilitation Symposium
We started our celebration week with the 15th annual Trends in Spinal Cord Rehabilitation Symposium, hosted, as usual, by Dr. Cristina Sadowsky, our co-founder and clinical director, and Dr. Rebecca Martin, our manager of clinical education and training. At each symposium, we award staff members who have provided outstanding service and leadership during the past year. This year, we were pleased to rename the Improving Lives Award to the Janet Dean Improving Lives Award in honor of Janet Dean, our beloved nurse practitioner who retired earlier this year, and her enduring legacy of leadership, dedication and passion for our patients.
This year’s award winners were:
- India Morrison, who received the Janet Dean Improving Lives Award, which acknowledges and honors a current Kennedy Krieger employee who demonstrates consistent dedication to the center's mission of improving lives.
- Danielle Wilt, who received the Leader in Spinal Cord Research and Education Award, in recognition of her outstanding dedication to improving scientific and educational knowledge within the spinal cord injury community
Here is a list of the symposium’s eight speakers and their presentation topics:
- Melissa Marrow, PhD, and Reuben Escorpizo, PT, DPT, MSc: Capturing the lived experience of people with spinal cord injuries using the International Spinal Cord Injury Survey
- Quyen Catania, PT, DPT: Wound care through the lens of activity-based restorative therapy
- Daniel Becker, MD: Repair concepts in neuroimmunologic disorders
- Elizabeth Neighbors, PT, DPT: Effects of transcutaneous spinal stimulation (TSS) paired with gait training for improved walking in children with incomplete spinal cord injuries
- Vincent Martorana, DPM: The gift of hope
- Lia Brunn, OTR/L, OTD: TSS with novel electrode array improves upper extremity function compared to traditional therapy alone
- Josh Basile, Esq.: Determined2Heal: Living every breath
Over 150 people attended, either in person or virtually. Video from this event will be available in the coming weeks on our website.
Tuesday, June 10: Regeneration Generation Special Edition
Our special Regeneration Generation event featured a panel and question-and-answer session with the following speakers:
- Jimmie Schwartz, peer mentor, support group leader and personal trainer
- Hailey Katsikides, adolescent peer mentor and adolescent support group leader, who spoke on using DORS for college and driving rehab
- Krystal Grecco, fundraiser and Hope Fund grant recipient, who discussed purchasing a home, making home modifications and using Hope Fund grants and DORS funds to modify her bathroom
The event culminated in a presentation of awards to Jimmie Schwartz and Hailey Katsikides as Peer Mentors of the Year. Fifty people attended, either in person or virtually.
Wednesday, June 11: ICSCI Olympics
Patients and therapists engaged in a series of fun and sporty activities that were both competitive and collaborative during regular appointment times with regularly scheduled patients. Staff members decorated T-shirts and developed new games and events to play with patients.
Thursday, June 12: ICSCI Talent Show
Staff members, patients and their families—40 attendees in all—gathered in person, as well as virtually via Zoom, to enjoy music, dancing, singing, lip-syncing, fun and team-building. Attendees enjoyed a wide variety of performances, ranging from Elizabeth Compton as a chicken hypnotist and Olivia Zhang performing a beautiful version of “Wind Beneath My Wings” to Keiara Cooper and Se’majea Garnder performing a choreographed dance and Dr. Cristina Sadowsky playing a beautiful piano piece.
Friday, June 13: Adaptive Sports and Recreation
A panel of adaptive sports experts presented on the nuances of both working and participating in the field of adaptive sports. The panel was moderated by Erin Michael, manager of patient advocacy and special programs at the center.
Featured on the panel were:
- Kevin Hentz, ICSCI personal training supervisor
- Malcolm Whyte, Three Blessings Disabled Adventures
- Michael Looney, Maryland Thunder Wheelchair Lacrosse
- Capt. Will Rey, Impossible Dream Catamaran
- Beth Finchman, Downtown Sailing Center
- Kate Shermock, Downtown Sailing Center
It was an informative and fascinating evening, with 45 people in attendance.
Saturday, June 14: ICSCI Prom—20th Anniversary Gala
Kennedy Krieger’s Fairmount Campus school was the location for our masquerade ball-themed prom night, at which staff members, patients and supporters took to the dance floor and enjoyed the DJ’s music. Also at the lively event there were a caricature artist, a face painter, a balloon sculptor and a photo booth. Dr. Cristina Sadowsky, the center’s clinical director, and Anna Schneider, the center’s director of business operations, welcomed guests.
The evening was a culmination of a week of events celebrating the growth and dedication of the Center’s 20 years of helping patients find “Hope Through Motion.” It was a beautiful evening of fun and celebration, with more than 130 people in attendance.
Check out the photos from our weeklong anniversary celebration.
Join us for Pickleball for All, the area’s first fully accessible pickleball tournament for all levels of players and adaptive athletes, on Saturday, Sept. 20, 2025, at Dill Dinkers Pickleball® in White Marsh, Md.
Whether you’re new to the game or a seasoned player, this inclusive pickleball fundraising experience is for you! The event will feature a beginners’ clinic, division play for recreational and competitive levels, and adaptive pickleball matches, with mixed teams of adaptive and nonadaptive athletes.
Participants ages 16 and up are welcome.
This event benefits Team Kennedy Krieger. All funds raised will support the training needs of patients with disabilities who participate in Kennedy Krieger adaptive sports events, as well as scholarships to the Institute’s Wellness Center, new therapy equipment, patient participation in marathons across the country, and adaptive and recreational sports and activities, such as wheelchair lacrosse and adaptive surfing. The team also donates funds back to Kennedy Krieger.
Sign up solo or bring a partner—either way, you’ll belong on the court.
Learn more or register now! Space is limited.
Adaptive Sports Update
- The Impossible Dream, a universally accessible catamaran, is dedicated to engaging the global community to raise awareness about barrier-free design and to inspire people with disabilities, wounded soldiers and disadvantaged youth, and their families, to improve their independence and quality of life. The ship was created specifically for wheelchair users. This summer, several of the center’s patients and their families were treated to a sail around Baltimore’s Inner Harbor.
- Pickleball for All: Be sure to sign up to play or attend our first Pickleball for All fundraising event on Saturday, September 20, 2025, at Dill Dinkers® Pickleball in White Marsh, Md. Learn more or register for this inaugural event.
Publications
Chen, J., Dean, J., Anoh, K., Cabahug, P. (August 2025). Successful ventilator weaning via unilateral phrenic nerve stimulation in a patient with C1 complete tetraplegia. PM&R, 17(7), 861–864. PMID: 40008814
Edmiston, T., Dean, J., Wu, S., Sadowsky, C. (August 2025). Pediatric spinal cord injury: Overview of clinical and rehabilitative management. Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Clinics of North America, 36(3), 499–512. PMID: 45081436
Your Support
Thank you to all who have participated in our fundraising efforts this year! We are incredibly grateful for your support. Your gifts help us maintain the best equipment and technology possible, conduct groundbreaking research, and support our patients and families with items not covered by insurance. For more information about how you can make a difference in the lives of our patients, contact Susie Lynch at LynchSu@KennedyKrieger.org or call 443-923-7300.