Effective Oct. 1, neuroscientist Susan Harkema is joining the Kessler Foundation in East Hanover as director of consortium growth for spinal stimulation in the Tim and Caroline Reynolds Center for Spinal Stimulation.
She comes to the foundation after a long, accomplished career at the University of Louisville in Kentucky.
In her newly created position, Harkema will concentrate on developing and expanding the research implementation of both transcutaneous and epidural implant stimulation at centers in the U.S. and internationally. She will report directly to the foundation’s chief medical officer, Dr. Steven Kirshblum, and indirectly to Gail Forrest, director of the Reynolds Center for Spinal Stimulation and associate director of the Center for Mobility and Rehabilitation Engineering Research.
Harkema is nationally recognized for her research in the field of spinal cord injury, neural plasticity, and neuromodulation. She held the position of professor in the Departments of Neurology and Neurosurgery at the University of Louisville for more than 20 years. She also held the Owsley Frazier Rehabilitation Chair in Neurological Rehabilitation and was associate director of the Kentucky Spinal Cord Injury Research Center, where she led the Pediatric NeuroRecovery, Adult NeuroRecovery and Epidural Stimulation programs. Under her leadership over the past decade, these programs have collectively been awarded over $70 million in grants for spinal cord injury research.
During that same timeframe, she also led six rehabilitation centers and nine community fitness and wellness centers in the translation of scientific knowledge into clinical practice as the director of the Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation NeuroRecovery Network.
“I’m looking forward to joining forces with Kessler Foundation, because it offers an unparalleled opportunity to collaborate with some of the brightest minds and push the boundaries of innovation in spinal cord injury research,” Harkema said. “Joining this esteemed organization allows me to contribute my knowledge while being part of a team that is at the forefront of groundbreaking developments. The foundation represents a unique chance to continue growing professionally and make a significant impact in an environment that values excellence and forward-thinking,” she explained.
Harkema has published more than 110 scholarly manuscripts and book chapters; delivered over 100 worldwide lectures and keynotes; and sat on numerous advisory boards and review panels. She earned her Bachelor of Science and Ph.D. in physiology at Michigan State University and conducted her postdoctoral fellowship in neurology at the University of California, Los Angeles. After joining the faculty at UCLA in 1995 as an assistant researcher, Harkema became an assistant professor in the Department of Neurology and the Brain Research Institute.
“We welcome the renowned Dr. Susan Harkema, whose expertise will undoubtedly strengthen our research efforts and help us push the boundaries of what’s possible in the field of spinal cord research,” Rodger DeRose, CEO and president of the foundation, said. “Having Susie join our team is a significant boost to our research initiatives and will allow us to explore new avenues and accelerate the progress of our work.”
