Shepherd Center’s Director of MS Research to Lead National Rehabilitation Medicine Organization

Deborah Backus, PT, Ph.D., FACRM, director of multiple sclerosis research at The Eula C. and Andrew C. Carlos Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Rehabilitation and Wellness Program at Shepherd Center, has been elected president-elect of the American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine (ACRM). She will begin a two-year term as president-elect on Oct. 31 and then assume the presidency in 2017.

“I am honored and delighted to work in this capacity for ACRM,” Dr. Backus said. “The mission to advance rehabilitation science through collaborative, multidisciplinary research and education aligns so closely with my own mission that ACRM has been my primary professional organization since I attended my first ACRM annual conference in 2004.”

Dr. Backus has 30 years of experience as a rehabilitation clinician, educator and researcher. As part of the MS Rehabilitation and Wellness Program at Shepherd Center, Dr. Backus coordinates research efforts to study the health and wellness needs of people at varying stages of MS. In particular, her research centers on evaluating and improving rehabilitation and exercise interventions available to people with moderate to severe MS to combat fatigue and deconditioning, and ultimately prevent or decrease further disability. Another exciting line of work relates to integrating research and clinical practice to develop initiatives that will advance the care of people with MS.

Her research focus combined with her clinical experience has fueled her passion for facilitating the translation of medical evidence into practice, including influencing clinicians, payers for reimbursement of evidence-based interventions and policymakers related to health policy. Dr. Backus has presented both nationally and internationally, and has also published related to this work.

As president of ACRM, Dr. Backus joins the ranks of Shepherd Center CEO and President Gary Ulicny, Ph.D., who served as ACRM president from 2010-11. ACRM is an organization of rehabilitation professionals dedicated to serving people with disabling conditions by supporting research that promotes health, independence, productivity and quality of life, and meets the needs of rehabilitation clinicians and people with disabilities.