Abby Welch, BS, BA, received Bachelor’s degrees in Psychology and Gender, Sexuality and Women’s Studies from Virginia Commonwealth University in 2015. Prior to joining the University of Minnesota’s Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Department in June 2025, Abby coordinated studies for Craig Hospital’s Spinal Cord Injury (SCI) and Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) Model Systems grants, collected data for VCU’s TBI Model System and its collaborative modules, and conducted research centered on racial and gender discrimination in the healthcare field.

Uzma Samadani, MD PhD FACS FAANS is a private-practice neurosurgeon in Minneapolis MN and brain injury researcher at the University of Minnesota.  She moved to Minneapolis in 2015 and was named to Minneapolis St-Paul Magazine’s “Top Doctors in Neurosurgery” lists in 2016 through 2019.  In 2018 she was on the cover of the “Top Doctors” edition with the byline “The Doctor Will Save You Now.”  In 201

Dr. Ann Van de Winckel is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Rehabilitation Medicine at UMN and Director of the Brain Body Mind Lab.

Dr. Hanks is a Research Professional 6 and Postdoctoral Fellow in the Department of Rehabilitation Medicine at the University of Minnesota. She has over 15 years of specialized experience managing research studies involving individuals with neurological injuries. Her research interests include identifying psychosocial factors that contribute to increased participation and positive adaptation after injury. She serves as Co-Investigator for the MN Regional SCIMS.

Dr. Monden is an Associate Professor, Licensed Psychologist, and Vice Chair of Research in the Department of Rehabilitation Medicine at the UMN Medical School with experience in SCI clinical care and research. Dr. Monden studies resilience and appraisals of injustice, with a specific interest in improving quality of life and long-term psychosocial outcomes after spinal cord injury. Dr.