Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation

Outpatient Clinic Information

Established in 1982, the physical medicine and rehabilitation clinic provides primary follow-up care for patients who are recovering from traumatic incidents such as head or spinal cord injuries, strokes, amputations, and various surgeries. Our goal is to help medically stabilized patients with acute, subacute, and chronic musculoskeletal injuries to regain as much functional ability as can be expected in a reasonable period of time under the care of a specially trained interdisciplinary team. We provide general musculoskeletal services, specialized services such as independent medical evaluations, impairment ratings, and manual manipulation techniques, and specialty clinics in pursuit of that goal.

SPECIALTY CLINICS

Electrodiagnosis
One board-certified faculty member conducts three half-day electrodiagnosis clinics each week. This schedule allows about a dozen EMG/nerve conduction studies each week. These procedures help make diagnoses and prognoses by determining the level and severity of an injury.

Amputee Clinic
This monthly multidisciplinary clinic provides comprehensive services to individuals with amputations.

Spasticity Clinic
This is a comprehensive clinic for individuals with spasticity due to neurological insults such as spinal cord/head injury, stroke, or multiple sclerosis. Treatment includes oral medications, phenol/botulinum toxin injections, and the intrathecal lioresal infusion system.

MEDICAL DIRECTOR, CLINIC

Susan M. McDowell, M.D. , (1990, Medical College of Georgia; Residency in PM&R at the University of Kentucky, 1994), specializes in spinal cord rehabilitation and the rehabilitation of persons with amputations.

STAFF PHYSICIANS

Gerald V. Klim, D.O. (1980, Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine; Residency in PM&R at Thomas Jefferson University, 1984), specializes in Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) rehabilitation, musculoskeletal rehabilitation, and workers' compensation cases. He is the Chairman of the Department.

Robert B. Nickerson, M.D. (1989, Medical College of Georgia; Residency at University of Kentucky, 1993), is the Residency Program Director and heads the PM&R consult service at UK. He is board-certified in electrodiagnosis and PM&R.

Sara Shahid Salles, D.O. Dr. Salles completed medical school at the University of Health Science-College of Osteopathic Medicine in Kansas City, MO in 1996. She has since completed her transitional year internship at The Medical Center in Columbus, GA followed by her residency training in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at the University of Kentucky in 2000. Dr. Salles is board certified in Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation as well as Spinal Cord Injury Medicine, and specializes in neuron-rehabilitation specifically spasticity management, spinal cord injury rehabilitation, movement disorders to include management of Deep Brain Stimulators.

Nancy Stiles, M.D.  Dr. Stiles is director and attending physician for the University of Kentucky Geriatric clinic. This clinic provides subspecialty geriatric care to adults experiencing aging syndromes such as dementia, failure to thrive, and falls.  In addition, this clinic also provides care for adults interested in 'successful aging'.