Tammy’s Spinal Cord Injury (SCI) Journey

Tammy serves as Chief Revenue Officer at Lakeside Neurologic, a 132-bed residential post-acute neurorehabilitation program located in Florida. The past 15 years of her career has been focused on helping individuals with catastrophic and complex neurological conditions to restore function, independence, and return to work.

The majority of SCI and TBI patients face a wide range of challenges, including physical limitations, cognitive and communication problems, emotional and behavioral changes, independence and daily living, social and relationship struggles, long-term rehabilitation, and medical care.

A positive outlook is one of the more important lessons Tammy has discovered helps people live a high-quality life with SCI, TBI, and/or burn. Acceptance of a life-changing injury and learning to adapt to new ways of doing things, using assistive devices, and modifying your living environment is also key. Consistency with participating in rehabilitation improves quality of life and independence over time. She advocates that people build a strong support system and emotional resilience by surrounding themselves with family, friends, and medical professionals. Join a support group to learn coping strategies and connect with others who have similar experiences. Maintain a healthy lifestyle with a balanced diet, and regular physical exercise to maintain strength, flexibility, and mental health.

What does Tammy think of the quality, usefulness, and user-friendliness of the MSKTC resources?

The MSKTC resources are evidence-based, and developed by world-renowned physicians and researchers in traumatic brain injury (TBI), spinal cord injury (SCI), and burns. The information is presented in straightforward, layman's terms and is available as a free resource.

The MSKTC resources are extremely useful with dozens of topics, factsheets, slideshows, videos, hot topics, and podcasts and are also available in Spanish. They are intuitive, easy to access, downloadable, and easy to share with others.

Why does Tammy want to be an MSKTC ambassador?

Post-acute brain and spinal cord injury rehabilitation is a highly specialized and fragmented field. Tammy is passionate about advocacy and actively collaborates with specialists to stay informed on the latest research, resources, and treatments for this underserved population.

What has Tammy done as an MSKTC ambassador?

Tammy actively networks with various sectors of the industry, sharing valuable information with community resources, colleagues, and caregivers. Many people are unaware that this information is readily available to everyone, free of charge. Through her presentations and social media platforms, she aims to raise awareness and promote these resources.