People

Dr. Tate is a Professor and Associate Chair for Research in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (PM&R) at the University of Michigan Medical School in Ann Arbor.  She leads the Tate SCI Lab which includes a number of key research projects conducting research in SCI.  Her current funding includes the U.S. Department of Defense SCIR program, the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research, The Craig Neilsen Foundations, and the Fraternal Order of the Eagles.  Her research focuses on psychological adaptation after injury and on measuring health and quality of life outcomes.  Since 2011, she has been conducting a large study examining the effects of bowel and bladder complications on quality of life after SCI.  She served as a member of the Board of the American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) and a member of the Advisory Board of the National Center for Medical Rehabilitation Research at the NIH.  Most recently, she has begun focusing her research on international efforts and collaborations with other centers conducting similar research around the world. 

Mr. Forchheimer is a researcher in the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (PM&R) at the University of Michigan. He is the Principal Investigator for a study developing a measure of the quality of caregiving experienced by people with SCI that is funded by the Craig H. Neilsen Foundation. He is also a Co-Investigator and Study Coordinator for several other studies concerning people with SCI or SCD. His research focuses on adjustment, quality of life, measurement issues, community integration, and physical and mental health after disability.

Constance Pines joined the project staff at the University of Michigan Spinal Cord Injury Model System in March 2011. Her area of expertise for the past 37 years has been as Nurse Case Manager with Cardiothoracic Surgery/ Cardiology specialty services at U-M and The Ann Arbor VA Medical Center. Ms. Pines currently has oversight responsibilities for three research grants. Ms. Pines is the widow of a former U-M Spinal Cord Model System patient and therefore has hands-on experience and critical knowledge of the challenges facing those people with spinal cord injuries.