The Mount Sinai Spinal Cord Injury (MS-SCI) Program is one of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research 14 Model Systems of care for persons with spinal cord injury (SCI). Our program is the only such funded Model System in New York State.

As a model system, we have been selected by the federal government to serve as an example of outstanding care for other service providers; perform research; provide training and education; and demonstrate and evaluate activities that improve patient care. Studies have shown that an early transfer to a model system of care results in decreased lengths of stay, fewer medical complications, and reduced costs of care immediately after onset and long-term.

We collaborate with other SCI Model Systems nationwide to improve patient care, and develop and evaluate new medical, rehabilitative, and other treatments, by researching the course of SCI and educating patients, families, health care professionals, and the public at large on the consequences and management of SCI.

The following are services we provide at the MS-SCI Program.

• Team of dedicated professionals with expertise in all types of SCI
• Direct access to The Mount Sinai Hospital’s diagnostic, medical, and surgical services 24 hours per day, seven days per week
• State-of-the-art inpatient rehabilitation facility with all therapy areas positioned in a central location
• Research labs and therapy areas collocated on the same floor
• Comprehensive inpatient rehabilitation therapies with six days a week of individual treatment sessions
• Ventilator-weaning program
• Diaphragm pacing program
• Educational classes for persons with SCI
• Structured rehabilitation program for patients with concomitant traumatic brain injury
• Peer support and mentoring
• Community reintegration programs
• Outpatient day program
• Functional electrical stimulation
• Body weight support ambulation training
• Inpatient exoskeleton ambulation training
• Sexual Counseling
• Spasticity management with a variety of oral medications, botulinum toxin injections, and intrathecal baclofen therapy
• Neuro-urological evaluations and management of neurogenic bladder
• Pressure ulcer management, including reconstructive surgery
• Opportunities to participate in a wide variety of research related to SCI cure, care, and rehabilitation, including studies of new drugs and equipment

We are committed to providing excellent care by delivering the most advanced rehabilitative and primary care to individuals with SCI. Our program is the only civilian program in New York City with a specialty accreditation by the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities as a Spinal Cord System of Care.

Community Advisory Committee

We ensure that SCI-related disability is well-represented in all aspects of our research, training, education, programming, and dissemination through the engagement of our SCI Community Advisory Committee. Our committee members represent many different organizations catered to people with spinal cord injuries. 

James Weisman, President and CEO, United Spinal Association

Fran Brown, Executive Director, Alan T Brown Foundation to Cure Paralysis

Nancy Lieberman, Member, New York State Spinal Cord Injury Research Board

David Carmel, Carmel Asset Management, LLC

Christina Curry, Executive Director, Harlem Independent Living Center

Susan Howley, Director of Research, Christopher Reeve Foundation

Victor Calise, Director, New York City Mayor’s Office for People with Disabilities

Deborah Poli, New York Chapter, National Spinal Cord Injury Association

Alex Elegudin, President, Wheeling Forward

Anna Faye, Senior Vice President for Independent Living, Services Independence Care System

Chris Noel, Coordinator of Accessibility, NYC Parks

JoAnne Schwartz, Supervisor, ACCES, Manhattan District Office

Donna Messinger, Accountant, Bristol-Meyer

Simi Linton, PhD, Writer