The 20 Best Paraplegia Doctors Near Me in Ann Arbor, MI
Find the Top Paraplegia Experts and Specialists
Taubman Center
John K. Fink, MD, is a professor in the Department of Neurology and director of the Neurogenetic Disorders Program in the University of Michigan Medical School. He directs basic science laboratory research focused on identifying genes and mechanisms responsible for age-dependent neurologic degeneration; and on developing treatments for these conditions.Fink's laboratory investigates the molecular basis of inherited neurologic and psychiatric disorders. His clinical expertise focuses on inherited and degenerative disorders of the nervous system. Dr. Fink evaluates individuals of all ages, from infancy through senescence with these disorders, which include lysosomal storage disorders (such as Gaucher disease, Niemann-Pick disease and Fabry disease), ataxias (including Friedreich's ataxia), leukodystrophies (such as Krabbe, CADASIL and adrenoleukodystrophy), familial dystonia, primary lateral sclerosis, Wilson's disease, familial motor neuron disease (including familial amyotrophic lateral sclerosis), familial dementia, and a group of inherited spinal cord disorders known collectively as the Hereditary Spastic Paraplegias (HSPs).Dr. Fink came to the University of Michigan in 1990 as an assistant professor of neurology and director of the Neurogenetic Disorders Clinic. The program provides care and evaluation for individuals and families with inherited and degenerative neurologic disorders; and clinical and molecular laboratory training for physicians and scientists studying these disorders. He was promoted to associate professor in 1996 and professor in 2005.Board-certified in neurology and medical genetics, Dr. Fink received his medical degree in 1980 from the Medical College of Ohio in Toledo. Following internship at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, he completed a neurology residency in 1984 at the University of Virginia in Charlottesville. Subsequently, he trained in developmental and metabolic neurology and medical genetics at the National Institutes of Health.Dr. Fink has served as the Medical Advisor to the Spastic Paraplegia Foundation since its establishment (2002), and serves as ad hoc reviewer for numerous journals and NIH study sections.A member of the American Society of Human Genetics, American Academy of Neurology, American Neurological Association and the American College of Genetics, Dr. Fink received the Derek Denny-Brown Neurological Scholar Award from the American Neurological Association in 2002. In addition, he has been elected by peers to Best Doctors in America annually since 2001. Dr. Fink is rated as a Distinguished provider by MediFind in the treatment of Paraplegia. He is also highly rated in 45 other conditions, according to our data. His clinical expertise encompasses Spastic Paraplegia Type 7, Spastic Paraplegia Type 2, Primary Lateral Sclerosis, and CACH Syndrome. Dr. Fink is board certified in Clinical Genetics and Neurology.
Burlington Building
Dr. Rodriguez is Medical Director of the Wheelchair Seating Clinic and PM&R Administrator in the Michigan Bowel Control Clinic and the Wound Care Clinic. She has been actively involved in research with the Spinal Cord Injury Model System. She has written and collaborated on several research publications and written chapters on SCI sequelae in premier journals and textbooks in PM&R. Dr. Rodriguez has been recognized for her teaching of trainees with the Silver Crutch award. She is the associate SCI fellowship program director. She also serves on the International Standards and Autonomic Standards Committees, two crucial committees of the American Spinal Injury Association that are responsible for development of any new standards documents related to SCI, continuous review and improvement of the existing ASIA documents on neurological and autonomic standards and development and oversight of the International Data Sets project. Dr. Rodriguez is rated as a Distinguished provider by MediFind in the treatment of Paraplegia. She is also highly rated in 43 other conditions, according to our data. Her clinical expertise encompasses Neurogenic Bowel, Paraplegia, Spasticity, and Autonomic Dysreflexia.
Domino's Farms
Punithavathy Vijayakumar is a Neurologist and a Sleep Medicine provider practicing medicine in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Dr. Vijayakumar is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Paraplegia. She is also highly rated in 29 other conditions, according to our data. Her clinical expertise encompasses Multiple Sclerosis (MS), Obstructive Sleep Apnea, Transient Ischemic Attack (TIA), and Migraine. Dr. Vijayakumar is board certified in Clinical Neurophysiology, Neurology, Neuromuscular Medicine, Sleep Medicine, and Vascular Neurology.
Taubman Center
Dr. Braley is an Associate Professor of Neurology and clinical neuroimmunologist. In addition to her medical degree, from Wayne State University, she also holds an M.S. degree, in Clinical Research Design and Statistical Analysis, from the University of Michigan School of Public Health. And, her research focuses on crucial connections between sleep disorders, the immune system, and neurological disorders, especially as they relate to patients with MS. She also conducts clinical trials of MS therapeutics. Since completing her Multiple Sclerosis Clinical Fellowship, and joining the U-M Neurology faculty in 2011, Dr. Braley has worked to develop a productive, multidisciplinary clinical research program between the University of Michigan Sleep and Neuroimmunology (MS) groups. To date, this program has led to several important findings that have increased our understanding of sleep disorders and their consequences in MS, and predictors of MS-related fatigue. Dr. Braley has also established a new first of its kind Multidisciplinary MS Fatigue and Sleep Clinic. This clinic offers a unique service to patients with multiple sclerosis and related inflammatory disorders of the central nervous system. To view publications authored or co-authored by Dr. Braley, visit Dr. Braley's page on PubMed (link is external). Dr. Braley is rated as an Advanced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Paraplegia. She is also highly rated in 7 other conditions, according to our data. Her clinical expertise encompasses Multiple Sclerosis (MS), Relapsing Multiple Sclerosis (RMS), Obstructive Sleep Apnea, and Restless Legs Syndrome. Dr. Braley is board certified in Neurology.
Eisenhower Corporate Park
Dr. Brian M. Kelly is a Professor in the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (PMR) at the University of Michigan Medical School and Medical Director for the Division of Orthotics and Prosthetics of the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Services at the University of Michigan. Prior to joining the faculty of the University of Michigan in 2002, Dr. Kelly worked in Chicago after graduation from residency. Dr. Kelly has been caring for people that suffer from amputations, trauma, spinal cord injuries, strokes, and traumatic brain injuries for 15 years. He has gained national recognition for his work, lecturing across the country at national meetings on gait evaluation and disorders, amputation, prosthetics, and neurologic disorders. Throughout his career, Dr. Kelly has published numerous articles and chapters on prosthetics and orthotics. In 2014, Dr. Kelly published Prosthetic Restoration of the Upper and Lower Extremity, a new textbook on prosthetic restoration, with his University of Michigan colleagues that reflects their vast clinical experience and teaching skills related to prosthetics. Dr. Kelly has devoted a significant amount of time and energy to the education, training and evaluation of resident physicians. He has been honored with the highest teaching awards available at all of the institutions that he has served. Dr. Kelly is the vice-chair and chair-elect to the National Board of Osteopathic Medical Examiners. He produces examination materials in an effort to demonstrate the resident’s competence on their national board examinations for board certification. Dr. Kelly graduated Cum Laude in 1991 from Aquinas College in Grand Rapids, Michigan. He received his medical degree from Michigan State University in East Lansing, Michigan and completed his residency training at Rush-Presbyterian Medical Center in Chicago, Illinois. Dr. Kelly is rated as an Advanced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Paraplegia. He is also highly rated in 14 other conditions, according to our data. His clinical expertise encompasses Phantom Limb Pain, Stroke, Guillain-Barre Syndrome, and Miller-Fisher Syndrome. Dr. Kelly is board certified in Physical Medicine & Rehab.
Pediatric Rehabilitation Center
Dr. Hornyak is Medical Director of Outpatient Pediatric Rehabilitation Services. He serves on the Evidence Based Practice Committee, and chairs the Evidence Committee, for the AAPM&R. He is actively involved in medical education, serving on the steering committee of the UM Academy of Medical Educators. His teaching has been recognized with departmental (Silver Crutch x 4), medical school (inaugural League of Educational Excellence) and university (Provost’s Teaching Innovation Prize) awards. Dr. Hornyak taught the medical portion of the Team-Based Clinical Decision Making course, the first course offered at UM for Inter-professional Education. He frequently serves on graduate student committees in the UM School of Kinesiology as well. Clinically, Dr. Hornyak practices pediatric and adult PMR. Since joining UM, he has been key in the development of multi-disciplinary care clinics for children and adults with neuromuscular diseases. Dr. Hornyak is rated as an Advanced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Paraplegia. He is also highly rated in 41 other conditions, according to our data. His clinical expertise encompasses Charcot-Marie-Tooth Disease, Hereditary Sensory Neuropathy Type 1 (HSN1), Cerebral Palsy, and Spasticity. Dr. Hornyak is board certified in Physical Medicine & Rehab.
Burlington Building
Cory Wernimont is a Physiatrist practicing medicine in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Dr. Wernimont is rated as an Advanced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Paraplegia. He is also highly rated in 18 other conditions, according to our data. His clinical expertise encompasses Relapsing Multiple Sclerosis (RMS), Neurogenic Bowel, Spasticity, and Foot Drop.
Burlington Building
Maryam Berri MD, is a Clinical Assistant Professor in the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at the University of Michigan Medical School.Clinical work includes concomitant traumatic brain and spinal cord injury, myelomeningocele, cerebral palsy, and neurogenic bowel disease treatment. She is pursuing research in lactational outcomes and management for those with neurological disease. She has a strong interest in medical education as well as education and optimization in practice management for faculty. She serves as the revenue physician lead for the department. She is an active in the rehabilitation Standards Committee with the American Spinal Injury Association.Dr. Berri received her BS degree from the University of Michigan in 2009, and then in 2013, she graduated from the American University of the Caribbean in Pembroke Pines, FL. She then completed her residency in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at Wayne State University followed by subspecialty fellowship in Spinal Cord Injury at the University of Michigan. Dr. Berri is rated as an Advanced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Paraplegia. She is also highly rated in 28 other conditions, according to our data. Her clinical expertise encompasses Autonomic Dysreflexia, Brown-Sequard Syndrome, Spasticity, and Neurogenic Bowel. Dr. Berri is board certified in Physical Medicine & Rehab, Spinal Cord Injury Medicine, and Brain Injury Medicine.
Burlington Building
Dr. Schmidt attended medical school at Michigan State University, and completed her residency training in PM&R at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center where she also served as chief resident. Dr. Schmidt's clinical responsibilities include outpatient practice focusing on transition into adulthood for pediatric patients with disabilities, cerebral palsy, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and other neuromuscular conditions. Dr. Schmidt is rated as an Advanced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Paraplegia. She is also highly rated in 49 other conditions, according to our data. Her clinical expertise encompasses Dysferlinopathy, Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA), Spinal Muscular Atrophy Type 3, and Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS or Lou Gehrig's Disease).
Burlington Building
Heidi Haapala is a Clinical Assistant Professor in the Department of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation at Michigan Medical University of Michigan. After finishing her undergraduate degree at the Michigan Technology University in Houghton Michigan, she completed her PM&R residency at the Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation University of Michigan Health System in 2005. She is also on staff as an Attending Physician with the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at the Veterans Administration Medical Center, Ann Arbor, Michigan. Her interests focus on the care of adults with cerebral palsy, in particular promoting lifelong health and function. Dr. Haapala is rated as an Advanced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Paraplegia. She is also highly rated in 6 other conditions, according to our data. Her clinical expertise encompasses Cerebral Palsy, Spastic Diplegia Infantile Type, Spasticity, and Moebius Syndrome. Dr. Haapala is board certified in Physical Medicine & Rehab.
C. S. Mott Children's Hospital
Alecia K Daunter MD is an Associate Professor of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. She completed her medical degree, residency, and fellowship training at the University of Michigan. She is board certified in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. She joined the Michigan Medicine faculty in 2018.Dr. Daunter's research interests include function and quality of life outcomes in patients with developmental disabilities or pediatric onset medical conditions. Dr. Daunter is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Paraplegia. She is also highly rated in 16 other conditions, according to our data. Her clinical expertise encompasses Cerebral Palsy, Spastic Diplegia Infantile Type, Spasticity, Spinal Muscular Atrophy with Arthrogryposis, and Rhizotomy. Dr. Daunter is board certified in Pediatric Rehabilitation Medicine and Physical Medicine & Rehab.
Rogel Cancer Center
Nathan Clarke is a Neurologist practicing medicine in Ann Arbor, Michigan. He has been practicing medicine for over 10 years. Dr. Clarke is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Paraplegia. He is also highly rated in 26 other conditions, according to our data. His clinical expertise encompasses Glioma, Astrocytoma, Brain Tumor, and Glioblastoma. Dr. Clarke is board certified in Neurology.
Taubman Center
Stephen Goutman, MD, MS is an Associate Professor in the Department of Neurology and Director of the Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Clinic and ALS Center of Excellence at Michigan Medicine. After obtaining a degree in neuroscience at the Johns Hopkins University (Baltimore, MD), Dr. Goutman completed his medical degree at the University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine (Chicago, IL) and his neurology residency and neuromuscular fellowship at Cleveland Clinic (Cleveland, OH). He received a Master’s in Clinical Research Design and Statistical Analysis at the University of Michigan (Ann Arbor, MI).Dr. Goutman evaluates and treats patients with neuromuscular diseases and is interested in diseases such as myasthenia gravis and muscle diseases. His area of expertise is amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)/Lou Gehrig’s Disease where his focus is delivering comprehensive and compassionate care. He is Director of the ALS Clinic, an ALS Association Certified Center of Excellence (http://www.umich-als.org/), where he leads a team of providers that care for persons with ALS and their families. Dr. Goutman is inspired by his patients and thus aims to provide the highest level of care.Dr. Goutman’s research is focused on identifying causes of and treatments for ALS. He leads research efforts that received funding by the National Institutes of Health and the Centers for Disease Control aimed at identifying environmental risk factors and causes of ALS (https://umhealthresearch.org/#studies/HUM00028826) and showed, in an article that received widespread attention, a connection between ALS and organochlorine pesticides (https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamaneurology/fullarticle/2519875). Dr. Goutman also helps direct the University of Michigan ALS Biorepository which provides essential resources to ALS researchers within and external to the University of Michigan enabling studies into areas of ALS genetics, epigenetics, and immunology.Dr. Goutman is a site principal investigator of several multisite clinical trials focused on identifying new ALS treatments and causes and is an active participant with the Northeast ALS Consortium (NEALS) to improve care for ALS. He received a 2016 Young Investigator Award by the World Federation of Neurology Research Group on Motor Neuron Diseases. Dr. Goutman is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Paraplegia. He is also highly rated in 8 other conditions, according to our data. His clinical expertise encompasses Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS or Lou Gehrig's Disease), Primary Lateral Sclerosis, Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA), and Spinal and Bulbar Muscular Atrophy. Dr. Goutman is board certified in Neurology, Neuromuscular Medicine, and Electrodiagnostic Medicine.
Taubman Center
Dr. Smith received his medical degree from University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill, NC. His clinical interests are in primary care, hospital and general internal medicine. Dr. Smith is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Paraplegia. He is also highly rated in 9 other conditions, according to our data. His clinical expertise encompasses Maturity Onset Diabetes of the Young, Pulmonary Embolism, Type 2 Diabetes (T2D), Gastrostomy, and Bladder Reconstruction.
IM Hospital Medicine
Jessie King is a primary care provider, practicing in Internal Medicine and Hospital Medicine in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Dr. King is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Paraplegia. She is also highly rated in 8 other conditions, according to our data. Her clinical expertise encompasses Acute Myeloblastic Leukemia without Maturation, Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML), Aplastic Anemia, Bone Marrow Aspiration, and Endoscopy. Dr. King is board certified in Internal Medicine.
IM Hospital Medicine
Michael Rudy is a primary care provider, practicing in Internal Medicine in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Dr. Rudy is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Paraplegia. His clinical expertise encompasses Pulmonary Embolism, Pulmonary Edema, Sclerosing Cholangitis, Hip Replacement, and Knee Replacement. Dr. Rudy is board certified in Internal Medicine.
Taubman Center
Simon Glynn is a Neurologist practicing medicine in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Dr. Glynn is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Paraplegia. He is also highly rated in 30 other conditions, according to our data. His clinical expertise encompasses Seizures, Memory Loss, Autosomal Dominant Partial Epilepsy with Auditory Features, and Epilepsy. Dr. Glynn is board certified in Neurology and Epilepsy.
University Hospital
Kirk Frey is a Neurologist and a Nuclear Medicine provider practicing medicine in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Dr. Frey is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Paraplegia. He is also highly rated in 32 other conditions, according to our data. His clinical expertise encompasses Parkinson's Disease, Movement Disorders, Neuroendocrine Tumor, Osteopenia, and Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT).
Taubman Center
Douglas J. Gelb, M.D., Ph.D., is a professor in the Department of Neurology in the University of Michigan Medical School. He is considered a national leader in neurologic education, and is part of a small group of investigators who have conducted research in the field. After earning a Bachelor of Arts in physics from Harvard College in 1977, Dr. Gelb completed his doctorate (1982) and medical degree (1984) at the Pritzker School of Medicine at the University of Chicago. He joined the U-M faculty after completing his neurology residency at the University of California, San Francisco in 1988. In 1992, Dr. Gelb became director of the third-year medical student neurology clerkship, and developed a syllabus that eventually evolved into a textbook. It is required or recommended by many neurology clerkships across the country, and it has been translated into two languages. In 2004, Dr. Gelb became director of a new second-year medical school course on diseases of the nervous system. In addition to his textbook, Dr. Gelb has developed a variety of educational materials, including a computer tutorial to teach the principles of neurologic localization. He has written examination questions and served on test-writing committees for the National Board of Medical Examiners Step 2 Examination and the NBME subject examination in neurology, the American Academy of Neurology (AAN) Resident Inservice Training Examination, and Continuum, a widely-used resource for continuing medical education produced by the AAN. He also has served as an examiner for the Oral Examination of the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology (ABPN) on numerous occasions. Dr. Gelb is frequently honored by neurology residents, who have awarded him the Status Pedagogicus Award on four separate occasions. He has received numerous other awards for his teaching, including the Kaiser Permanente Award for Excellence in Teaching from the U-M, and the Distinguished Neurology Teacher Award from the American Neurological Association. He is a former chair of the national Consortium of Neurology Clerkship Directors, and of the American Academy of Neurology's A.B. Baker Section on Neurological Education. Dr. Gelb is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Paraplegia. He is also highly rated in 7 other conditions, according to our data. His clinical expertise encompasses Trigeminal Neuralgia, Migraine, Migraine with Brainstem Aura, and Seizures.
Taubman Center
Ann Little is a Neurologist and a Neuroradiologist practicing medicine in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Dr. Little is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Paraplegia. She is also highly rated in 63 other conditions, according to our data. Her clinical expertise encompasses Inclusion Body Myositis, Polymyositis, Myasthenia Gravis, Stent Placement, and Transmyocardial Revascularization.
Last Updated: 04/28/2026



















