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INside the OUTcomes: A Rehabilitation Research Podcast is produced by the Center for Rehabilitation Outcomes Research (CROR) at Shirley Ryan AbilityLab and hosted by CROR communications coordinator, Sharon Parmet. On this podcast, we feature interviews with CROR scientists and other leading experts in rehabilitation research. We'll talk about employment for people with physical disabilities, the use of mobile devices to help improve rehabilitation outcomes, the Rehabilitation Measures Database, access to home and community-based services and much more. Episodes will be released the second Tuesday of the month.
Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts or YouTube.
This podcast is funded by the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research. (Grants 90DPKT0007, 90RTGE0004, 90RTEM0001, 90SIMS0015).
Season 4
Episode 41: Cancer Rehabilitation
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Released July 14, 2026
On this episode of INside the OUTcomes, we shine the spotlight on an important and rapidly evolving field in healthcare: cancer rehabilitation.
Following a cancer diagnosis, patients often develop neurological, musculoskeletal, cardiovascular and other impairments caused by the disease and its aggressive treatments. In fact, more than 8 million cancer survivors experience functional limitations. Fortunately, cancer rehabilitation can help patients maintain and/or restore their function and quality of life.
To learn more, we speak with two special guests:
Samman Shahpar, MD, is section chief of cancer rehabilitation at Shirley Ryan AbilityLab. He has dedicated his career to changing the culture of cancer care and has extensive experience in assessing and treating cancer survivors of all diagnoses.
Ishan Roy, MD, PhD, is an attending physician and research scientist at Shirley Ryan AbilityLab. He specializes in cancer rehabilitation and the study of cachexia — a muscle-wasting syndrome that affects nearly half of all patients with cancer and contributes to weight and muscle loss, weakness and fatigue.
Find the podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts or YouTube and browse the podcast archive for past episodes.
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Episode 40: Wheelchair Repair, Equity & the Push for a Better System
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Released June 9, 2026
On this episode of INside the OUTcomes, we explore assistive technology with a focus on wheelchair breakdowns, repairs and real-world considerations for people who rely on wheelchairs.
Our guests are Lynn Worobey, PhD, DPT, ATP, assistant professor of physical medicine and rehabilitation at the University of Pittsburgh and principal investigator of the multi-center Equity and Assistive Technology for Individuals with Spinal Cord Injury (EQuATe) project, and Lee Tempest, a research coordinator on the EQuATe project and a longtime wheelchair user.
The conversation highlights gaps in preventive maintenance, training and insurance coverage and makes a compelling case for shifting from a reactive to a proactive system of wheelchair service provision. The episode also explores how EQuATe data are informing right-to-repair legislation and policy efforts aimed at improving equity in assistive technology.
Find the podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts or YouTube and browse the podcast archive for past episodes.
Episode 39: Redefining Limb Loss Through Osseointegration & Bionic Medicine
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Released May 12, 2026
Shirley Ryan AbilityLab is at the forefront of advancing the study of “osseointegration,” a novel surgical technique in the field of prosthetics in which a metal rod is surgically implanted into the bone of the residual limb, allowing for a direct connection to the prosthesis. For patients with limb loss, the procedure offers numerous benefits, from improved comfort, control and balance to an enhanced quality of life.
On this episode of INside the OUTcomes, we talk with Levi Hargrove, PhD, scientific chair of The Regenstein Foundation Center for Bionic Medicine at Shirley Ryan AbilityLab, about his research in osseointegration and bionic medicine. He shares insights about developing technologies for prosthetic limbs that integrate robotics, neural control and direct skeletal attachment to restore movement and independence for patients.
Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts or YouTube.
INside the OUTcomes is supported by the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research. (Grants 90DPKT0007, 90RTGE0004, 90SIMS0015, 90DPHF0012).
Episode 38: Parkinson's Disease & Storytelling
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Released April 14, 2026
What happens when people with Parkinson’s disease (PD) use storytelling to share their lived experiences? Can telling their own stories spark connection, confidence and even hope? In this episode of INside the OUTcomes, we explore how the simple, creative act of storytelling can have a profound impact.
Join us as we step inside Tellin’ Tales of Parkinson’s Disease, a unique storytelling project of the Parkinson’s Disease & Movement Disorders program at Shirley Ryan AbilityLab. Led by Tekki Lomnicki — founder and artistic director of Tellin’ Tales Theatre — the program helps participants turn personal experiences into meaningful stories that build community.
Listeners will hear from Tekki, along with Marty Maibuecher, a participant in the PD storytelling group, and Eric Espinoza, program and outreach coordinator, who leads the hospital's PD support groups.
Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts or YouTube.
Episode 37: Living Independently in Utrecht, the Netherlands, After Spinal Cord Injury
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Released March 10, 2026
On this episode of INside the OUTcomes, we talk with Viraj, 29, about living independently in Utrecht, the Netherlands, after a spinal cord injury. Viraj shares his journey from a life-changing accident in India to intensive rehabilitation and returning to work in Utrecht, highlighting the unique support system that allows him to live independently in fully accessible housing.
Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts or YouTube.
INside the OUTcomes is supported by the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research. (Grants 90DPKT0007, 90RTGE0004, 90SIMS0015, 90DPHF0012).