The Amputee Coalition announced that Danielle Melton, MD, has succeeded Stephen Wegener, PhD, as chair of its Scientific & Medical Advisory Committee (SciMAC). Melton is director of the amputee program at The Institute for Rehabilitation and Research (TIRR) Memorial Hermann Hospital, Houston, Texas, and an assistant professor in the physical medicine and rehabilitation and orthopedic departments at the University of Texas, Houston, Health Science Center. She has served on SciMAC since 2011. Wegener will continue to serve on the committee for one year as past chair.
The Coalition also named two new members to SciMAC. Jacqueline Hebert, MD, is clinical director of the adult amputee program at Glenrose Rehabilitation Hospital, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. She is also chair of the medical advisory committee for the Amputee Coalition of Canada. Lt. Col. Donald Gajewski, MD, is an orthopedic surgeon and the director of the Center for the Intrepid, San Antonio, Texas. Hebert and Gajewski will each serve for a three-year term.
Christina Skoski, MD, and Natalie Fish, PT, will be leaving the committee as their terms have expired; Col. Rachel Evans has announced her retirement from the U.S. Army and has stepped down from her position on the committee.
“I would like to thank Dr. Wegener for his hard work and expertise in guiding the committee and I look forward to Dr. Melton’s leadership,” said Sue Stout, interim president and CEO of the Amputee Coalition. “I would also like to thank Drs. Hebert and Gajewski for joining the committee. The depth of their backgrounds and expertise will prove invaluable to the Coalition.”
SciMAC serves as a resource to the nonprofit organization by contributing clinical and scientific expertise in the development, implementation, and evaluation of Coalition programs, research, and policy initiatives.
