Conference Welcome and Medical Rehabilitation Patient Perspective Panel

Plenaries & Panels

Monday, September 28th; 12:00 – 12:45pm

Conference Welcome and Medical Rehabilitation Patient Perspective Presented by TIRR Memorial Hermann, CARF International and the Brain Injury Association of America (BIAA)

Join us for an insightful panel that puts the patient experience at the center of the discussion in medical rehabilitation. This session will explore how patient perspectives can shape and improve rehabilitation outcomes.

Meet Our Speakers

Rhonda Abbott, Senior Vice President and CEO of TIRR Memorial Hermann

Rhonda Abbott started her career as a physical therapist on the spinal cord injury program and now oversees TIRR Memorial Hermann’s nationally recognized learning healthcare system and continuum of excellence in rehabilitative care, research, advocacy and education. As a champion for inclusion for people with disabilities and empowering rehabilitation teams, Abbott currently serves as Chair on the board of directors for the American Medical Rehabilitation Providers Association.

Abbott supports the development of others as a mentor for Women Leaders of Memorial Hermann and executive sponsor of Memorial Hermann’s inaugural employee engagement group for team members with disabilities. With a master’s degree in physical therapy and a MBA, Abbott is also a Senior Fellow of the American Leadership Forum and a Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives (FACHE).

She enjoys the outdoors and most importantly is married to a talented musician and the mother of two amazing sons.

Terrence Carolan, MSPT, MBA, Managing Director of Medical Rehabilitation and Aging Services, CARF International

Terrence Carolan works with CARF International as Managing Director of Medical Rehabilitation and Aging Services. Terrence also has been a provider, manager, educator and administrator at Select Medical and Kessler Institute for Rehabilitation since 2001. He received a Bachelor of Science in Biology from The College of New Jersey, a Master of Science in Physical Therapy from Simmons University and a Master of Business Administration from University of Wisconsin, Eau Claire. Terrence grew up in a multigenerational home and lives in the U.S. on the Jersey Shore with his two daughters.

Milisa Alexis Flores

Milisa has been an attorney for 16 years and has served clients both in New York and Texas, practicing in both state and federal court. From working as a law clerk in New York City, to Shanghai, China, to her most recent positions in Houston, Texas, Milisa worked as a litigator and recently transitioned to transactional law. In her spare time, Milisa enjoys spending time with her husband of 10 years and their sheepadoodle.

Claudia I. Martinez, MD

Dr. Claudia I. Martinez, MD is an Assistant Professor at UTHealth Houston and Spinal Cord Injury Attending Physician at TIRR MHH. She completed her Spinal Cord Injury Fellowship at UTHealth at Houston in 2025 and her Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation residency at UTHealth at Houston in 2024 where she served as Administrative Chief Resident. She is the first person in her family to graduate college. She has received numerous awards for her service to others such as the Medal of Valor from the Houston Harris County Sheriff’s Office and the national TYLENOL Future Care Scholarship Award. She has been named a Texas Medical Association Scholar and has received the Medical Student Diversity Scholarship Award from the American Academy of Neurology.

Being inspired by her own recovery after suffering a stroke during her last brain surgery that initially left her unable to function from the neck down due to incomplete cervical spinal cord injury, she chose to pursue a residency in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation and fellowship in Spinal Cord Injury. With her unique background, she strives to bridge the gap between patient and doctor as she has been a patient throughout her undergraduate and medical school career. Her goal as a physiatrist is to advocate, empower and provide for her patients during their hospitalization, but more importantly beyond the doors of the hospital. Her interests include healthcare disparities, diversity & inclusion and disability in medicine.

She has become a role model and voice for those working in medicine who have a disability through her social media presence and has appeared on several national and international news platforms. The Claudia I. Martinez Strength Scholarship Endowment was recently created at UTHealth in her honor to award a medical student facing adversity a scholarship for their medical education.

Beyond her service to others, Dr. Martinez has consistently performed at the top of her class despite her medical setbacks and disability. She has earned numerous scholarships for her merit and was elected into the Alpha Omega Alpha (AOA) Honor Society.

Paige E. Shoemake, MS, CCC-SLP

Paige Shoemake is a Director of Rehabilitation at TIRR Memorial Hermann. She received her Bachelor of Arts in Communication Sciences and Disorders from Baylor University in 2003 and her Master of Science in Communication Sciences and Disorders from Baylor University in 2005. Over the past 21 years, Paige has worked across Memorial Hermann and TIRR Memorial Hermann in acute care, inpatient rehabilitation, and outpatient rehabilitation settings. Her clinical expertise includes motor speech disorders, traumatic brain injury, and dysphagia rehabilitation.

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