The University of Alabama at Birmingham Heersink School of Medicine Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (PM&R) welcomes new faculty member Jenn Coker, Ph.D., MPH, FASIA effective May 30, 2025. Dr. Coker is joining the department as Associate Professor and Co-Project Director (PD) of the National Spinal Cord Injury Statistical Center (NSCISC).
Prior to joining UAB, Dr. Coker obtained a Master of Public Health from Emory University in 2001 and won the James W. Alley Award for Outstanding Service to Disadvantaged Populations. Dr. Coker then went on to serve in various roles in spinal cord injury (SCI) research programs in prestigious rehabilitation research institutions, such as Shepherd Center, Medical University of South Carolina’s College of Health Professions, and Craig Hospital. In 2020, Dr. Coker received her Ph.D. in Clinical Investigations from the University of Colorado – Anschutz Medical Campus and was promoted from Research Associate to Research Scientist at the Craig Hospital Research Department in Englewood, Colorado.
Throughout her career, Dr. Coker has established herself as a leading investigator in SCI outcomes research. Her research portfolio includes pioneering investigations into self-efficacy interventions for individuals with SCI, the integration of complementary and integrative healthcare approaches, and the impact of oral health on overall well-being in this population. Through her research, she aims to enhance quality of life, improve rehabilitation outcomes, and address health disparities in these populations.
Her research has been supported by federal and foundation grants over the last 10 years totaling over $18 million in funding. She formerly served as Co-PD for the Rocky Mountain Regional Spinal Injury System, Site PI for the SCI Model Systems Collaborative project, both of which are funded by the National Institute on Disability Independent Living and Rehabilitation Research, PI for a project funded by the Craig H Neilsen Foundation, as well as Site PI for a prospective multi-center longitudinal cohort study sponsored by the Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma America. She currently holds a grant from the Neilsen Foundation, and as noted earlier, is Co-PD of the NSCISC.
Dr. Coker has authored an extensive body of peer-reviewed publications. Her reputation as a respected scientist and leader is underscored by her numerous awards, including the recent 2020 Mulcahey Award for Research in Outcomes Measurement and the 2022 Spinal Research Institute SCI Writing Prize. She serves on the Editorial Board for Topics in SCI Rehabilitation, as Review Editor of the Disability Rehabilitation and Inclusion section for the Frontiers in Rehabilitation Sciences, and as a guest topic editor of Promoting Participation Following Neurotrauma for the Frontiers Research Topics. She has also served on grant review panels for the Colorado Clinical and Translational Sciences Institute and the Paralyzed Veterans of America Education Foundation.
Dr. Coker’s service contributions are equally impactful. At Craig Hospital, she played a pivotal role in multiple committees, including serving as the Founding Chair of the Research Think Tank and as Chair of the Women’s Health Initiative. Nationally, she has held leadership positions within the American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA), including her recent appointment to its Board of Directors and designation as a Fellow of ASIA (FASIA) for her outstanding research and service to ASIA and the SCI community. Internationally, she serves on multiple committees and special interest groups for the International Spinal Cord Society (ISCoS). In the community, Dr. Coker is the former chair and current member of the Board of Directors for the Colorado Brain Injury Trust Fund and Board of the Shine Music Festival, an inclusive and accessible music festival that gives people of all abilities access to the power of live music.
In addition to her own work, Dr. Coker has been instrumental in mentoring graduate students and clinicians for research through various initiatives, which she will be implementing in her role at UAB as well. Her leadership and commitment to advancing rehabilitation research and patient care have significantly benefited the field.