By Irene Maslowski
Special presentation made to the Brain Injury Association of New Jersey
Kessler Institute of Rehabilitation (www.kessler-rehab.com) celebrated the exceptional achievements of its patients and staff at the hospital’s annual Triumph of the Human Spirit dinner. Four patients were singled out for their determination and individual progress in overcoming the complex challenges of traumatic brain injury Kessler-rehab.com/programs/brain-injury-rehab http://kessler-rehab.com/programs/brain-injury-rehab/default.aspx, stoke (kessler-rehab.com/programs/stroke-rehab/Default.aspx) and spinal cord injury (http://kessler-rehab.com/programs/spinal-cord-injury-rehab/Default.aspx.
“Rehabilitation changes lives. We see it in the courage of our patients and the progress they demonstrate each day. We see it in the hope of their families. And we see it in the pride of our more than 1800 employees as they deliver the best possible care to our patients and services to our communities,” said Kessler president Robert Brehm.
As part of Kessler’s commitment to giving back to its communities, the hospital presented a check for more than $8500 to the Brain Injury Association of New Jersey (www.bianj.org). Monies were raised by the sale of tickets to the event. In accepting the check, Edward Kim, M.D., M.B.A., Board Chairman, noted the shared goals of the two organizations in advancing the care and support of individuals with brain injury and in raising public awareness through education and prevention initiatives.
This year, Kessler, the nation’s largest single rehabilitation hospital, presented its Spirit Award to four individuals whose “indomitable spirit and personal achievements in overcoming some of life’s greatest challenges” distinguished them among the more than 10,000 patients treated. Honorees included Matthew Gannon, Ocean Grove, N.J.; Leigh Ann Martinez of Aberdeen, N.J. David O’Neill of Wanaque, N.J.; and Kevin Stodolski of Warren, N.J.
Angel Taylor-Prohaska, Director of Medical Records, received the hospital’s prestigious Leadership Award and Dr. Jeremiah Nieves, M.D., a physiatrist at the West Orange campus, was presented with the Henry H. Kessler Award for Medical Excellence.
Kessler’s annual President’s Award, which honors staff for their exceptional work, was presented to Alan Morris, Manager of the Kessler Rehabilitation Center in Ocean; Andrea Koncsol, BSN, CRRN, Clinical Coordinator in the Nursing Department at Kessler Institute’s Chester campus; Janel Modoski, CCC-SLP, Senior Speech-language Pathologist at Kessler’s Saddle Brook campus; and Michelle Russell Ward, RN, CRRN, Clinical Coordinator in the Spinal Cord Injury Nursing Department at the hospital’s West Orange campus.
More than 475 Kessler staff and guests attended the dinner event, which was held at the Hanover Marriott.
About Kessler Institute for Rehabilitation:
Kessler Institute for Rehabilitation, the nation’s largest single rehabilitation hospital, Kessler is one of only five federally-designated Model Systems for the treatment and research of both spinal cord and brain injuries. That same level of care distinguishes Kessler’s comprehensive programs for stroke, amputation, neurological and orthopedic and musculoskeletal rehabilitation. Ranked as one of the top two rehabilitation hospitals in the nation’s and the leading center of its kind in the east by U.S. News & World Report, Kessler has three campus locations in West Orange, Saddle Brook and Chester, N.J., and more than 80 outpatient centers throughout the state. For more information, visit www.kessler-rehab.com.

