Pathway to Medicine: Physicians with Disabilities

In celebration of the 75th anniversary of National Disability Employment Awareness Month and 30 years of the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Offices of Human Resources and Diversity, Equity and Inclusion are proud to present this panel discussion.

Register to receive a Zoom link. The first 20 attendees to register will receive a NEOFRESH lunch voucher.

Melanie Rak, M.D. has been in practice since 2002. She is a pediatric physiatrist. A graduate of Northwestern University School of Medicine, she then completed a combined residency in Pediatrics and Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center/ University of Cincinnati. She provides care to children with a variety of disabilities including cerebral palsy, brain injury, stroke, spinal cord injury, cancer and genetic disorders. She is interested in advocacy for people with disabilities and disability ethics. Dr. Rak is board certified in Pediatric Rehabilitation Medicine, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, and Pediatrics. She is a member of the American Academy of Cerebral Palsy and Developmental Medicine, American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, and the American Academy of Pediatrics.

Christopher Najarian, M.D., M.P.H. has been in practice since 2013. He is a pediatric physiatrist and director of the Spasticity Clinic at Akron Children’s Hospital. A graduate of the University of Michigan and Wayne State University School of Medicine in Detroit, MI, he completed his residency in physical medicine and rehabilitation at MetroHealth Rehabilitation Institute of Ohio. He then completed a fellowship in pediatric rehabilitation medicine at Gillette Children's Specialty Healthcare, Saint Paul, MN. Dr. Najarian has a special interest in cerebral palsy, spasticity management, brain injury, stroke, spinal cord injury, spina bifida, acute inpatient and outpatient rehabilitation and concussion management. He is certified by the American Board of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation; Pediatric Rehabilitation Medicine. He’s also a member of the American Academy for Cerebral Palsy and Developmental Medicine and the American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation.

Micah Baird, M.D. has been in practice since 2009. He is the director of the Division of Pediatric Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation and medical director of rehabilitation at Akron Children’s Hospital. He is also a clinical associate professor of pediatrics at Northeast Ohio Medical University (NEOMED). After receiving his medical degree from Wright State University, Boonshoft School of Medicine, he completed a combined residency in pediatrics and physical medicine and rehabilitation at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital. He went on to join Akron Children's Hospital in 2009. Dr. Baird has a special interest in cerebral palsy, brain injury, myelomeningocele/spina bifida, spinal cord injury, spasticity and children with disabilities and complex health care needs. He is board certified in pediatrics, physical medicine and rehabilitation (PM&R), and pediatric rehabilitation medicine and is a member of the American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation and the American Academy for Cerebral Palsy and Developmental Medicine.