Specialists in brain injury, Parkinson’s disease, and spasticity join Hackensack Meridian JFK Johnson Rehabilitation Institute

Two highly trained specialists have joined Hackensack Meridian JFK Johnson Rehabilitation Institute to advance the institute’s work helping patients reach their highest levels of recovery.

Matthew D. Moore, D.O., and Steven M. Markos, M.D., are both published researchers bringing their expertise to the New Jersey community.

Dr. Moore recently completed the highly competitive fellowship in brain injury medicine at JFK Johnson Rehabilitation Institute’s Center for Brain Injuries and will focus his work on improving outcomes for patients with brain injuries, such as those who have experienced trauma or stroke.

Dr. Markos recently completed a residency in Physical Medicine at Rehabilitation at JFK Johnson and will focus on patients with Parkinson’s disease, spasticity, and those needing cardio-pulmonary rehabilitation.

“We’re excited to welcome both of these excellent physicians to JFK Johnson,” said Sara Cuccurullo, M.D., vice president and medical director of JFK Johnson and physician-in-chief of Rehabilitative Care Transformation Services at Hackensack Meridian Health. “As a nationally ranked rehabilitation institute, we are able to attract some of the country’s top physicians to provide the highest level of care to our patients.”

Dr. Moore said he sought out the JFK Johnson fellowship in brain injury because he wanted to work with Brian Greenwald, M.D., a pioneer in the field and director of the JFK Johnson Center for Brain Injuries.

“I was familiar with Dr. Greenwald’s work and eager to join the team at JFK Johnson, first as a fellow and now as an attending physician,” Dr. Moore said. He said one of his priorities would be to educate the community on the value of brain injury treatment.

“With rehabilitation and early intervention, patients can vastly improve their outcomes,” Dr. Moore said. “But unfortunately, too many patients don’t recognize that seeking help from a specialized center can make a difference in their lives. It’s best to seek help immediately, but we can still help people for some time after an injury. We need to keep getting that message out.”

Dr. Moore also will work with Christine Greiss, D.O., medical director of the JFK Johnson Concussion Program. Dr. Moore said people who have experienced concussions and have lingering symptoms, such as dizziness, headaches, or blurred vision, should seek treatment from a concussion specialist.

Dr. Moore graduated from the New York Institute of Technology College of Osteopathic Medicine and previously worked at the National Institute on Aging Laboratory of Neurogenetics. His research and case reports have explored thrombosis, hemiparesis, spinal injuries and other neurologic and vascular conditions.

Dr. Markos says Parkinson’s disease will be a key focus of his work at JFK Johnson. He will work with Roger Rossi, D.O., medical director of the Parkinson’s Disease Program at JFK Johnson and a physician who has been honored by the Parkinson’s community.

“After completing my residency here, I wanted to stay at JFK Johnson because the institute really focuses on all aspects of a person’s life,” Dr. Markos said. “We not only help our patients medically, but also place a real emphasis on the social, vocational, and recreational aspects of each patient — and how we can get people back to their lives.”

Dr. Markos’ work with spasticity will cross over into his work with Parkinson’s patients as well as with patients who have been affected by other conditions, such as stroke, traumatic brain injury, or spinal cord injury. He will work with Steven V. Escaldi, D.O., medical director of the Spasticity Management Program at JFK Johnson and an international lecturer and educator in the field.

Dr. Markos will also work in the area of inpatient cardio-pulmonary rehabilitation, helping those patients with cardiac disease, heart and lung transplants, and pulmonary disease regain the maximum function achievable. Dr. Iqbal Jafri, the medical director of the Cardio-Pulmonary Rehabilitation program at JFK Johnson, is excited to have Dr. Markos on board to improve outcomes for these patients.

Dr. Markos’ research has explored aspects of brain injury, stroke, and post-operative pain. A Jersey native from Cherry Hill, he graduated from The College of New Jersey and received his Doctor of Medicine degree from the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine.

For more information or to make an appointment, call 732-321-7056, Option 1.

About Hackensack Meridian JFK Johnson Rehabilitation Institute

Offering New Jersey’s most comprehensive rehabilitation services, the JFK Johnson Rehabilitation Institute is a 94-bed facility located in Edison, N.J. serving residents of the tristate area for more than 40 years. Its mission is simple: provide quality rehabilitation for adults and children living with disabilities to obtain optimal function and independence within an accepting community. JFK Johnson Rehabilitation has developed programs in specialties that include brain injury, stroke rehabilitation, orthopedics/musculoskeletal and sports injuries, fitness, cardiac rehabilitation, women’s health, pediatrics and a prosthetics and orthotics lab. It is the Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Department of the Hackensack Meridian Medical School at Seton Hall University and Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School. To learn more, visit JFKJohnson.org