Leadership & Faculty
(PRM Faculty Intro videos below!)
PM&R Department Leadership
PRM Education Program Leadership
Amy Kanallakan, MD, FAAPMR
Program Director, PRM Fellowship Program
Program Director, Combined Pediatrics / PM&R Residency Program
Site Director, PM&R Residency Program rotation at CHCO
amy.kanallakan@childrenscolorado.org
Morgan Mestas
Pediatric Rehabilitation Program Coordinator
PRM Fellowship & Combined Peds/PMR Residency Program
morgan.mestas@cuanschutz.edu
Pediatric Rehabilitation Faculty
13 PRM physician faculty + 2 Advance Practice Providers (NPs)
>120 years = the number of years of combined post-PRM training clinical experience among faculty
11 years = the median number of years beyond PRM training of the PRM physician faculty
24 = the number of kids among the PRM faculty (age range 0-25!)
9 = the number of dogs among the 13 PRM faculty
8 = the number of chickens Dr. Pierce owns
Pediatric Rehabilitation Faculty
Name, Faculty Rank, Year of PRM training graduation
Meet some of the PRM faculty...
PRM Faculty Intro Videos!
Amy Kanallakan, MD is the Program Director of the PRM Fellowship Program and works to create a strong, well-rounded PRM Fellowship curriculum for all fellows and prepares each for his or her future careers. In 2021 she graduated from the University of Colorado Teaching Scholars Program. One of her academic projects is PRM Fellowship Curricular Innovation which included launching a new Canvas-based co-curricular course for PRM learners. Clinically, she helped establish the Osteogenesis Imperfecta multidisciplinary clinic and cares for children with TBI, CP, torticollis and various general rehabilitation concerns. Amy is recognized as a "Top Doc" in 5280 Magazine, a peer recognition of excellence in care. Outside of work she enjoys spending time with her spouse and 2 kids, road biking (or Peloton training), downhill skiing and visiting various incredible restaurants around Denver and seeing the Bison (buffalo) at the Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge.
Susan Apkon, MD is the Chief of the department and a champion of education, research, and clinical care. She is a graduate of CU Pediatrics and PM&R Residency Programs. She practiced in Colorado for a decade before becoming the Chief of PRM at Seattle Children's. After starting a PRM fellowship and serving as the Program Director in Seattle, she brought her care and advocacy for kids, tenacious leadership, and passion for fellow education back to Colorado in January 2019. She is an expert in Neuromuscular medicine and an outstanding educator! Sue is a "Top Doc" in 5280 Magazine, a peer recognition of excellence in care. Sue enjoys spending time outside of work in Winter Park with her wife and "new" puppy "RBG."
Mike Dichiaro, MD started the multidisciplinary Non-Accidental Brain Injury Care Clinic at CHCO for kids with Abusive Head Trauma. He served as the inpatient medical director for three years (prior to Dr. Powell) and is an expert in TBI care. He is a top rated provider for Patient and Family Experience awards as well as a "Top Doc" in 5280 Magazine, a peer recognition of excellence in care. Mike's pretty cool but his wife happens to be a Paralympic downhill ski medalist too! He enjoys time with his family including his son who is learning to ski like mom (...and dad).
Kilby Mann, MD joined the faculty practice in 2020 as a leader in expanding our inpatient consultation service in the hospital. She currently serves as the Inpatient Medical Director. She has clinical interests in Quality Improvement, early CP diagnosis, and Stroke Rehabilitation in addition to inpatient and consult work. Outside of work she is an avid knitter and also chases her 2 (soon to be 3) young children around Denver with her spouse and dogs.
Cristina Sarmiento, MD joined the faculty in 2021 after completing the combined Pediatrics and Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation residency program here at the University of Colorado. Her clinical and research interests involve optimizing care for individuals with disabilities and medical complexity across the lifespan, particularly at the time of transition from pediatric to adult healthcare. She recently completed the Subspecialists Clinical Outcomes Research (SCORE) Fellowship through the Adult & Child Center for Outcomes Research & Delivery Science here at CU Anschutz, and is now participating in the Clinical Faculty Scholars Program. Cristina enjoys spending her time in the beautiful Colorado outdoors with her husband (Pete) and two dogs (Sulley and Pula).
Matt Mayer, MD has a blended practice with outpatient care, EMG expertise and multidisciplinary Neuro-Oncology, CP clinics. He teaches fellows about EMG and billing/coding/documentation and is the Epic/informatics faculty leader in the department. He has been actively involved in TeleHealth expansion in the hospital as well and honored in 2021 with a Patient-Family Experience Award as a Top rated physician. Matt enjoys spending time with his spouse and two daughters up in Breckenridge and his family has a horse (of course!).
Joyce Oleszek, MD (CU/CHCO PRM Fellow '02) is a favorite physician of children and families and an expert in Cerebral Palsy spasticity and dystonia management, Neuromuscular medicine, and a national expert in Acute Flaccid Myelitis. She is a multiple year "Five Star" physician at CHCO with Top Patient-Family Experience ratings, exemplifies evidence-based care in tone management, and is an outstanding model of physician communication. Joyce has a spouse and two boys --- one even threw out a pitch at a Rockies game!
Wendy Pierce, MD (CU/CHCO PRM Fellow '11) practiced in San Diego following fellowship, and returned to lead Children's Hospital Colorado Colorado Springs in opening a new hospital and growing outpatient PRM care in southern Colorado. She is a Faculty leader of Pueblo Outreach Continuity clinic. Dr. Pierce is involved in national committees on Cerebral Palsy and the CP Research Network. Wendy has a spouse and two daughters and is our doc who has the most diversity of animals --- chickens, horses, etc.
Aaron Powell, MD (CU/CHCO PRM Fellow '17) is the inpatient medical director and led the successful 2021 CARF-accreditation process for our inpatient unit. He is actively involved in fellow QSI projects, is a fellow mentor, and has been a CHCO leader in the Excellence in Communication course. In 2020, he was recognized as a "Top Doc" in 5280 magazine and is a growing leader in CHCO. He is closely involved with our Brain Injury Recovery program, include Acquired Brain Injury, Non-Accidental Brain Injury Care Clinic, and many inpatient rehab follow-up clinics. He graduated from CU/CHCO PRM fellowship in 2017. Aaron and his spouse claim the lead for number of kids with three.
Anne Stratton, MD (CU/CHCO PRM Fellow '10) is an Assistant Professor. She is an enthusiastic teacher of PRM fellows and is nationally involved in committees for Rett Syndrome and SMA. She leads our Brachial Plexus clinic along with our Orthopedic Hand specialist. Anne has a dog that, unlike other colleagues, joined her family pre-COVID. She has a spouse and two daughters and they love exploring hikes to yurts (like a tent-cabin) in Colorado. She also volunteered a few years for her daughter's school Run Club.
Pam Wilson, MD started the PRM Fellowship Program in the early 2000s and was the Program Director who led our strong educational program for almost 20 years. She is a Paralympic Curling team member and won a Gold medal at the World Curling Championships in 2021. She is an expert in the various adaptive sports programs in Colorado and serves as a Paralympic classifier in track and field. She leads our Concussion program, Spinal Defects clinics, and many General Rehab clinics. Pam and her spouse are usually traveling for various curling and Paralympic events. Pam's daughter is grown and has a job of her own.