Joan Gold is a clinical professor in the Department of Rehabilitation at Rusk Rehabilitation, NYU Langone Health. Her areas of specialization include the pediatric disorders cerebral palsy, and spina bifida. In her own words, she stated that she has had the pleasure of watching her patients and learning from their strengths for 45+ years. Her medical degree is from the State University of New York Downstate Medical Center. She completed her residency in physical medicine and rehabilitation at the NYU Medical Center and her residency in pediatrics at Beth Israel Medical Center. She is board-certified in the following three areas: Pediatric Rehabilitation Medicine, Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, and also Pediatrics.
This is the second of a two-part series. In this Part 2, she discusses: pregnancy among patients with cerebral palsy, effect of pregnancy on balance and coordination if a motor functional impairment exists; challenges and resources available for patients who become parents; identification of the felt needs of patients; improvements needed in diagnosis and treatment; time period for adoption of rehabilitation treatment innovations; and key topics in rehabilitation research.
In Part 1, Dr. Gold discussed: number of adults in the U.S. with cerebral palsy; their life expectancy; challenges involved in the transition from pediatric to adult care for these patients; kinds of health problems adult patients experience; treatment for dystonia; the impact of additional physical deterioration on quality of life and mental health; and the ability to participate in physical activities, work, family, and recreational activities.
