Ben Petrie was born and grew up in Stillwater, Minnesota. Stillwater is a medium-sized suburb of Minneapolis, on the eastern border of Minnesota and Wisconsin. He has one older brother, Ian Petrie. He went to college at the University Minnesota-Twin Cities, majoring in microbiology and physiology. He went to medical school at Boston University School...Continue Reading

The Model System Knowledge and Translation Center (MSKTC) is a national center that helps facilitate the knowledge translation process to make research meaningful to those with Spinal Cord Injury, Traumatic Brain Injury, and Burn Injury. Last newsletter, we featured the Factsheet on adaptive sports and recreation and how to get involved in your community.  This...Continue Reading

By: Anvi Kshirsagar  Now that the cold and chilly weather is slowly transitioning to warmer temperatures that spring and summer bring, it presents the perfect opportunity to step outside and enjoy it. Luckily, Cleveland offers many adaptive activities that allow anyone to participate. From hand-cycling, kayaking, or participating in team sports, there is something for...Continue Reading

We hope everyone is staying warm and digging themselves out from the winter storm that kicked off 2026! This year, we’re looking forward to a year of growth for our chapter and more fun events for Northeast Ohio’s SCI community – and we can’t wait for the sun to re-emerge for many of the fun...Continue Reading

Ladies and gentlemen, meet Tim Mackie — a longtime resident of Northeast Ohio and a valued member of our spinal cord injury community. Tim’s story is one of resilience, creativity, and giving back, and his active lifestyle continues to inspire those around him. Tim was born in Cleveland, Ohio, and while Northeast Ohio has always...Continue Reading

The MSKTC works closely with researchers in the 18 Spinal Cord Injury (SCI) Model System Centers to develop resources for people living with spinal cord injury and their supporters. They have several user-friendly resources that are grounded in evidence and available in a variety of formats such as printable PDF documents, videos, and slideshows.  Transferring...Continue Reading

By: Mayson Moore After a gray winter season, one of the best remedies for mental and physical health is time spent exploring. Luckily, Northeast Ohio has plenty of accessible destinations for all things food and drink, arts and culture, and just plain fun, many of which have been accessibility verified for those with mobility limitations. ...Continue Reading

Don Johnston To say that our health is our most important asset is an extreme understatement.  After a spinal injury, nerve signals that control digestion and bowel function are disrupted, leading to a high incidence of bowel dysfunction.  So, there are preventive measures we can follow to maintain a healthy, active life. The simplest and...Continue Reading

We’re wishing a wonderful holiday season to all chapter members, friends, and family of the United Spinal Association of Northeast Ohio! As we turn the page to 2026, our chapter has a lot to celebrate and even more to look forward to. A Look Back at 2025We want to extend our deepest appreciation to everyone...Continue Reading

Billy Jones knows the local landscape.  As a true Clevelander, he was born and raised a Buckeye, and he called Northeast Ohio his home.  But it was on a cold January night in 2024 when he was involved in an auto accident that forever changed his life in the blink of an eye. A tragic...Continue Reading