Physician Features
Volunteer Spotlight: Dr. Arielle Berkowitz, Dr. Brian Greenwald, Dr. Kristen Harris
The ABPMR is committed to developing, conducting, and disseminating research associated with evaluation and assessment approaches that promote excellence and encourage continuous learning for PM&R board-certified physicians. In advancing that mission, the ABPMR is proud to announce a recently published paper.
The paper, published in PM&R, is titled “A survey of brain injury medicine fellowship graduates 2014–2023: Perceived strengths and opportunities for training based upon current practice trends,” offers valuable insights into the evolving landscape of fellowship training in brain injury medicine. It is co-authored by Arielle Berkowitz, DO, lead author; Kristen Harris, MD; Brian Greenwald, MD, Associate Member of the BIM Examination Committee; Hayk Petrosyan, PhD; and Mikaela Raddatz, PhD, ABPMR Director of Psychometrics and Research.
As part of our ongoing gratitude for the dedicated volunteers who support the ABPMR mission, we connected with Dr. Arielle Berkowitz, Dr. Brian Greenwald and Dr. Kristen Harris to hear more about their experience contributing to this research—and to get to know them a little better.
Arielle Berkowitz, DO is double board certified in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (PM&R) and Brain Injury Medicine (BIM). She specializes in brain injury medicine and provides treatment to adolescents and adults with traumatic brain injuries, stroke, and migraines. At JFK Johnson Rehabilitation Institute in Edison, New Jersey, she leads the acute inpatient stroke unit and cares for patients in the outpatient concussion program.
Dr. Berkowitz earned her medical degree at New York Institute of Technology College of Osteopathic Medicine (NYITCOM). She completed her residency at NYU Rusk Rehabilitation, and her brain injury medicine fellowship at JFK Johnson Rehabilitation Institute.
Why did you choose to be an early career volunteer with the ABPMR?
I chose to become an early-career volunteer with the ABPMR because it offered a valuable opportunity for both personal and professional growth. As an early-career volunteer, I would have the chance to challenge myself, collaborate with leaders in the field, contribute to its advancement, and deepen my understanding of this diverse specialty.
What motivated you to get involved with the BIM Examination practice analysis?
I was particularly excited to join the BIM Examination practice analysis team because its purpose was closely aligned with the research I had recently conducted and published. While my research focused on ways to enhance ACGME BIM fellowship training, the goal of the practice analysis was to analyze and develop content for the BIM board examination that would best meet the needs of current practice trends. The practice analysis committee provided an excellent opportunity to learn more about the roles and responsibilities of a well-qualified BIM specialist. Through my participation, I not only contributed to shaping the examination content but also helped shift the field's focus to promote changes that better meet the needs of BIM physicians and their patients.
What did you learn from participating in the practice analysis?
The practice analysis provided me with a better understanding of the evolution of BIM. Through thoughtful discussion with PM&R colleagues, I gained insights into the complexity of the specialty, varying practice trends, advancements and strengths of the field, as well as areas for further exploration and research.
Kristen Harris, MD is a double board-certified physician in Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation and Brain Injury Medicine. She completed her residency in PM&R at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC) where she served as administrative chief resident. She subsequently completed a fellowship in Brain Injury Medicine at Hackensack Meridian/JFK Johnson Rehabilitation Institute. Dr. Harris specializes in the treatment of patients with mild to severe brain injuries, including traumatic brain injury, stroke and hypoxic ischemic injuries. She has a clinical focus on the management of spasticity and also the treatment of patients with disorders of consciousness. Dr. Harris has presented nationally on a number of topics related to the rehabilitation of patients after brain injury and serves on the Association of Academic Physiatrists (AAP) Junior Faculty Council.
What motivated you to get involved with the BIM Examination practice analysis?
I had the opportunity to become involved with the ABPMR Brain Injury Medicine Practice Analysis Committee after a group of us collaborated with Dr. Mikaela Raddatz, the ABPMR Director of Psychometrics and Research, on a study that sought to better understand the practice patterns of brain injury medicine fellowship graduates and their training. Our team - including Dr. Arielle Berkowitz and Dr . Brian Greenwald - had such a great experience working together with the Board on this project, that when I was invited to participate in the BIM Practice Analysis it was easy to say yes.
What did you learn from participating in the practice analysis?
Participating in the BIM Practice Analysis was a great experience. Because the brain injury field is so broad, there are many different opportunities for types of practice and it’s easy to develop a somewhat narrow view of just your individual practice. Collaborating with other BIM physicians who hold different types of roles, many of whom have been volunteers with the Board for years, was really enlightening. From the experience I learned how we can bring together all of these different types of practices, and then weight and organize that into relevant content for examination.
Why did you choose to be an early- career volunteer with the ABPMR?
I really enjoy practicing Brain Injury Medicine and Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, and I’m engaged in resident and fellow training. Serving as an early- career volunteer with the ABPMR allows me an opportunity to continue to grow professionally while also sharing my perspective.
Brian Greenwald, MD is a double board-certified physician in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation and Brain Injury Medicine. He is the Medical Director of the Center for Brain Injuries and Associate Medical Director at JFK Johnson Rehabilitation Institute. He directs JFK Johnson’s ACGME-accredited Brain Injury Medicine fellowship and holds professorships at both Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School and Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine. Dr. Greenwald completed his residency at Rutgers New Jersey Medical School and a brain injury rehabilitation fellowship at Virginia Commonwealth University.
Dr. Greenwald has served on the Board of Trustees for the Brain Injury Alliance of New Jersey since 2002 and is currently Vice President. Dr. Greenwald contributed to the BIM Exam for 13 years. He started as an item writer in 2012, became an associate member in 2016, and served two full terms through July 2025. Beyond his volunteer work with the BIM Exam, Dr. Greenwald also served as an examiner for the Part II Examination from 2011 to 2019, further demonstrating his commitment to the field and to the mission of the ABPMR.
What did you enjoy most about serving on the BIM Examination Committee?
I spent 10+ years on the BIM exam committee. It was great to see this new board certification come to fruition. As a committee member I enjoyed working with other BIM specialists from around the country who are passionate about educating (and testing) the next generation of physicians in this field.
What advice would you give to someone interested in volunteering with ABPMR?
Volunteering for the ABPMR is a great experience. It's a great collaboration between the ABPMR staff and the physicians. I can't say the work is easy although I always felt supported by the staff and the senior people on the committee. A way to continue to learn, teach, lead and give back to the field.
What activity with ABPMR are you most proud of?
I feel proud to have helped get the BIM exam off the ground starting with the first exam in 2014 and ensuring the quality and improvement of the exam in that following decade
Thank you Drs. Arielle Berkowitz, Brian Greenwald, and Kristen Harris for your valuable research and your commitment to volunteering with ABPMR.
To read their full research article click here.
