Board Director News

ABPMR Announces the Election of Two New Board Members

During the ABPMR Board of Directors winter meeting, elections were held for two open positions on the Board. Darlene Makulski, MD and Jelena Svircev, MD were elected to fill the positions. Dr. Makulski officially began her first term on February 1, 2026 and Dr. Svircev will start her term August 1, 2026.

Dr. Makulski is the Director of the TBI–Polytrauma Program at Michael E. DeBakey VAMC (MEDVAMC) in Houston, TX, and Assistant Professor of PM&R at Baylor College of Medicine (BCM). She previously served as the Medical Director of the Acute Inpatient Rehabilitation Unit for the Harris Health System. Her clinical interests include neurorehabilitation and spasticity management. Dr. Makulski holds subspecialty certification in Brain Injury Medicine and has volunteered with ABPM&R in various roles since 2010.

She is also a committed community leader, serving as Founder and President of the nonprofit Maria De Jesus Medical Mission, founder of the Darlene Makulski Endowment Scholarship at St. Mary’s University, and a trustee for Cristo Rey Jesuit College Prep High School. Dr. Makulski combines clinical excellence, teaching, and humanitarian service to advance patient care and professional development.

Dr. Jelena Svircev is a physician and professor in the Department of Rehabilitation Medicine at University of Washington. She is interested in medical education and health maintenance for individuals with spinal cord injury. She has a medical degree from University of Wisconsin and completed residency training in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at Stanford University and Spinal Cord Injury Medicine Fellowship training at University of Washington. Dr. Svircev is board certified in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation and Spinal Cord Injury Medicine. She has been a volunteer with ABPMR for the past 14 years.

Thank you for your service to the ABPMR Board!