image: Trevor Dyson-Hudson, MD, FASIA, of Kessler Foundation was awarded the prestigious James J. Peters Service Award at the 2025 Annual Meeting and Expo of the Academy of Spinal Cord Injury Professionals in Philadelphia.
Credit: Kessler Foundation
East Hanover, NJ – Sept 5, 2025 –Trevor Dyson-Hudson, MD, FASIA, of Kessler Foundation was awarded the prestigious James J. Peters Distinguished Service Award at the 2025 Annual Meeting and Expo of the Academy of Spinal Cord Injury Professionals (ASCIP) in Philadelphia today. He has been recognized for his outstanding contributions and accomplishments in spinal cord injury healthcare and his dedication to excellence in treating SCI patients.
Dr. Dyson-Hudson is co-director of the Center for Spinal Cord Injury Research and the Derfner-Lieberman Laboratory for Regenerative Rehabilitation Research at the Foundation. As part of the conference, he presented the James J. Peters Lecture, “Making America Healthy Again for People with Spinal Cord Injury: WWJD? (What Would Jim Do?).”
James (Jim) Peters was founder of the United Spinal Association (formerly Eastern Paralyzed Veterans Association) and two additional influential associations he established: the American Association of SCI Nurses, and the American Association of SCI Psychologists and Social Workers (AASCIPSW). He was an extraordinary individual who played a pivotal role in advocating healthcare, research, education, and legislation advancements for people with SCI and other physical disabilities.
In addition to his roles at Kessler Foundation, Dr. Dyson-Hudson serves as co-director of the Northern New Jersey Spinal Cord Injury System, which is part of the national Spinal Cord Injury Model System of care funded by the National Institute on Disability Independent Living and Rehabilitation Research. He is also a research professor in the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at Rutgers New Jersey Medical School. His research focuses on preserving and restoring function and mobility in people with SCI and addressing secondary medical complications common in this population.
Dr. Dyson-Hudson's dedication to SCI care is deeply personal. In 1992, as a third-year medical student, he sustained a spinal cord injury (C6 tetraplegia, complete) while playing rugby football. Following a year of rehabilitation, he resumed his studies at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine and graduated in 1995. His personal experience and professional expertise continue to inspire and advance the field of SCI research and care.
About the Academy of Spinal Cord Injury Professionals (ASCIP)
ASCIP’s mission is to optimize the health and wellness of individuals with spinal cord injury through advanced interdisciplinary education, professional development, and scientific research. Membership provides medical professionals advanced learning opportunities and professional networking that enhance professional interests and patient care ASCIP is comprised of four professional sections: American Paraplegia Society (APS), Association of Spinal Cord Injury Nurses (ASCIN), Psychologists, Social Workers & Counselors (PSWC) and Therapy Leadership Council (TLC).
About Kessler Foundation
Kessler Foundation, founded in 1985, is a New Jersey-based nonprofit and global leader in rehabilitation research committed to changing the lives of people with disabilities. By conducting groundbreaking research, Kessler Foundation advances recovery and fosters independence to build a more inclusive and accessible world.
Its team of award-winning scientists develop and test novel interventions to transform care and optimize mobility, cognition, and quality of life for people with traumatic brain injury, spinal cord injury, stroke, multiple sclerosis, autism, and other neurological and developmental disabilities. By analyzing community and workforce participation, developing evidence-based solutions, and funding impactful community initiatives that expand employment opportunities, Kessler Foundation also addresses barriers to inclusion for people with disabilities.
Powered by a dedicated team of over 200 professionals funded by federal and state grants and private philanthropy, Kessler Foundation is redefining what is possible in rehabilitation care and recovery. For more information, visit kesslerfoundation.org.
Press Contact at Kessler Foundation:
Carmen Cusido, ccusido@kesslerfoundation.org
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