On December 13, 2006, Thomas K. Watanabe, MD, was appointed clinical director of the Drucker Brain Injury Center. Dr. Watanabe comes to MossRehab from the University of Cincinnati Medical Center where he served as associate professor, and from University Rehabilitation Inc., a medical practice for which he served as staff physiatrist.

Since completing a traumatic brain injury fellowship a decade ago, Dr. Watanabe has specialized in treating, researching and rehabilitating acquired traumatic brain injury. His diverse background includes a stint as medical director at United Medical Resources, Inc., a national insurance firm administering self-funded employee health benefit plans.

This unique experience lends important insight into structuring therapy services from the health insurance viewpoint. Drawing on this insight, Dr. Watanabe envisions streamlining TBI care systems while managing care provision costs. “To increase care efficiency, we need to anticipate insurance opinions on procedures and treatments, possible care restrictions, record keeping requirement and oversight,” Dr. Watanabe explains. Nathaniel Mayer, MD, who contributed enormously to the Drucker Brain Injury Center and the field of traumatic brain injury rehabilitation and research during his long tenure as clinical director, will become Emeritus Director, Drucker Brain Injury Center.