Carleigh M. Rittel, PT, DPT, received her undergraduate degree from the Georgia Institute of Technology prior to receiving her doctorate of physical therapy from Elon University. She is a full time practicing physical therapist who specializes in treating patients in the ICU. In addition, she has participated in numerous research projects and studies that have been presented at national and international conferences and subsequently published. She's assisted in teaching various classes including at the university level. She's presented and led teams to create certified CEU courses for PTs and PTAs focusing on treating patients with covid-19 and on treating older adults. Apart from work she enjoys running and spending time outside.
Bryan A. Borg, MD, received his undergraduate and medical degrees from the University of Arizona and completed internal medicine residency and pulmonary/critical care fellowship training. He specializes in Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine and currently practices at the University of Colorado Hospital and the Rocky Mountain Regional VA Medical Center, both in Aurora, Colorado. He is interested in decreasing the morbidity of ICU stays, including deconditioning, lightening of sedation and earlier weaning from mechanical ventilation, and in chronic care of respiratory effects of neuromuscular diseases including ALS.
Anelis V. Hanessian, MBA, BSN, RN, has been a Registered Nurse for 12 years and is the Associate Director of a 24 bed Medical ICU at Banner University Medical Center – Tucson. She graduated from Johns Hopkins University School of Nursing in 2010 and later began working as a new graduate nurse in the Medical ICU. She has been the Associate Director for the Medical ICU for 7 years, but also has experience leading the Cardiovascular ICU and Endoscopy department. She received her Master's in Business Administration from the University of Arizona in 2020 and has dedicated her time in those roles focusing on staff development as well as process and quality improvement.
Angela Kuhar, OTR/L, graduated with a Master’s degree in Occupational Therapy from Nova Southeastern University in 2016. She has experience working in an intensive critical acute care hospital setting with a focus on facilitating individuals with activities to help promote/restore daily life tasks. She currently resides in California and continues work in the healthcare industry.
Mindy J. Fain, MD, Division of Geriatrics, General Internal Medicine and Palliative Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Arizona, Tucson.
Christian Bime, MD, MSc, Associate Professor of Medicine and Clinical Translational Sciences at the University of Arizona – Tucson. He is a Pulmonary and Critical Physician and Medical Director of the Medical Intensive care Unit at Banner University Medical Center – Tucson.
C.M.R. and B.A.B. contributed equally to this article.
Author Contributions: C.M.R., C.B., A.K., and M.J.F. conceived the study idea. M.J.F. and C.M.R. applied for and received institutional review board approval. A.V.H. and C.M.R. compiled the database. Statistical analysis was performed by C.M.R. and B.A.B. with review and expertise provided by C.B. C.M.R. and B.A.B. drafted the manuscript.
C.B.'s research is supported by NIH K08 HL141623.
The authors have disclosed that they have no significant relationship with, or financial interest in, any commercial companies pertaining to this article.
Address correspondence and reprint requests to: Bryan A. Borg, MD, Division of Pulmonary Sciences and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Colorado, 12700 East 19th Avenue 9C03, Aurora, CO 80045 ([email protected]).
