Spaulding Receives Landmark $2.5M Gift to Name Directorship in Musculoskeletal Recovery

New gift will help fuel research to advance one of the most common but underfunded areas of treatment

Boston, MA – Spaulding Rehabilitation has received a landmark $2.5 million gift from Atlantic Charter Insurance Company and its President Linda J. Sallop and Executive Vice President Mitch I. Weisman to name and endow the directorship of Spaulding’s Discovery Center for Musculoskeletal Recovery.  This innovative center is one of five founding centers within Spaulding Research Institute launched in 2017 under the leadership of Dr. Ross Zafonte, Spaulding’s Senior Vice President of Medical Affairs, Research, and Education and Chair of the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at Harvard Medical School (HMS).  The Atlantic Charter Directorship will help recruit and support a world-class expert to lead the Center and play an influential role in the future of musculoskeletal rehabilitation.

“This visionary gift to strengthen our leadership in musculoskeletal research will help sustain our efforts to shape and deliver superlative care to the millions of people faced with these debilitating disorders each day,” said Dr. Zafonte. “We are so grateful to Linda, Mitch, and Atlantic Charter for joining with us in our mission to unlock the science of recovery and its power to inform—and transform—our health and well-being.”

More than 126 million Americans—one in two adults—struggle with musculoskeletal conditions, including pain and injury in the muscles, bones, and joints, which account for nearly one in five health care visits.  These common health problems can impact one’s entire body and restrict ordinary activities and exercise.  In turn, limited activity compounds musculoskeletal problems, leading to muscle atrophy, sleep deprivation, depression, and numerous secondary impacts.  Despite the prevalence of these chronic conditions, conventional medical approaches are often limited to managing symptoms.

“The magnitude and burden of musculoskeletal disorders in this country are growing dramatically,” said Ms. Sallop. “We see it every day in our own work and believe that by supporting Spaulding in this area of research, we are helping to change this scenario and return people back to their jobs and their lives.”

Atlantic Charter continues to be a principal sponsor of Spaulding’s “Tee Off for Tedy Golf Tournament”, hosted annually by long-time Spaulding advocate, stroke survivor, and football legend Tedy Bruschi.  Atlantic Charter views Spaulding—an HMS teaching hospital—as one of the premier centers of research in rehabilitative medicine in the world and uniquely positioned to address the epidemic of musculoskeletal disorders and chronic pain.

“We have been so pleased to see the relationship between Atlantic Charter and Spaulding grow and flourish,” said David Storto, president of Spaulding Rehabilitation. “Our ongoing partnership will be instrumental in shaping the future of musculoskeletal science at Spaulding and ultimately improve patient care both here in Boston and far beyond.”

With the new Director at its helm, the Discovery Center for Musculoskeletal Recovery will build on its already-groundbreaking efforts to further the field through leading-edge assessment, monitoring, and rehabilitation technologies and therapeutics.  Currently, vital work by Spaulding’s top faculty and researchers includes:

• Utilizing platelet-rich plasma and bone marrow stem cell therapies to target pain and improve recovery as part of the Spaulding Regenerative Medicine programs led by Dr. Joanne Borg-Stein.
• Designing state-of-the-art robotics and wearable technologies to treat individuals with mobility-limiting conditions at Spaulding’s Motion Analysis Lab led by Dr. Paolo Bonato.
• Accelerating recovery through research-based sports adaptations for people of differing abilities at Spaulding’s Kelley Adaptive Sports Research Institute led by Dr. Cheri Blauwet.

The new Discovery Center on Musculoskeletal Recovery aims to leverage the deep connections Spaulding has in the wider scientific ecosystem in Boston and beyond to develop novel research-based treatments; creative methods to track response to therapeutic interventions; and pioneering clinical studies to prevent and address injuries.

“We are excited and proud to partner with Spaulding, a leader and innovator in uncovering novel ways to incorporate evidence-based research into how we treat musculoskeletal conditions,” said Mr. Weisman, one of Atlantic Charter’s founding principals. “Our investment in this directorship expresses our conviction that, together, we can drive discovery and bring new hope to patients everywhere.”

About Spaulding Rehabilitation

A member of Partners HealthCare, Spaulding Rehabilitation includes Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital in Charlestown—recognized as a “top three” rehabilitation hospital in the country by U.S. News & World Report—along with Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital Cape Cod, Spaulding Hospital Cambridge, Spaulding Nursing and Therapy Center Brighton, and 25 outpatient sites throughout Eastern Massachusetts.  An acclaimed teaching hospital of Harvard Medical School and home to the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Spaulding is recognized as the top residency program in the U.S. in the 2019/2020 Doximity Residency Navigator.  Spaulding also was recognized by the 2019 Disability Equality Index as a “Best Places to Work for Disability Inclusion.” For more information, please visit www.spauldingrehab.org.

About Atlantic Charter Insurance Company

Atlantic Charter Insurance Company is one of the largest writers of workers’ compensation insurance in Massachusetts. The company has built its reputation on the personalized risk management services provided by its experienced claims personnel, nurse case managers, and loss control engineers. Atlantic Charter specializes in working with clients in various industries including healthcare, manufacturing, retail, restaurants, and schools. Rated “A” Excellent by AM Best Company, Atlantic Charter’s underwriting results consistently outperform the industry by a wide margin. The company also holds licenses in New Hampshire and Connecticut.

For more information, please visit www.atlanticcharter.com.