Acknowledgments

There are so many people to whom I am grateful for their guidance, support and encouragement. To my mentors Paul SG Stein, whose enthusiasm for science was contagious, and Blair Calancie, whose brilliant work gave me hope that there really was a human application for my turtle research. To my colleagues Sherri Hayes who is always there to give me a push when I need it, Susan Herdman who unbeknownst to me set the stage for me to succeed, Carol Davis and Meryl Cohen who are always ready with words of encouragement, and Steve Wolf who, for as long as I can remember, has been someone to whom I can ask the hard questions and discuss the possibilities even when there are no answers. I have been fortunate to grow up in physical therapy with peers in the APTA Section on Research and the Neurology Section whose achievements are a constant source of inspiration and whose friendship is a light in my life. I am grateful for the many opportunities I have had to exchange ideas with my outstanding basic science and clinical colleagues at The Miami Project to Cure Paralysis. To the members of my laboratory team who make every day an exciting adventure. To my dear friend Juliana Mares-Guia who, now with 20-plus years in a wheelchair, gives real meaning to the adage "attitude is everything," and reminds me about what is really important in life. And to my mother, Mirta Field, whose love and life-long pursuit of knowledge have left their marks on me.