Dr. Deborah Bergfeld began her Buffalo Spine and Sports career in 2005 as a Fellow, following the completion of her residency at The Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago. Being a WNY native. Dr. Bergfeld was pleased to become a permanent member of the staff at the conclusion of her Fellowship training in 2006.
Today, Dr. Bergfeld has advanced her career to the position of practice partner and has recently created a program of womens' health and rehabilitation treatment services that is benefitting female patients of all ages.
Dr. Bergfeld enjoys running as exercise and in competitive events.
Education Doctor of Medicine State University of New York at Buffalo School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences Buffalo, New York August 1997-May 2001 Master of Science State University of New York at Buffalo Roswell Park Cancer Institute Graduate Division Buffalo, New York August 1994-September 1996 Concentration: Molecular Immunology Bachelor of Science State University of New York at Binghamton Binghamton, New York Cum Laude graduate Major: Psychobiology August 1990-May 1994 back to top
Clinical Training Post-graduate fellowship training in sports medicine and spine care - Buffalo Spine and Sports Institute, Buffalo NY July 2005-September 2006 Residency training in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation The Rehabillitation Institute of Chicago Northwestern Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL July 2005-June 2005 back to top
Specialty Training Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Spine, Occupational and Sports Medicine Procedures -Musculoskeletal ultrasound diagnostic imaging -Ultrasound guided musculoskeletal injections -Peripheral Joint and Bursal Injections, with or without ultrasound guidance -Spine: Fluoroscopic: Facet Joint/Epidural Injections: cervical, lumbar transforaminal/Selective Nerve Root Blocks. -SI injections /shoulder & hip regional blocks with mobilizations and manipulations. Peripheral Nerve Blocks Electrodiagnostic Medicine Manual Medicine of the Spine and Extremities Functional Exercises for the Spine & Extremities Botox training back to top
Board Certifications Board Certified-American Board of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation back to top
Specialty Areas Occupational medicine Sports medicine Women’s health rehabilitation ( pregnancy related pain, pelvic pain, incontinence, osteoporosis) Musculoskeletal ultrasound Electrodiagnostics back to top
Honors/Awards William Randolph Hearst Resident at the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago (2004-2005) Named for participation in professional organizations/activities that make a national or regional impact in the field of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. Baskin award for excellence in Resident Research - June 2005 The Scholl Recognition Award for Rehabilitation Research with Distinction- June 2005 Elected to the Association of Pathology Chairs Honors Society-May 1999 back to top
Professional Memberships American Academy of Phsical Medicine and Rahabilitation. Physiatric Association of Spine, Sports and Occupational Rehabilitation Resident Physician Council (RPC) of the American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation - member of the nominating committee - planning committee member for an RPC conference titled “An Interactive Physiatric Approach to the Management of Lumbar Spine Disorders." Association of Academic Physiatrists North American Spine Society American College of Sports Medicine International Spine Intervention Society Medical Society of the State of New York International Spinal Cord Society American Medical Student Association -Secretary/University of Buffalo chapter 1998-1999 academic year. back to top
Current Research Interests “Functional lumbar stabilization: a preliminary study” An initial phase, collaborative study between Buffalo Spine and Sports Institute and Stuart McGill, PhD at Waterloo University. “A functional approach to refractory SI joint dysfunction and pain: a case report” In conjunction with Dr. Michael Geraci and Jennifer Aloian, MSPTBuffalo Spine and Sports Institute “Hydrosalpinx as a cause of referred pain in spinal cord injury: a case report” Advisor: Steven Nussbaum M.D. The Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago Presented at the International Spinal Cord Society annual meeting in Athens, Greece. “The Cost Effectiveness and Functional Outcomes of Brain Tumor Rehabilitation” Advisor: Mark Huang M.D. The Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago “Chronic disease and prevention strategies for inner cities” Advisor: Carlos Jaén M.D., Ph.D. Center for Urban Research in Primary Care State University of New York at Buffalo School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences “Studies of the Suppression of Human Malignant B Cells by SN8, an anti-Ig-ß Monoclonal Antibody” (M.S. thesis) Advisor: Ben K. Seon Ph.D. Roswell Park Cancer Institute,State University of New York at Buffalo School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences. back to top
Continuing Medical Education “Building the ultimate back: from rehabilitation to high performance” presented by Stuart McGill, PhD, Buffalo Spine and Sports Institute, -September, 2009 “Diagnostic classification Approach to Musculoskeletal Rehabilitation: Pain and Mechanical” -October, 2008 “Clinical Application of Neurodynamics- Lower quarter” presented by the Neuroorthopedic Institute- May, 2008 “Prinicples of Fitness and Training” presented by Tudor Bompa, PhD- March 2006 “Management of the Whiplash Patient”- presented by Adriaan Louw, International Spine and Pain Institute Musculoskeletal ultrasound course, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY- March, 2007 “Fundamentals of Musculoskeletal Ultrasound," University of Michigan Dept of Radiology, Ann Arbor, MI- March, 2009 Additional training in Botulinum toxin injections for cervical dystonia Dr. Carl Barbano May, 2009 back to top
Teaching/Lectures/Workshops Pelvic Pain: A physiatric approach -Grand Rounds lecture for resident/attending physicians at Sister’s of Charity Hospital, Buffalo, NY. Cervical spine injuries: A physiatric approach -Sports medicine lecture given as part of a collaborative lecture series with orthopedic surgery residents and attending at the State University of New York at Buffalo. Pregnancy and Low Back Pain: The Non-Traumatic Shoulder -Designed as part of a Sports/Spine lecture series for resident physicians at the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago in 2004-2005. Basics of Traumatic Brain Injury: Low Back Pain -Lectures to summer medical student externs at the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago 2003, 2004. Upper Arm and Flexor Forearm Anatomy -Given as part of an anatomy course at the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago, 2004. Basics of lower extremity prosthetics -Lecture to 2nd yr. resident physicians on the basics of lower extremity prosthetic components. Multiple Sclerosis -Introductory lecture to prosthetists and orthotists at the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago, 2004. Scientific Basis of Medicine Course Moderator - Fall 1998 -facilitated discussions, provided feedback and evaluated first year medical students in a course designed to introduce the principles for practicing evidence based medicine. back to top
Personal Interests Married Running Golf back to top