Helene K. Henson, M.D. examines Veteran Anthony Thompson during a recent visit. Photo: Bobbi Gruner

Houston, TX – Helene K. Henson, M.D. has been selected to lead the newly formed Rehabilitation & Extended Care Line at the Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center (MEDVAMC).

“With her strong leadership skills and personal drive, Helene has a proven track record of ensuring VA health care is more attentive to Veterans and their families; more performance-based and quality-driven; and better supported by medical education and research,” said Medical Center Chief of Staff J. Kalavar, M.D.

Listed as one of the best doctors in the nation in the field of physical medicine and rehabilitation by the medical knowledge company, Best Doctors, Inc., Henson has nearly 14 years of experience with the Department of Veterans Affairs and has served as the Rehabilitation Care Line Executive at the MEDVAMC for the past eight years.

During her tenure, the Rehabilitation Care Line Polytrauma Network Site at the MEDVAMC has grown into one of the largest and most clinically acknowledged sites in the VA. Henson is the lead physician for the MEDVAMC Polytrauma Amputation Network serving Veterans throughout the South Central VA Health Care Network.  Recognized for her work on the Traumatic Brain Injury Center of Excellence Steering Committee, she was named to serve on the National Advisory Committee for the Care of Veterans with Traumatic Brain Injury, as well as the national VA Physical Medicine Field Advisory Board.

The mission of the Rehabilitation & Extended Care Line is to provide Veterans the right rehabilitative medical intervention at the right time in the right place. Care is managed on the acute medical and surgery units, through the Comprehensive Integrated Inpatient Rehabilitative Program, in the Community Living Center, on the Palliative Care Unit, at seven outpatient clinics, in Veterans’ homes, as well as in community nursing, medical foster, and personal care homes.

Henson is also an associate professor in the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at Baylor College of Medicine. She completed medical school and her internship at the University of Texas Health Science Center in Houston and her residency at Baylor College of Medicine. Henson is board certified by the American Board of PM&R and is actively working to develop clinical practice guidelines for the management of amputation rehabilitation for VA and the Department of Defense.