2025 Annual Reeve Summit Recap

In March 2025, almost 300 individuals from across the nation descended into the Colorado Rocky Mountains for the 5^th Annual 2025 Reeve Summit, comprising a three-day event in downtown Denver. The conference was focused on connecting new faces across multiple disciplines, discussing groundbreaking research, exciting and new spinal cord innovations, quality of life initiatives, peer support models, grassroots disability advocacy efforts, and so much more. With a mission to "move mountains” as a community, the Reeve Foundation and the Colorado paralysis community came together to discuss, share, and gain momentum for an exciting future ahead.

A highlight of the event was the keynote speech by ONWARD Medical’s CEO, Dave Marver, discussing their transformational research about non-invasive electrical stimulation therapy and its clinical importance for improving hand and arm function for chronic spinal cord injuries. Following his presentation was a candid discussion with Reeve’s own Chief Scientific Officer, Dr. Marco Baptista, and clinical expert Dr. Candy Tefertiller, Executive Director of Research and Evaluation at Craig Hospital. You could feel the excitement in the room as the grandiosity and real-life potential for improvements in the quality of life of SCI patients hit home for many sitting in the audience.

Another exciting highlight of the event was a presentation by Former State Representative David Ortiz, a U.S. Army veteran who became paralyzed after a helicopter crash and then went on to serve as an elected official in the state of Colorado. You could hear a pin drop in the room as he reported on his personal experiences being part of the Colorado House of Representatives in 2021-25, especially his sponsorship of 24 bills representing more than any other freshman house representative in 2021. In addition to his disability advocacy efforts, Ortiz spoke eloquently about embracing life in the state of Colorado, flashing his experiences on a large screen behind him. Included in his photographic presentation was jaw-dropping footage of Ortiz scuba diving with the National Park Service at the USS Arizona in Pearl Harbor, HI, as a US Army veteran adapted scuba diver.

In between these prolific presentations, attendees of the conference were able to hob knob and connect in the exhibitor area where local sponsors and exhibitor booths set up their various offerings. Many important networking opportunities presented themselves, such as discussions about adaptive fitness and wellness, innovative robotics, cell phone applications improving accessibility in public spaces, therapeutic recreation opportunities, and other not-for-profit organizations dedicating their time to creating a robust community living and thriving in the state of Colorado. These breakout moments created wonderful opportunities for brainstorming and strategy sharing amongst the local community and attendees from different states attending the conference. The buzz in the room was felt throughout, creating a sense of optimism for a forward-moving community focused on living a barrier-free and fulfilled life.

The 2025 Reeve Summit was perceived across all platforms as a huge success. As a wheelchair user myself, it certainly was a momentous moment to collaborate not only with so many elite professionals in the local and national spinal cord community but also to connect and create stronger relationships amongst so many of us wheelchair users who were in the room together. Our collective call to action was to continue climbing up the mountain for improvements in paralysis care and a cure.

Stay in the know about the next Reeve Summit by heading to www.ChristopherReeve.Org/ReeveSummit.

Photos by Adam Shea Photography.