Acknowledgements
The colleagues, clinicians, and community behind our spine study
This spring, our 2024 study on virtually delivered tai chi, qigong, and meditation for chronic low back pain was presented at the Osher Center for Integrative Health at Harvard Medical School. The work that brought us there belongs to many hands. This page is our ongoing thanks to the people who made it possible. We are adding photos and names as our materials come in — if you contributed and don’t yet see yourself here, you will soon.
Research Team
The study brought together researchers and clinicians from Weill Cornell Medicine, Mayo Clinic, New York Medical College, the National Cancer Institute, and seven other institutions. Kenneth Knapp, PhD (New York Medical College) served as Principal Investigator and shepherded the work through IRB and into publication. Roger Härtl, MD (Och Spine at NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell) served as senior author. Sydne McCluskey, PhD (CUNY Graduate Center) led the statistical analysis. Seventeen additional co-authors contributed across study design, clinical oversight, and manuscript review. The full author list and roles are available in the published paper.
Manuscript Reviewers and Advisors
Several scholars beyond the author list helped shape this work. Stephen Kaufman, PhD, Professor Emeritus at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, provided insightful guidance on the study concept and design, and critical revision of the manuscript. Ian Shrier, MD, PhD offered valuable insights on an early version. Karen Caldwell, PhD reviewed the manuscript critically. Patricia Bloom, MD and Harrison Bloom, MD also contributed manuscript review.
Referring Physicians
Our participants reached us through a network of physicians who recognized the value of mind-body care for patients with chronic back pain.
Jaspal Ricky Singh, MD (Weill Cornell Medicine, Rehabilitation Medicine) was a steady source of patient referrals throughout the recruitment period.
From Maine, a team of osteopathic physicians and integrative practitioners became our second-largest referral source: Catherine Krause, DO; Karen Roberts, DO; Leslie Gass, DO; and acupuncturist Andrea Stevens. Patricia Bloom, MD and Harrison Bloom, MD opened their network at Mount Sinai in New York.
Additional physicians and clinicians from the Comprehensive Spine Care Center at Weill Cornell, Mount Sinai Hospital, and from primary care, geriatrics, osteopathic medicine, and psychology helped us reach patients we could not have reached on our own.
Northwell Health Employee Wellness Program
A significant share of our participants came to us through Northwell Health’s employee wellness program, led by Patricia R. Flynn, AVP, Employee Wellness. The program carried our recruitment notice to employees across the New York region. We are grateful for the partnership.
Our Supporting Team
The day-to-day operations of the study — scheduling, communications, attendance, data coordination — rested on the CTQS supporting team, managed by Karen Scibilia O’Hara. Their steady work behind the scenes kept the program running smoothly across twelve weeks and 350 participants. The meditation music used in the program was composed by Ying Yang from her album Elixir.
At Harvard Medical School
At Harvard Medical School, the morning Tai Chi and Qigong experiential session for back pain filled beyond capacity — over 100 researchers, clinicians, and practitioners moving together through the foundational training. Later that afternoon, our 2024 randomized controlled trial was presented at The Science of Tai Chi and Qigong as Whole Person Health conference, co-organized by Gloria Yeh, MD, MPH and Peter Wayne, PhD at the Osher Center for Integrative Health (April 30–May 1, 2026). It was an honor to share this work with the global community of researchers and practitioners gathered there.
Our Participants
And finally — the 350 people who showed up, week after week, for twelve weeks. Their trust, their time, and their willingness to try something new are the foundation under all of this work.