Monica A. Pessina, PhD

Clinical Associate Professor, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine

Biography

Dr. Pessina received her B.S. in Occupational Therapy from Boston University, followed by a Master’s in Education from Northeastern University and a Ph.D. in Anatomy and Neurobiology from Chobanian and Avedisian School of Medicine. Prior to assuming a full time academic appointment at BUSM, she gained extensive experience at Massachusetts General Hospital in the field of upper extremity rehabilitation following orthopedic, neurological and burn injuries. In addition, she is the former Director of Rehabilitation at Shriners Burns Institute and she continues to work as an educator in the field of burn rehabilitation both nationally and internationally. Dr. Pessina currently teaches Gross Anatomy and Microscopic Anatomy at BU School of Medicine and BU Goldman School of Dental Medicine where she serves in various roles including Course Director, Section Leader, Lecturer and Laboratory Instructor. As an extension of her clinical interests, Dr. Pessina is currently pursuing research related to the return of motor function after cortical injury in a primate model.

Publications

  • Published 9/2/2023

    Zhou Y, Bhatt H, Mojica CA, Xin H, Pessina MA, Rosene DL, Moore TL, Medalla M. Mesenchymal-derived extracellular vesicles enhance microglia-mediated synapse remodeling after cortical injury in aging Rhesus monkeys. J Neuroinflammation. 2023 Sep 02; 20(1):201. PMID: 37660145.

    Read at: PubMed

  • Published 5/15/2023

    Zhou Y, Bhatt H, Mojica CA, Xin H, Pessina M, Rosene DL, Moore TL, Medalla M. Mesenchymal-Derived Extracellular Vesicles Enhance Microglia-mediated Synapse Remodeling after Cortical Injury in Rhesus Monkeys. Res Sq. 2023 May 15. PMID: 37292805.

    Read at: PubMed

  • Published 8/18/2022

    Calderazzo S, Covert M, Alba D, Bowley BE, Pessina MA, Rosene DL, Buller B, Medalla M, Moore TL. Neural recovery after cortical injury: Effects of MSC derived extracellular vesicles on motor circuit remodeling in rhesus monkeys. IBRO Neurosci Rep. 2022 Dec; 13:243-254. PMID: 36590089.

    Read at: PubMed

  • Published 10/9/2021

    Bottenfield KR, Bowley BGE, Pessina MA, Medalla M, Rosene DL, Moore TL. Sex differences in recovery of motor function in a rhesus monkey model of cortical injury. Biol Sex Differ. 2021 10 09; 12(1):54. PMID: 34627376.

    Read at: PubMed

  • Published 11/29/2020

    Go V, Sarikaya D, Zhou Y, Bowley BGE, Pessina MA, Rosene DL, Zhang ZG, Chopp M, Finklestein SP, Medalla M, Buller B, Moore TL. Extracellular vesicles derived from bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells enhance myelin maintenance after cortical injury in aged rhesus monkeys. Exp Neurol. 2021 03; 337:113540. PMID: 33264634.

    Read at: PubMed

View All 22 Publications:   View Full Profile in BUMC

Other Positions

  • Graduate Faculty (Primary Mentor of Grad Students)
    Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Graduate Medical Sciences

Websites

Education

  • Boston University, PhD
  • Northeastern University, MEd
  • Boston University, BS

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