Graduating with the East class of 1973 was but a stepping stone for Susan Wexler–Charlifue to a career that has spanned 40 years.   Dr. Charlifue has dedicated her entire adult life to the prevention or rehabilitation of spinal cord injuries, all with Craig Hospital in Denver.  She began there in 1976 as a medical technician and advanced to the position she currently holds as Senior Principal Investigator

Her achievements include a BA from the University of Denver; an MA in Library and Information Management–University of Denver; Post-Graduate Medical Sociology Program University of Colorado-Boulder; and a PhD in Health and Behavioral Sciences, University of Colorado-Denver. 

Responsibilities in her current position include planning and implementing the research agenda for studies conducted at Craig Hospital and the direction of all research activities for the Rocky Mountain Regional Spinal Injury System.   She currently manages SCI clinical research trials at Craig Hospital. 

In October 2016 Dr. Charlifue received the prestigious Internal Spinal Cord Society Award for her outstanding contribution to the prevention of spinal cord injuries.