About Dr. Makulski

Clinical Expertise and Current Role

Dr. Darlene Makulski is a board-certified physician in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (PM&R), with subspecialty certification in Brain Injury Medicine. She specializes in traumatic brain injury (TBI) and spasticity management and serves as the TBI-Polytrauma Director at the Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center in Houston, Texas. She is recognized for her clinical expertise and compassionate care in neurorehabilitation.

Education and Early Career

Dr. Makulski completed her PM&R residency at Baylor College of Medicine in 2004, followed by a fellowship in Brain Injury and Spasticity Management at UTHealth Houston in 2005. She then joined the Baylor faculty and served as Inpatient Medical Director at Quentin Mease Rehabilitation Hospital.

Recognition

In June 2025, Dr. Makulski received the Distinguished Service to Humanity Award from the Baylor College of Medicine PM&R Department in honor of her humanitarian contributions.

How Was Maria de Jesus Founded?

Medical Education and Leadership

Since 2010, Dr. Makulski has volunteered with the American Board of PM&R. She helped launch the Brain Injury Medicine subspecialty exam in 2014, served as a board examiner for over a decade, and continues to contribute to ongoing certification efforts through the ABPMR Longitudinal Assessment.

Global Health and Volunteer Work

In 2013, Dr. Makulski began volunteer medical work in the Yucatán, providing rehabilitation care to children with neuromuscular conditions. She worked with pharmaceutical partners to secure vital medications.

Nonprofit Leadership

In 2023, she founded Maria de Jesus, a nonprofit improving access to rehabilitation for children in underserved regions of Mexico. She leads three medical missions annually, delivering care, equipment, medication, and education.