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The University of Alabama at Birmingham Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (PM&R) welcomes Assistant Professor Sarah Lopes, D.O. effective November 4, 2024. Dr. Lopes joins the department as a physiatrist specializing in stroke, amputee, EMG, and orthopedics.

The University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (PM&R) Nurse Practitioner Karion Waites, DNP, MSN, BC-FNP, RN, CRRN was honored for her outstanding service as an Advanced Practice Provider (APP).

The University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (PM&R) continues to build on its research portfolio. In addition to research funded through entities like the Administration for Community Living, U.S. Department of Defense, and National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, PM&R is partnering with industry to research potential solutions to healthcare needs.

Drew Redepenning, M.D. ATP, a Resident Physician at University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine Department of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, has received the 2024 DeVivo Mentored Research Award. This one-year, $3,000 research award is for trainees who are interested in conducting a research project using data from the National Spinal Cord Injury Model Systems (SCIMS) Database, which is managed by UAB’s National Spinal Cord Injury Statistical Center (NSCISC).

Dale Colorado, DO, MPH, has been named assistant dean for Student Experience, a new position established in the UAB Heersink School of Medicine to support medical students from all backgrounds in the learning environment, and to partner with faculty and administration to enhance the current curriculum and to support LCME curriculum expectations designed to address structural competence, cultural competence, health inequities, as well as relevant societal problems. He will also assist with recruitment of prospective medical students.

As a provider for UAB Sports and Exercise Medicine, Johan Latorre, M.D. specializes in non-operative orthopedic, musculoskeletal, and sports medicine. He is passionate about treating athletes at all levels and abilities.

Elizabeth Richardson, Ph.D., MSPH, assistant professor in the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (PM&R), led a research effort that looked at the role resilience (a person’s ability to adjust in a positive way) has on the relationship between perceived stress and the impact of pain intensity can have on patients with spinal cord injury (SCI) during inpatient rehabilitation. Specifically, the study focused on the patients’ general activities, mood, mobility, social relationships, sleep, and other areas of daily activities that are often negatively impacted by pain.

The UAB Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation is expanding its footprint in the community to accommodate more patients. Three PM&R providers – Drs. Mark Carter, Dale Colorado, and Johan Latorre – are now accepting patients at the new UAB Medical West, an affiliate of the UAB Health System, in addition to the main UAB campus locations. 

Rachel Teranishi, M.D,  assistant professor in the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (PM&R) and Spain Rehabilitation Center Consult Director was selected to join the Class of 2025 UAB Healthcare Leadership Academy (HLA).

The UAB Heersink School of Medicine Department of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation Residency Training Program welcomed four new PGY1 residents in June.

The University of Alabama at Birmingham Heersink School of Medicine Department of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation (PM&R) is excited to welcome Jamie Elliott, MPA, PMP as executive administrator.

Yuying Chen, M.D., Ph.D., Professor and Vice Chair of Research in the UAB Heersink School of Medicine Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, is one of 10 named to the American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) 2024 Board of Directors. ASIA is one of the most influential associations in the creation, promotion, and dissemination of educational, clinical, and research standards in the field of spinal cord injury (SCI) – all directly translating into the improved health and quality of life for people with SCI.

Since its designation as a University-Wide Interdisciplinary Research Center (UWIRC) in 2019, the Center for Engagement in Disability Health and Rehabilitation Sciences (CEDHARS) has cultivated a strong partnership with the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (PM&R) to broaden research and advance aligning mission and vision.

Robert Brunner, M.D. was named Distinguished Professor in the UAB Heersink School of Medicine Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation.

Congratulations to our newest class of graduating residents on their completion of the UAB Heersink School of Medicine Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation residency program. Our 2024 graduates include Natalie Dean, D.O., Sarah Lopes, D.O., Daniel McBride, M.D., and Nelson Santos Agosto, D.O.

ScholarGPS™ is the world's most comprehensive scholarly analytics platform comprised of powerful computational systems and processes such as novel data mining, artificial intelligence, machine learning, statistical analysis, as well as data distillation, interpretation, and presentation. Out of over 30 million individual scholars who are affiliated with over 55,000 academic and non-academic institutions worldwide, three faculty from the UAB Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation are recognized as a “Highly Ranked Scholar” for their work in spinal cord injury research.

Robert Brunner, M.D. is at the forefront of efforts to enhance quality at the UAB Spain Rehabilitation Center (SRC), demonstrating UAB Medicine's commitment to delivering top-tier health care. Serving as the Department Value Officer for the UAB Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Dr. Brunner is instrumental in ensuring that quality remains a central focus at SRC.

Lakeshore Foundation is hosting a night of unparalleled celebration at the much-anticipated Celebration of Champions: An Evening in Paris. This extraordinary event, held only once every four years, is a testament to the spirit of triumph and resilience embodied by Team USA Olympians and Paralympians. Set against the backdrop of the upcoming Paris 2024 Games, this gala also serves as a platform to honor the invaluable contributions of Lakeshore Foundation to both Birmingham and the world of Paralympic sports.

This year marks the 60th anniversary of UAB Spain Rehabilitation Center (SRC). Spain Rehab was dedicated on April 26, 1964, and made possible by a $500,000 gift from philanthropists Frank E. and Margaret Cameron Spain and funding from the Foundation for Hearing and Speech.

UAB Medicine’s Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation (PM&R) Falls Clinic was established to help patients age 60 or older who are experiencing falls or balance problems. This clinic began as an initiative designed to reduce the number patients visiting the emergency room after experiencing a fall.