Robert Brunner, M.D., Professor in the UAB Heersink School of Medicine Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation as Associate Professor and Vice Chair of PM&R Development.

Dr. Brunner has long served in leadership as the Medical Director of the Spain Rehabilitation Center Inpatient Hospital, Principal Investigator of the Traumatic Brain Injury Model System and current Assistant Chief of the UAB Medical Staff. Additionally, he has been a driving force in the recently announced $156.7M, 350,000-square-foot development that will replace the existing Spain Rehabilitation Center. The new, 11-floor facility is scheduled to open in 2025 and will offer 78 rehabilitation beds, 28 acute care beds, and state-of-the-art technology specifically designed to provide comprehensive rehabilitation care for patients from across Alabama and beyond.

“I look forward to this new role within our department. I think this is an exciting time for us.” Dr. Brunner expresses. “Along with our new building we will have many new faculty joining us as we look to a very bright future.”

Vu Nguyen, M.D., chair of the Department of PM&R, is excited about the department’s future development under Dr. Brunner’s leadership. “Dr. Brunner is an experienced clinician and a highly articulate leader. When I created the Vice Chair of PM&R Development, I wanted an individual who has the experience to see the strategic global picture of growth for the department but also the critical analytical ability to optimize the integration of the various divisions in the department to increase synergy, efficiency, and effectiveness. Dr. Brunner possesses the rare combination of skills that can do just that. I am excited to see where he can take our growth and development.”