Berdale Colorado, D.O., MPH, associate professor and vice chair of education in the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (PM&R) at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) has been named by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) as a recipient of the 2025 Parker J. Palmer Courage to Teach Award.
The Parker J. Palmer Courage to Teach Award honors program directors who have fostered innovation and improvement in their programs and served as exemplary role models for residents and fellows. Only 10 program directors from all residency and fellowship programs across the country are selected.
Dr. Colorado joined UAB in 2022 and serves as the PM&R Residency Program Director, Chief of Sports and Musculoskeletal Medicine, and a team physician for UAB Athletics. In 2024, he was named assistant dean for Student Experience for UAB Heersink School of Medicine. Prior to joining UAB, Dr. Colorado was associate professor in the Departments of Orthopedic Surgery and Neurology at Washington University in St. Louis, and served as Sports Medicine Fellowship Program Director.
“To say that Dr. Colorado is a great teacher is an understatement. He teaches with passion because he himself is a passionate learner. He imparts knowledge but also kindles the desire to learn. We are very fortunate to have Dr. Colorado as our standard bearer in education. We congratulate Dr. Colorado and UAB on this prestigious recognition,” said Vu Nguyen, M.D., Department of PM&R Chair.
During his leadership, Colorado has focused on expanding musculoskeletal medicine training, increasing resident research, and further developing residents as teachers and leaders.
"The UAB PM&R department and residency program has a rich history in neurorehabilitation, having been both a TBI and SCI model system for over 30 years. When I joined UAB, my goal was to develop and grow an equally strong musculoskeletal (MSK), sports, and pain component. Through the incredible support of our department, faculty/staff from other departments within UAB, and partners within the Birmingham community, I believe we have developed very comprehensive training in all areas of PM&R that will prepare our residents for any career path that they choose. We are excited to continually improve and expand the education mission of our department,” said Colorado. “I am honored to receive this ACGME award and am so grateful to work with such incredible residents, fellows, medical students, faculty, and staff at UAB.”
The ACGME will honor the award recipients at the 2025 ACGME Annual Educational Conference February 20-22, 2025.