The American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (AAPM&R) honored the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) Department of PM&R Associate Professor Berdale S. Colorado, D.O., MPH with this year’s Early PM&R Career Award for his impact on the future of PM&R through distinction in innovation, advocacy, leadership, service, and clinical practice. This award is presented to physiatrists within 10 or fewer years in practice.

Dr. Colorado serves as the assistant dean for Student Experience in UAB’s Heersink School of Medicine. Dr. Colorado is also vice chair of Education, program director for the PM&R Residency, program director for the Interventional Spine and Musculoskeletal Medicine Fellowship, chief of Sports and Musculoskeletal Medicine, and medical director for Performing Arts Medicine. He is also a team physician for UAB Athletics.

He represents PM&R in the Sports Medicine Board Examination Committee and has been an Oral Board examiner for ABPMR since 2019. Dr. Colorado has served on multiple committees for AAPM&R including the Clinical Practice Guidelines Committee, Graduate Medical Education Committee, Orthobiologics Technical Expert Panel, and is an examiner for the STEP Ultrasound Program. He recently graduated from the AAPM&R Future Leaders Program.

"This award is a testament to the incredible PM&R mentors that I have had throughout my career who conveyed to me the importance of trying to advance our field and showed me through their example. I am honored to receive this award and grateful for the continual support of my university/department, colleagues, trainees, and family,” stated Colorado.

His clinical and research interests include musculoskeletal and neuromuscular ultrasound, electrodiagnostic, adaptive sports, regenerative medicine, interventional spine, and performing arts medicine. He has lectured nationally and authored numerous peer-reviewed articles and book chapters on topics related to sports, spine, and musculoskeletal medicine.

AAPM&R is the primary medical society for the specialty of physical medicine and rehabilitation–also known as physiatry—with roughly 10,000 current members. The Academy leads the advancement of physiatry’s impact through healthcare. Each year, AAPM&R honors pioneering physiatrists, clinicians, researchers, and public servants who have made significant contributions to the specialty and individuals with disabilities and vulnerable populations at risk for disabilities.