Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
Department of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation Vice Chair of Education Dale Colorado, D.O., M.P.H. has been named the 2026 recipient of the Ernest Johnson Outstanding Educator Award from the American Association of Neuromuscular & Electrodiagnostic Medicine.
The UAB Department of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation has revamped its Orthotics & Prosthetics residency program, transitioning to a combined 18-month training model in line with new national standards. PM&R welcomed Meghan Hancock in June as the first resident to train under the new model.
The UAB Heersink School of Medicine Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation honored its 2026 graduates during a ceremony on June 24 at the UAB Alumni House. The event recognized four residents and one fellow as they completed their training and prepared to begin the next chapter of their careers.
As part of their training, each PGY4 resident conducted a research study during their second to fourth years of residency. They shared their research during PM&R Grand Rounds.
As a leader in her field, Jenn Coker, Ph.D., MPH has spent decades designing studies and translating research into meaningful change for patients. But in a powerful reversal of roles, she recently found herself on the other side of the consent form.
The University of Alabama at Birmingham Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation hosted a regional conference aimed at introducing medical students to the specialty of PM&R.
Yuying Chen, M.D., Ph.D., has been named a university professor in the University of Alabama at Birmingham’s Heersink School of Medicine Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation.
Historically, home accessibility has been viewed as specialized and often costly, designed specifically for people with disabilities. Today, advances in smart home technology are creating flexible, customizable solutions that benefit a wide range of needs.
As the demands of daily life intensify, many find themselves trapped in an endless loop of worry. Whether it’s anticipating tomorrow’s challenges or replaying “what if” scenarios at 3 a.m., this universal human experience can quickly spiral from helpful concern to overwhelming anxiety. Heather Clark, Ph.D., a postdoctoral fellow in physical medicine and rehabilitation at UAB says worry is a natural response—but one that can take over if left unmanaged.
The UAB Division of Trauma and Acute Care Surgery honored survivors of traumatic injury and their families, as well as first responders and healthcare professionals, at the third annual Heroes and Healers event on Friday, May 1, 2026.
From sports nutrition and cutting-edge rehabilitation tools to real-world strategies for concussion care, the 2026 Robert A. Ferguson Endowed Lecture Series: A Conference on Sports and Exercise Medicine will offer practical education on athlete care while spotlighting the future of sports medicine. Hosted by UAB Sports & Exercise Medicine, the conference takes place Saturday, June 13, at the UAB National Alumni Society House.
UAB Sports & Exercise Medicine is extending its educational impact beyond Birmingham, serving as a clinical training resource for athletic training programs across Alabama through a growing series of invited lectures and hands-on labs.
The UAB Spain Rehabilitation Center hosted the 18th annual Traumatic Brain Injury Model Systems (TBIMS) Leadership Forum April 15–17, welcoming rehabilitation professionals from across the country to share expertise and strengthen collaboration in traumatic brain injury care.
For people with disabilities, weather preparedness can include additional considerations: access to power for medical equipment, accessible transportation and shelter options, and maintaining essential supplies. Here are some tips to help prepare.
To ensure a safe and successful transition home, the UAB Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation offers the PM&R Bridge Clinic, a follow-up program designed to maintain continuity of care after discharge.
The Division of Trauma and Acute Care Surgery will host the 3rd annual Heroes and Healers event on Friday, May 1, 2026 at the UAB Alys Stephens Center. The event celebrates survivors of traumatic injury, as well as the medical care teams and first responders who saved their lives and helped them on the road to recovery.
This National Social Work Month, social workers from across UAB have a message for the community: medical social workers are an integral part of the health system.
UAB Medicine's Leadership Development Office (LDO) recently celebrated the graduation of a group of clinical and operational leaders who successfully completed the High Performing Care Collaborative (HPCC) program. This initiative brings together functional leadership teams from across the institution to strengthen collaboration, enhance performance, and drive meaningful improvements in patient care and operations.
Many things in life shift when you experience a spinal cord injury. How you move, care for your body, and complete daily tasks can change. One aspect of life post-injury that may be an unexpected, and literal roadblock, is the lack of accessibility in public spaces.
Following a successful Match Day 2026, four physicians will join the University of Alabama at Birmingham’s Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (PM&R) as incoming residents into their four-year categorical program.
UAB Department of Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Distinguished Professor Robert Brunner, M.D. has been appointed the Women's Committee of the Spain Rehabilitation Center Endowed Chair in Rehabilitation Neuroscience Research.
Recognizing the importance of emotional and physical well-being, the UAB Heersink School of Medicine Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation launched a wellness initiative to support its faculty and staff.
The Association of Academic Physiatrists has selected UAB Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Robert B. Kyle Endowed Professor and Chair Vu Q. C. Nguyen, M.D., MBA, to receive the 2026 AAP Outstanding Mentor Award.
The UAB Heersink School of Medicine Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation has named its chief residents for the 2026–27 academic year. Charlotte DeRose, D.O. will serve as administrative chief resident, and Victoria Christian, D.O. will serve as education chief resident beginning July 1, 2026.
UAB Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation is expanding access to rehabilitation medicine services across Birmingham with the opening of a new clinic at UAB Medicine One Inverness location. This new clinic space is focused on Spine and Musculoskeletal Medicine.
The Empowered Care Program supports individuals with traumatic spinal cord injury connecting them with the resources and support they need to achieve better overall wellness. One component of this focuses on social activity and connection.
Yuying Chen, M.D., Ph.D., co-director of the UAB Center for Engagement in Disability Health and Rehabilitation Sciences (CEDHARS) and professor in the Department of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation (PM&R), has received a 2-year, $199,029 research grant from the Paralyzed Veterans of America (PVA) Research Foundation to lead a national study examining the demographic profile of and long-term outcomes after traumatic spinal cord injury (SCI).
The University of Alabama at Birmingham Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Associate Professor and UAB Spinal Cord Injury Model System Project Director Rachel Cowan, Ph.D., was selected to serve a second term in the UAB Faculty Senate.
The University of Alabama at Birmingham Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation welcomed members of Merz Therapeutics North America for an official ribbon cutting ceremony at the state-of-the-art simulation training room in the new UAB Rehabilitation Pavilion.
Amplitude magazine announced their Reader's Choice Awards honoring outstanding prosthetic professionals. The University of Alabama at Birmingham Orthotics & Prosthetics Lab and team members Dylan Baas, Brandy Crawford, Brian Mueller, and Randy Odgers all received first place in their categories.
On any given day at UAB Hospital-Highlands, Berdale Colorado, D.O., MPH, might be helping a ballet dancer recover from a foot injury, performing a platelet-rich plasma injection on a tennis player’s elbow, or diagnosing a nerve injury.
The UAB Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation is proud to have thirteen providers honored by UAB’s Office of Patient Experience and Engagement for delivering an outstanding patient experience. Each provider achieved a remarkable 95% or higher rating on patient satisfaction surveys ranking them among the top performers across UAB Medicine.
Rachel Teranishi, M.D., assistant professor in the UAB Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, received a grant from UAB’s Center for Engagement in Disability Health and Rehabilitation Sciences (CEDHARS) to partner with LoveYourBrain — an organization that develops programs for patients recovering from traumatic brain injury focusing on mindfulness, yoga, psychoeducation, and nutrition.
UAB Spain Rehabilitation Center is a leading provider of physical medicine and rehabilitation services. Teams of specialists use innovative therapies to deliver the highest levels of inpatient and outpatient care to those with an injury or disability, with the goal of improving long-term function and quality of life.
The University of Alabama at Birmingham Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation is excited to welcome new faculty members Daniel McBride, M.D. and Sabrina Thelen, PsyD.
The University of Alabama at Birmingham Department of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation (PM&R) is excited to announce the creation of Spinal Cord Injury (SCI) Medicine Fellowship, which will begin accepting applications in April 2026. Cassandra Buchanan Renfro, D.O. will serve as the program director and Radhika Sharma, M.D. will serve as assistant program director.
Darryl Walker is the first peer navigator for UAB Spain Rehabilitation Center’s new Post-Rehab Transitions Program. A former patient himself, Walker helps extend outpatient rehab care to those who’ve been discharged following a traumatic spinal cord injury.
Gracie McGuire, MPH, PA-C, advanced practice provider in the UAB Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, was honored with the 2025 APP Champion Award for her dedication to patients and students.
UAB Department of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation Administrative Director Stephanie Walters has been a steady, trusted presence in the department for over twenty years. Her dedication has lead to UAB Medicine Dean’s Excellence Award recognition.
UAB Department of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation Associate Professor and Vice Chair of Clinical Affairs Danielle Powell, M.D. was selected to receive the 2025 Distinguished Public Service, Health Equity, and Advocacy Award by the American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation.
Ten Heersink School of Medicine staff have been honored with the 2025 Dean’s Excellence Awards. Now in its third year, the Dean’s Excellence Awards for Staff recognize individuals who have made significant and meaningful contributions to the school’s mission through their work in education, service, and research.
The University of Alabama at Birmingham Department of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation is pleased to name Elizabeth Twist, M.D. the new assistant program director for the PM&R residency program, effective September 1. She will work closely with Dale Colorado, D.O., program director, and Michelle Turnley, M.D., associate program director, on all aspects of the PM&R residency program.
The UAB Department of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation (PM&R) welcomes two rehabilitation psychology postdoctoral fellows. Heather Clark, Ph.D. and Cassandra Mondesir, Psy.D. joins the department’s rehabilitation psychology division to enhance their skills through training, research opportunities, and mentorship.
A state-of-the-art simulation training room focused on neuromuscular and musculoskeletal interventions will be a highlight of the University of Alabama at Birmingham’s new Rehabilitation Pavilion, which opened in August.
Tracy Brewer-Woods, administrative director in the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (PM&R) at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB), was selected as a recipient of the 2025 UAB Medicine Excellence Awards. This is the highest honor available for staff.
Dale Colorado, D.O., MPH, associate professor and chief of sports and musculoskeletal medicine in the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) Department of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation (PM&R), was named head team physician for Boccia United States.
The UAB Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (PM&R) spinal cord injury (SCI) clinical and research team had strong representation at the 53rd Annual Scientific Meeting of the American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) held in Scottsdale, Arizona.
The UAB Heersink School of Medicine Department of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation Residency Training Program welcomed four new PGY1 residents July 1, 2025.
Karen Weeks, psychometrist in the UAB Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, has been selected by UAB's Office of Patient Experience and Engagement as one of the 2025 Patient Experience Heroes.
The University of Alabama at Birmingham Heersink School of Medicine Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (PM&R) welcomes Assistant Professor and Clinical Neuropsychologist Candace Marten, PsyD, MBA as a new faculty member effective July 11, 2025.