UW Department of Rehabilitation Medicine

09/10/2026

Faculty and adjunct faculty from the Department of Rehabilitation Medicine at the UW School of Medicine are presenting research at the AOPA 2026 National Assembly this week in Las Vegas. Presenters include Joan Sanders, PhD; Brian Hafner, PhD; and Geoff Balkman, PhD, CPO. Cody McDonald, PhD, MPH, L/CPO, also is being recognized as a finalist for the O&P Woman of the Year Award. See the schedule: https://rehab.washington.edu/news-and-events/national-recognition-and-faculty-presentations-at-the-aopa-2026-national-assembly/

We hope to see you there!

09/09/2026

Curious about becoming a physical therapist? On Sept. 16 at 5 p.m. PDT, join the Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) program at the University of Washington School of Medicine for a virtual information session designed for prospective applicants. This Zoom session offers an overview of the program, admissions requirements, and application process, along with time to ask questions. Registration is required, and Zoom details will be shared after you sign up.

Register here: https://washington.zoom.us/meeting/register/FpnjY7uOQw-wGWP1Cc9m4g #/registration

09/08/2026

Department faculty will share research and expertise at the American Orthotic & Prosthetic Association (AOPA) National Assembly, this week in Las Vegas, from September 9-12.

Faculty presentations include research from Joan E. Sanders, PhD, Brian J. Hafner, PhD, and Geoff Balkman, PhD, CPO, on prosthetics, orthotics, and patient outcomes.

Learn more: https://rehab.washington.edu/news-and-events/national-recognition-and-faculty-presentations-at-the-aopa-2026-national-assembly/

09/05/2026

Congratulations to Cody L. McDonald, PhD, MPH, L/CPO, assistant professor of prosthetics and orthotics in the Department of Rehabilitation Medicine at the UW School of Medicine, on being named a finalist for the 10th Annual O&P Woman of the Year Award.

Presented by the Orthotic and Prosthetic Group of America and Össur, the award recognizes women advancing the orthotics and prosthetics profession through leadership, innovation, and commitment to patient care. The 2026 recipient will be announced at the American Orthotic & Prosthetic Association National Assembly in Las Vegas, coming up next week from Sept. 9-12.

See all the nominees here: https://www.vgm.com/communities/opga/about/woman-of-the-year/

09/03/2026

Will you be at the Academy of Spinal Cord Injury Professionals (ASCIP) annual conference in Salt Lake City, Utah, September 7-10, 2026? Faculty and trainees from our department will be presenting on spinal cord injury rehabilitation, clinical care, adaptive sports, and veteran health. We hope to see you there! See the schedule: https://rehab.washington.edu/news-and-events/our-department-at-the-academy-of-spinal-cord-injury-professionals-conference/

09/01/2026

Washington state parents and caregivers: Have you looked for help with your child's feeding challenges in the past three years?

The Feeding Care-Pathway Study is seeking adult caregivers to participate in a 60-90 minute survey about their experiences finding feeding-related care.

The goal is to identify ways to help families access proven therapies for feeding disorders more quickly.

“For a kid with a feeding disorder, their pickiness rarely improves on its own," said study leader Britt St. John, PhD, MPH, OTR/L, assistant professor of rehabilitation medicine at the UW School of Medicine. “It might start with refusal and escalate to more severe reactions like crying and throwing food,” making meals a source of daily family stress.

Learn more:

News and information for journalists

08/27/2026

Will you be at the Paralyzed Veterans of America Healthcare Summit + EXPO, Aug. 30-Sept. 2, 2026, in Las Vegas? Several of our faculty members are presenting, and we hope to see you there!

Professor Aaron Turner, PhD, will deliver the John M. Whitaker Memorial Lecture, presenting on “A Brave New World: Partnering with Patients to Promote Health and Wellness in the Age of Technology.” Drawing on research involving telehealth-based behavioral interventions for people with multiple sclerosis, the lecture will explore opportunities and challenges associated with rapidly evolving health technologies.

Faculty from the Department of Rehabilitation Medicine at UW Medicine will also present on interdisciplinary amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) care and the use of registry data to improve understanding of spinal cord injury outcomes across health systems.

More details:

Professor Aaron Turner, PhD, will deliver the John M. Whitaker Memorial Lecture at the Paralyzed Veterans of America Healthcare Summit + EXPO, taking place Aug. 30-Sept. 2, 2026, in Las Vegas. Dr. Turner will present “A Brave New World: Partnering with Patients to Promote Health and Wellness in th...

08/25/2026

Assistant Professor Sarah Smith, MD, FAAPMR; recent Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation residency graduate Kirsten Schlosser, MD; and Acting Assistant Professor Ranee Munaim, MS, OTR/L, CHT, co-authored a review in Muscle & Nerve examining electrical stimulation therapies used in peripheral nerve rehabilitation.

Their review found that while some approaches show promise for pain management and motor relearning, more research is needed before electrical stimulation can be routinely recommended following peripheral nerve injury.

The project included collaborators from the UW Medicine Division of Plastic Surgery.

Read the publication: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/42394298/

08/21/2026

Happy !

Residency and fellowship programs don't run on magic. They run because of dedicated Graduate Medical Education professionals who manage countless details behind the scenes while supporting trainees, faculty, and programs every step of the way.

Today, we thank our GME team for their hard work, commitment, and partnership in training the next generation of physical medicine and rehabilitation physicians.

08/20/2026

Sports help kids develop physical, mental, and social skills. “It’s never too early to get kids involved in age-appropriate sports activities,” says Dr. Charles Kenyon. “The important thing is to be focused on your kid’s fun, enjoyment and creating a love for physical activity and free play.” Read more tips on helping your child love sports and avoid burnout on Right as Rain:

Burnout isn’t.